Poor Man's Blues
by 
Bessie Smith 
recording of 
from 
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy 52838) 
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're livin' in your mansion you don't know what hard times means 
While you're livin' in your mansion you don't know what hard times means 
Poor working man's wife is starvin', your wife is livin' like a queen 
Please, listen to my pleading, 'cause I can't stand these hard times long 
Oh, listen to my pleading, can't stand these hard times long 
They'll make a 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?