21A. Poor Man, O Poor Man- Webb (OH) 1928
[This English folk song was printed as a broadside c. 1685 (Ebsworth). Its usual title is the Jolly Thresher.
R. Matteson 2014]
21A POOR MAN, O POOR MAN
(The Jolly Thresherman)
Communicated by Mr. John A. Moore, Wheeling, Ohio County, September 25, 1928. The song was given to Mr. Carl Nestnan by Mrs. Lucy Smrna Hood North Webb, who learned it from her grandmother, Mrs. oaena Heighboe, a resident of Cherry Valley, Ohio. Mrs. Heighbeo probably learned the song in Vermont, whence she came about 1830. The melody was written from Mrs. Webb's singing.
1. "Poor man, O poor man,
Come tell to me true,
How you maintain your family,
And how you bring them through;
How you maintain yow family,
Your children, who are small,
And nothing but your labor
To maintain them at all."
2. "Then I got up in the morning,
I'm always of good cheer;
With a flail in one hand,
And a bottle of good beer,
A flail in one hand,
And a bottle of good beer,
I live happy as those
Who have ten thousand a year."
3. My wife she's always ready, Sir,
To haul in the yoke.
We live like lambs together, Sir,
We never do provoke.
Although it is quite possible
That now we do live poor,
Yet we can feed a beggar,
Who comes to our door."
4. When this nobleman did hear
What this poor man did say,
He invited him to dine with him
The very next day,
He invited him to dine with him,
His children for to bring,
And in token of favor,
Ho gave him a ring.
5. Early next morning,
This poor man arose,
He dressed up his children
In the finest of their clothes;
This poor man, his wife,
And his seven children small,
They all of then dined
At this nobleman's hall.
6. Soon after dinner,
This nobleman let him know
What he had in his heart
h him for to bestow,
Saying, "Here are forty or fifty
Acres of good land."
He gave him a writing
And signed his own hand.
7. Saying, "Now you may be happy
All the days of your life,
And now I do entreat you,
Be kind to your wife;
Be kind to your wife,
Your children all around."
There are few such noblemen
Here to be found.