POOR BOY BLUES
(Carl Perkins)


Carl Perkins - 1967


(Ba-bom-bom, ba-bom-bom)
A-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm 
A-mmm-mmm, one more time
I go a-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Just a little thing they call the poor boy blues

I been a-workin' in a cotton field way down south
Choppin' and a pickin', Lord, and followin' the plow
Tryin' to make a livin' on the poor hard ground
I asked for a loan, but the boss turned me down
But I'll keep on a-workin' 'cause I can't get down
Another load o' cotton' gotta take into town
I'll take my little money and buy a new pear o' shoes
I got a woman sittin' home hummin' the poor boy blues
She goes mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
A-mmm-mmm-mmm, poor old soul
She goes a-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Just a little thing they call the poor boys blues

I got in debt to the bank and now I can't move on
I stay in the field til the last boll's gone
I got one old mule that I reckon's my own
They might keep me down, but I keep hummin' my song
I go mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm 
A-mmm-mmm-mmm, one more time
I go a-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Just a little thing they call they poor boy blues

Ah, they say the great society's gonna change a few things
A farmer like me I wonder what it's gonna bring
I don't pay taxes, I say it with a smile
'Cause I ain't never made enough in my life to file
But I'll keep on a-workin' til the Lord calls me home
That's when I'll know if I've done wrong
I keep on a-hummin' let everybody sue
The poor national anthem called the poor boy blues
I go mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm 
A-mmm-mmm-mmm, one more time
I go a-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Just a little thing they call they poor boy blues
A-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm 
A-mmm-mmm-mmm, one more time
I go a-mmm-mmm-mmm, mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Just a little thing they call they poor boy blues



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2020)