Hard Times, Hard Truths

[Verse 1]
Third notice on the counter
Shutoff on the door
Coffee in a chipped-up cup
Change scraped from the drawer
Boots by the back step waiting
But there’s nowhere left to go
I been sending out my name all day
For a paycheck that says “no”
[Chorus]
These are hard times, hard truths
Losing my faith, losing you
Thought the worst I’d see
Was the hole in my shoes
But the hardest hit
Was the sight of him holding you
Yeah, hard times
Cut deep
But your goodbye
Cut through
[Verse 2]
Came home early from that interview
Tie still crooked on my neck
Rehearsed how I would tell you
We might be a little short on rent
Saw his truck in our driveway
My heart just tried to stall
Heard your laughter through the window
Like I’d never been there at all
[Chorus]
These are hard times, hard truths
Losing my faith, losing you
Thought the worst I’d see
Was the hole in my shoes
But the hardest hit
Was the sight of him holding you
Yeah, hard times
Cut deep
But your goodbye
Cut through
[Bridge]
I can fix a flat, swing a hammer
Patch a roof in the rain (oh yeah)
But I can’t patch a promise
Once it slips right down the drain
So I’m packing what I paid for
Folding up the faded sheets
You can keep that second pillow
You gave it away for free
[Chorus]
These are hard times, hard truths
Losing my faith, losing you
Thought the worst I’d see
Was the hole in my shoes
But the hardest hit
Was the sight of him holding you
Yeah, hard times
Might break me
But your goodbye
Won’t rule
These hard times, hard truths
I’ll walk out
You’ll lose

country, Modern pop-country ballad with male vocals, midtempo acoustic backbone, warm bass and roomy drums. Verses stay intimate with fingerpicked guitar and soft pedal steel swells; chorus opens up with big stacked harmonies, crisp snare, and a singalong hook. Bridge strips down to vocal and guitar before a final, lifted chorus with ad-lib lines and subtle organ pad for emotional payoff., pop