POOR MAN
(Dave Rankin)
As recorded by Jim Smoak & the Louisiana Honeydrippers

Walk the floor and scratch your head, poor man.
Walk the floor and scratch your head, poor man.
Walk the floor and scratch your head.
Ten little young 'uns got to be fed, poor man.

You got no bread and the meat's all gone, poor man.
You got no bread and the meat's all gone, poor man.
You got no bread and the meat's all gone,
Ten little young 'uns gnawin' on a bone, poor man.

[Fiddle]

Ten little young 'uns gnawin' on a bone, poor man.
Ten little young 'uns gnawin' on a bone, poor man.
Ten little young 'uns gnawin' on a bone,
Tell little bellies moanin' and a-groanin', poor man.

Cyclone blow your barn away, poor man.
Cyclone blow your barn away, poor man.
The big wind blow your barn away,
Hogs are dead and your cows astray, poor man.

Where's them hens that used to lay, poor man?
Where's them hens that used to lay, poor man?
Where's them hens that used to lay?
They got hungry and flew away, poor man.

[Banjo]

See them rabbits hoppin' round, poor man.
See them rabbits hoppin' round, poor man.
See them rabbits hoppin' round,
Grab your gun and call your hound, poor man.

You got no shells for your gun, poor man.
Well, you got no shells for your gun, poor man.
Well, you got no shells for your gun,
And your hound's so hungry, he can't run, poor man.

[Fiddle]

You like your coffee black and hot, poor man.
Well, you like your coffee black and hot, poor man.
Well, you like your coffee black and hot,
You got no coffee. You got no pot, poor man.

Words and music by Dave Rankin. Copyright date and publisher unknown. Source: transcripted from Jim Smoak & the Louisiana Honeydrippers LP "Bayou Bluegrass" (Arhoolie 5010) 1961.