Here is "Poor Boy Number Two", by J.B. Smith, recorded on June 12, 1966, by Bruce Jackson, and found in his book WAKE UP DEAD MAN, on pp. 65-66.

Very first day on the Brazos line, poor boy, on the Brazos line,
Number One was a buckin', Number Two was flyin', wo boy, Number Two was flyin',
Number Three was a hurryin', the pull-dos cryin', poor boy, the pull-dos cryin',
Number Three was a hurryin', the pull-dos cryin', poor boy, the pull dos cryin'.

Next day, poor boy, on the old turn row, you know the sun was a hundred degrees,
All I could hear was a poor boy say, "Some day we'll all go free.
Some day we'll all go free, poor boy, some day we'll all go free."
All I could hear was a poor boy say, "Some day we'll all go free."

Hot scalding water rollin' down my eyes, [so] busy I can't hardly see,
Can't keep up with the other boys, won't you please have mercy on me.
Won't you please have mercy on me, poor boy, Captain, have mercy, please.
Now I can't keep up with the other boys, please have mercy on me.

Just one more chance in a-life, poor boy, to do the right or wrong,
This hell wouldn't be my potion, boy, this hell wouldn't be my home,
This hell wouldn't be my home, poor boy, no boy, wouldn't be my home,
Just one more chance in life, poor boy, to do the right or wrong.

I'd go someplace and settle down, contented with well-doin',
Tell all the people on the street I meet what a lesson I have learned.
What a lesson I have learned, poor boy, lesson I have learned,
Go somewhere and settle down, with the lesson I have learned.

To be a disobedient child you often pay full fair,
You boarded your train 'way down the line, to finally pay off here.
You finally pay off here, poor boy, you finally pay off here,
You boarded your train 'way down the line, you finally pay off here.

The sun's goin' down and so am I, wonder who will be the first.
Of all the things ever happened to me, tell me what could be the worst,
Oh tell me what could be the worst, poor boy, tell me waht could be the worst,
Out of all the things ever happened to me, tell me what could be the worst.

Go down sunshine, go down sunshine, oh hurry, please go down,
This aggie hoe, this grassy row, won't let me see sundown.
Won't let me see sundown, poor boy, it won't let me see sundown,
This aggie hoe, this grassy row, won't let me see sundown.

Don't want no supper, just want my bed, get all the rest I can,
Be morning again before you know, I'll be in another strain.
Oh I'll be in another strain, poor boy, I'll be in another strain,
Be morning again before you know, I'll be in another strain.

Wish I had-a listened to mom and dad, they knew the best for me,
I'd never had this bridge to cross, never had this misery.
Never had this misery, poor boy, this misery,
I'd never had this bridge to cross, never had this misery.

Here's to the boys in my home town, Highway Six at Hearn,
Gamin' and chancin' with the law, don't worth the time I'm doin',
It don't worth the time I'm doin', don't worth the time I'm doin',
Gamin' and chancin' with the law, don't worth the time I'm doin'.

Chancin' with the long-armed law, you seldom win or draw,
Gamin' and chancin' with the law, you seldom win or draw.


"That's 'Poor Boy Number Two'! The day then was so hard, hard that I couldn't hardly make it, and it was a strain for me to make it through. And I was so tired I wanted to go to bed. Didn't even want my supper, too tired to eat. And wanted to get all the rest I could 'cause I knew I'd have to go the next day and I'd be in another strain. So I wanted every minute I could possible get of rest."