Hard Times Come Again No More was written by Stephen C. Foster in 1854 and published in January 1855. Stephen known as the father of American music was born July 4, 1826, and died January 13, 1864. He wrote over 200 songs including Oh Susanna, My Old Kentucky Home and Hard Times which was not especially popular at the time. It was first recorded on wax cylinder by the Edison Company in 1905 and has been recorded several times since. In 1842 at the age of 16 he got to meet Charles Dickens in a Pittsburgh hotel and later the Dickens novel Hard Times would inspire the title of this song. During his childhood, he would often go to a black church with the family nurse Olivia Pise and he would base the melody of Hard Times Come Again No More on one of the songs he heard there. Near the end of Stephen life
Hard Times Come Again No More
Songs the Brothers Didn't Write
Bob had missed 14 shows since Hallie presented on August 27, 2011. There was no way of knowing if or when he would return to the stage full-time. At the White Oak Amphitheater in Greensboro, NC on October 8, 2011. Bob walked out with an acoustic guitar. He stood in the center, Scott to his right with a banjo, Seth to his left. The crowd cheered, they almost started to play, but the crowd kept cheering. Bob hugged Scott then Seth then they began to play and sing. It was the only time Hard Times Come Again No More has been performed. A beautiful moment, many tears were shed and even watching it back on youtube will give you goosebumps.
"Bring Your Love to Me, I will hold it like a dandelion. One I want to save, one I want to keep from the breeze. That follows me and no one else."