It's the hard knock life
It's the hard knock life

It's the hard-knock life for us
It's the hard-knock life for us

Instead treated
We get tricked
Instead of kisses
We get kicked
It's the hard-knock life

Got no folks to speak of, so
It's the hard knock row we hoe
Cotton blankets instead wool

Empty bellies stead a full
It's the hard-knock life

Don't it feel like the wind is always howlin'?
Don't it seem like there's never any light?
Once a day, don't you wanna throw the towel in?
It's easier than puttin' up a fight

No one's there when your dreams at night get creepy
No one cares if you grow or if you shrink
No one dries when your eyes get wet and weepy
From all the cryin' you would think this place would sink
Oh, oh

Empty belly life (empty belly life)
Rotten smelly life (no no no no no)
Full of sorrow life (full of sorrow life)
No tomorrow life

Santa Claus we never see
Santa Claus what's that? Who's he?

No one cares for you a smidge
When you're in an orphanage

It's the hard-knock life for us
It's the hard-knock life for us
No one cares for you a smidge
When you're in an orphanage
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life
It's the hard-knock life