Poor Boy- Blue Sky Boys (KY) 1965 REC
[From the LP: Presenting the Blue Sky Boys, 1965 (Capitol Records T/ST 2483 [12-inch LP]). This is similar to Charlie Poole's "The Highwayman" which is categorized by Meade as a version of "Poor Boy."
Every two stanzas are grouped together- the second is a refrain for the first.
R. Matteson 2015]
"Poor Boy" - As sung by the Blue Sky Boys [Bill and Earl Bolick], Capitol Records, 1965.
[mandolin instrumental]
As I sat down in a gambling game,
I could hardly play a hand,
Thinking about the one I love
Run away another man.
Run away another man, poor boy,
Run away another man
Thinking about the one I love
Run away another man.
[mandolin]
He came at me with a big long knife
"I did the same," he said,
When the fight had ended that other man
Lay on the barroom dead.
Hang down your head and cry, poor boy
Hang down your head and cry,
Start thinking about the woman you love
Hang down your head and cry.
The night was dark and stormy,
It sure did look like rain,
I had not a friend in this whole wide world,
Nobody knew my name,
Nobody knew my name, poor boy
Nobody knew my name
I had not a friend in this whole wide world,
Nobody knew my name.
[instr]
Judge, oh judge, oh Mr. Judge
What will you do with me,
If the jury finds you guilty,
I'll send you to the penitentiary.
I'll send you to the penitentiary, poor boy
I'll send you to the penitentiary
If the jury finds you guilty,
I'll send you to the penitentiary."
The jury found me guilty,
The clerk he wrote it down.
Turned me over to the Deputy Sheriff
Saying, "Now you're penitentiary bound."
Saying, "Now you're penitentiary bound, poor boy
Saying, "Now you're penitentiary bound."
Turned my over to the Deputy Sheriff
Saying, "Now you're penitentiary bound."
Little girl have you brought me silver,
Little girl have you brought me gold,
Or did you walk these long, lone miles,
To see me hang from a hangman's pole.
See me hang from a hangman's pole
See me hang from a hangman's pole,
Or did you walk these long, lone miles,
See me hang from a hangman's pole.
Poor boy I've you brought me silver,
Poor boy I've you brought me gold,
But I did you walk these long, lone miles,
To see you hang from a hangman's pole.
To see you hang from a hangman's pole
To see you hang from a hangman's pole
But I did you walk these long, lone miles,
To see you hang from a hangman's pole.
Listen to me one and all,
I'll tell you if I can,
The tears rolled down her rosy red cheeks,
Saying, "I love this gambling man."
Saying, "I love this gambling man, poor boy
Saying, "I love this gambling man."
The tears rolled down her rosy red cheeks,
Saying, "I love this gambling man."