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 how
Cotton blankets 'steada of wool
Empty bellies 'steada of full
It's the hard-knock life

Don't if 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 of if you shrink
No one dries when your eyes get wet an' weepy
From all the cryin' you would think this place's a 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

Get to work
Strip them beds
Scrub that floor
Polish my shoes
And I mean start now

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
It's the hard-knock life