Hard Times Come Again No More - Mary Black & Dolores Keane, 1986

Singers Mary Black and Dolores Keane perform with De Danann at the National Stadium.

Irish traditional and folk singers Mary Black and Dolores Keane perform Stephen Foster’s song ‘Hard Times Come Again No More’ with De Danann who are Frankie Gavin (traditional flute), Alec Finn (guitar), Aidan Coffey (accordion), Catherine Lavelle (cello) and Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh (bodhrán).

This episode of ‘Festival Folk’ was broadcast on 24 February 1986.

‘Festival Folk’ was a series of concerts recorded in the National Stadium, Dublin, featuring well-known folk singers and musicians. It ran from 1983 to 1984.

[christinedureau]

This so g adapts beautifully to Irish instrumentation

[realist]

Great Voices 👍👍👍
Black Forest (Germany) 🇩🇪 greets Ireland 🇮🇪. Stay healthy.

[garriecortelyou]

Makes me imagine what it may have been Like when Irish immigrants settled in Appalachia. Love both Ladies & what they contributed to music.

[harrybarry]

Very nice, girls. I was born and grew up in Pittsburgh, as Stephen Foster did. In grade school, the 1950's, our music teacher, Miss Frank loved Foster and played his songs on the piano. We would sing along. Foster was very special.

[zenden]

I love “Sonny” done with Mary Black, Dolores Keane and Emmylou Harris it’s one of the best ❤️

[gertiemontague]

Two wonderful singers Delores keane an mary black

[owendureke]

Two renowned singers praying for peace on our planet

[TodayFreedom]

One of my absolute favourite songs of all time. Of any genre. When you consider the death rate and poverty at the time Foster wrote this song it takes on a profoundly more moving impact. It’s no coincidence that this “sounds Irish”- Foster’s heritage (and musical heritage) was from Ulster.

[zenden]

Two legends amazing voices just beautiful 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️❤️❤️

[bertspeggly]

Well done guys! You have the correct harmony for the word "weary", most performances miss it.

[marykategraham.]

"""Beautiful Lyrics. This awful feeling the hard times are back and started to linger around my cabin door . Only God can save IRELAND now. Thank you CR'S---V.V. Have a Blessed Sunday .🙏🙏🙏🙏🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

[PatKeogh-ui]

Beautiful love Delores ❤❤❤ what a voice ❤❤❤❤

[frankrobinson]

Use to listen to this song in the 90's glad to have found it again

[earflapping]

The late Eighties and early Nineties—when Mary Black was at the very peak of physical beauty. I’m still spellbound by her looks then. Those eyes! I realize this isn’t related to music, but hey, I’m human.
But yes, both singers are spectacular.

[rojimowi]

Harmony that can only come from Heaven

[Goldencountry]

Happy Saint Patrick's Day 2025!
May God Bless Us All.

[noraodywer]

Two legends amazing voices so wonderful well done ❤❤

[christaylor]

One of my favorite De Dannan songs by 2 of my favorite singers. If anyone didnt know Frankie Gavin is suffering from throat cancer, there's a crowdfund appeal going to raise money for a special op.

[TheJanglecrow]

Powerful performance. Learn the words. It's a sigh that is wafted across the trouble waves. It's a wail that's heard upon the shore.

[feg]

Beautiful rendition of the old song. Thanks for posting this! Love it, from Tennessee, USA!