It's the hard-knock life for us!
It's the hard-knock life for us!
Instead of 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 of wool
Empty bellies - instead of full
It's the hard-knock life!

Don't it feel like the wind is always howling?
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 putting 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 crying you would think this place's a sink!
Ohhhh!

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

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!
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!