Lyr Add: Room for the Poor (Utah Phillips)

Subject: Lyr Add: ROOM FOR THE POOR (Utah Phillips)
From: Janie
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 11:09 PM

I learned "Room for the Poor" from a Critten Hollow String Band tape. I no longer have the tape, but I think this is a Utah Phillips song.

I'm sure some one here can confirm or deny that. I couldn't find the lyrics already posted, here or elsewhere on-line so I don't think this is redundant. (I'm sure some one will also let me about that!)

Room for the Poor

One cold autumn morning
The leaves had turned brown.
A hobo came tramping
thru a small western town.
He walked thru the church yard
To the preacher's back door
Where he knew there'd be refuge
And room for the poor.

He knocked and then waited
For the preacher to come
With just a kind word for
a broken-down bum.
The preacher arrived and
Looked out in dismay.
With a few angry words he'd
drive the hobo away.

Oh if you won't offer
Me something to eat
May I sit here a moment
And rest my poor feet.
I've travelled so far now
I'm weary and sore.
Oh say, up in heaven
Is there room for the poor.

Is there room for the poor
Across the divide
Where bums don't go hungry
And freezing outside
Or will they be driven
From the Savour's back door.
Oh say, up in heaven
Is there room for the poor.


J.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Room for the Poor
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Aug 05 - 11:05 PM

allmusic says ROOM FOR THE POOR was indeed written by Utah Phillips, and recorded by him on two albums: "The Telling Takes Me Home," 1997; and "Starlight on the Rails: A Songbook," 2005.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Room for the Poor
From: Janie
Date: 28 Aug 05 - 11:28 PM

Thanks Jim!

Janie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Room for the Poor (Utah Phillips)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 02:25 AM

I remember listening to Critton Hollow play this as a child. I loved the song. My father would sing it to me at bedtime and I now sing it to my son. Thank you for posting; I could not find the song anywhere and was beginning to question my own memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Room for the Poor (Utah Phillips)
From: Janie
Date: 16 Oct 11 - 08:23 PM

Guest, Critton Hollow recorded it on their album "By and By," my favorite of the albums they put out, and hard to come by. In addition to the Utah Phillips recordings Jim noted above, it is also on the Utah Phillips Grammy nominated tribute collection "Singing Through the Hard Times," performed by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.

Best of all, some one has posted Utah singing this song on youtube.

Utah singing "Room for the Poor."