Original Broadway Cast feat. Andrea McArdle Lyrics
"It's the Hard-Knock Life"

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

Steada treated,
We get tricked
Steada 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, steada wool
Empty bellies, steada full
It's the hard-knock life

Don't if feel like the wind is always howling
Don't it seem like there's never any lights?
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 cries when your eyes get wet and weepy
From the cryin' you would think this place would sink oh

Empty belly life!
Rotten smelly 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

You'll stay up till this dump shines
like the top of the Chrysler Building.

Yank the whiskers from her chin
Jab her with a safety Pin
Make her drink a Mickey Finn
I love you, Miss Hannigan

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