The Bently Boys- Down On Penny's Farm

Little to nothing is known about this '20s folk group, though their sharecropping saga "Down on Penny's Farm" (recorded in 1929 for Columbia) was enjoyed by many folk revivalists including Bob Dylan when it was included on Harry Smith's 1952 folksong compendium, Anthology of American Folk Music. Dylan borrowed the melody, arrangement, opening lines and alternate title ('Hard Times in the Country') to derive his early 'Hard Times in New York Town', and many have pointed to 'Down on Penny's Farm' as the inspiration for his 1965 offering 'Maggie's Farm'. Lyrics: Come you ladies and gentlemen, and listen to my song, I'll sing it to you right, but you might think it's wrong; May make you mad, but I mean no harm, It's just about the renters on Penny's farm. It's a-hard times in the country, Out on Penny's farm. You move out on Penny's farm, Plant a little crop of 'baccer and a little crop of corn; Come around to see you gonna flip and flop, 'Til you get yourself a mortgage on everything you got. It's a-hard times in the country, Out on Penny's farm. Hasn't George Penny got a flattering mouth? Move you to the country in a little log house; Got no windows but the cracks in the wall; He'll work you all the summer and rob you in the fall. It's a-hard times in the country, Out on Penny's farm. You go in the fields, you'll work all day, Way into night but you get no pay; (You're) promised some meat or a little bucket (of) lard; It's hard to be a renter on Penny's farm. It's a-hard times in the country, Out on Penny's farm. Here's George Penny, he'll come into town With a wagon load of peaches, not a one of them sound; He's got to have his money or somebody's check; Pay him for a bushel and you don't get a peck. It's a-hard times in the country, Out on Penny's farm. George Penny's renters they'll come into town With their hands in their pockets and their head hanging down. Go in the store and the merchant will say, "Your mortgage is due and I'm looking for my pay." It's a-hard times in the country, Out on Penny's farm. Down in his pocket with a trembling hand, "Can't pay you all, but I'll pay you what I can." Then to the telephone, the merchant makes a call, He'll put you on the chain gang, (if) you don't pay it all. It's a-hard times in the country, Out on Penny's farm.

Added 2 Oct 2026