POOR MAN'S BLUES

Bessie Smith   1928
Bessie Smith    
rec August 24th 1928 New York


Mister rich man, rich man, open up your heart and mind,
Mister rich man, rich man, open up your heart and mind,
Give the poor man a chance, help stop these hard, hard times.

While you livin' in your mansion, you don't know what hard time means,
While you livin' in your mansion, you don't know what hard time means,
Poor workin' man's wife is starvin', your wife is livin' like a queen!

Please listen to my pleadin', 'cause I can't stand these hard times long,
Oh listen to my pleadin', 'cause I can't stand these hard times long,
They'll make an honest man do things that you know is wrong.

Poor man fought all the battles, poor man would fight again today,
Poor man fought all the battles, poor man would fight again today,
He would do anything you ask him in the name of the U S A.

Now the war is over, poor man must live the same as you,
Now the war is over, poor man must live the same as you,
If it wasn't for the poor man, mister rich man, what would you do?











(Contributed by Peter Akers - May 2009)