I CAN'T GO TO THE POOR HOUSE
As recorded by Dick Robertson, 1932.

I haven't got a single cent and I am all alone.
This world is treating me so cold and I'm without a home.
To ev'rybody that I meet I tell them my sad case.
They say to me: "Why don't you go to the poorhouse? That's your place."

But I can't go to the poorhouse; that ain't no place for me.
I can't go to the poorhouse although the lodging's free.
It ain't that I've got too much pride; I'm humble as a pup,
But I can't go to the poorhouse 'cause the beds are all filled up.

I can't go to the poorhouse way over on the hill.
I can't go to the poorhouse that used to be a mill.
I asked them why I can't get in; they told me, I declare:
Oh, I can't go to the poorhouse; all the millionaires are there.

I can't go to the poorhouse although I know I should.
I can't go to the poorhouse although I wish I could.
I'd go there in my limousine; I've got one, too, that's class,
But I can't go to the poorhouse because I can't buy gas.

I can't go to the poorhouse; there ain't no use to try.
I can't go to the poorhouse; I've got six reasons why:
There's Freddy, Mary, Jim, and Joe; there's Baby and the wife.
Say, I can't go to the poorhouse; I brought it on myself.


[I don't get why the last 2 lines don't rhyme. Is there a subtle joke here I'm not getting?]