Some think of Stephen Collins Foster as the composer of many popular songs of a sentimental or sweetly folksy nature. That somewhat narrow view of him is reinforced by this charming song, "Hard Times Come Again No More." It was not a particularly popular work in the nineteenth century, but in the latter decade or so of the twentieth century, it began appearing on numerous recordings by such well-known artists as Thomas Hampson, Bob Dylan, and Emmylou Harris. As one might surmise from the title, Foster's text is a reflection on hard times, but from the point of view of someone now experiencing relatively good times. (The composer himself was struggling to live on the paltry royalties he was receiving when he wrote this song.) It has a sentimental "Old South" character in its lovely main theme, a sort of mixture of "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Linger in Blissful Repose." But its manner is darker than either, even if its melancholy soaring phrases touch on the saccharine at times. This is one of Foster's longer songs, having a duration of six or seven minutes.

© All Music Guide

Portions of Content Provided by All Music Guide.
© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.