Hard luck is the fortune of all womankind
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Controlled by their parents until they are wives
Then slaves to their husbands the rest of their lives

I knew one poor girl and her fortune 'twas sad
She'd always been courted by the Wagoner Lad
He courted her truly, by night and by day
Now his wagons are loaded, he's pulling away

"Your horses are hungry, come feed them some hay
Come sit down beside me for as long as you may."
"My horses ain't hungry and they won't eat your hay
So fare you well, Darling, no longer to stay.

"Your parents don't like me, they say I'm too poor
They say I'm not worthy to enter your door
Hard livin's my pleasure, my money's my own
And if they don't like me they can leave me alone."

"Your wagons need loadin', your whip needs to mend
Come sit down beside me for as long as you can."
"My wagons are loaded, my whips in my hand
So fare you well, Darling, no longer to stand."

Hard luck is the fortune of all womankind
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Controlled by their parents until they are wives
Then slaves to their husbands the rest of their lives."