Tom Russell - Hallie Lonnigan Lyrics

My name is Hallie Lonnigan
I married Walter Jones
For better or for worse
So said the Reverend Doctor Stone
But the better times are all used up
And the worst times took control
Then the drinking took my Walter
May the Lord protect his soul.
Alone with 2 young kids to raise
Out on the Western Plain
My children harmonize with wolves
And sing just like the rain
But hauling hay and water
were the desperate daily facts
and the years have carved their memories
in the muscles of my back.

Yeah.
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you:
Hard times, the only times I ever knew
Hard luck's the only horse I ever drew
Hard work's the only way I made it thru.


Then I married for convenience sake
A trader from in town
A blacksmith name of Charlie Hawk
Who'd court me on his rounds
But he'd paw me like a wolverine
And there's cheatin in his blood
He fell upon my butcher knife
And crawled off thru the mud.
Well no-one was the wiser when old Charlie disappeared
And me and them four children never shed one single tear
We can run this place on our own,
Don't need no drunks or cheats,
and the men they step aside now,
When I walk down Market Street.

Yeah.
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you:
Hard times, the only times I ever knew
Hard luck's the only horse I ever drew
Hard work's the only way I made it thru.

This land was conquered by brave men your history books will say,
Proud men upon fast horses drove the Indian away.
My name is Hallie Lonnigan
I'll have you all to know
That the secret of your history's in a working woman's soul.

Yeah.
Hallie Lonnigan will tell these truths to you:
Hard times, the only times I ever knew
Hard luck's the only horse I ever drew
Hard work's the only way I made it thru.
Hard work's the only way I made it thru.