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THE POOR DITCHING BOY
Richard Thompson

Was there ever a winter so cold and so sad,
The river too weary to flood?
The storming wind cut through to my skin
But she cut through to my blood.

I was looking for trouble to tangle my line
But trouble came looking for me.
I knew I was standing on treacherous ground.
I was sinking too fast to run free.

With her scheming, idle ways
She left me poor enough.
The storming wind cut through to my skin
But she cut through to my blood.

I would not be asking, I would not be seen
A-beggin' on mountain or hill,
But I'm ready and blind with my hands tied behind.
I've neither a mind nor a will.

With her scheming, idle ways
She left me poor enough.
The storming wind cut through to my skin
But she cut through to my blood.

It's bitter, the need of the poor ditching boy.
He'll always believe what they say.
They tell him it's hard to be honest and true.
Does he mind if he doesn't get paid?

With her scheming, idle ways
She left me poor enough.
The storming wind cut through to my skin
But she cut through to my blood.

[From "Henry the Human Fly" (1972), "Doom Gloom II (Over My Dead Body)" (1991), "Watching the Dark" (1993), "Disc C, Watching the Dark" (1993), "Celtschmerz: Live UK '98" (1998), "The Best Of: The Island Records Years" (2000), and "The Chrono Show" (2004).]