Lyric discussion by Red_Sparowe 

Cover art for Hard Row lyrics by Black Keys, The

Kind of reminds me of the ELO song Evil Woman.

A woman needs no man to "do her in", so she's hard row to hoe all by herself.

The man doesn't mind because he knows she'll just be a hoe all by herself.

When you're growing vegetables in your garden you plant them in rows and you have to hoe the ground. She has come to a difficult time in her life and its "a hard row to hoe all yourself".

I think an allegory maybe beyond some people's comprehension.