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Poor Man

from Kansawyer by W.C. Beck

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lyrics

Great granddad broke up rocks in the light of day
He wore out shovels for the W.P.A.
And waited all night in a long soup line to eat
He said it weren’t no way to live
When the only thing you earn is in defeat

Chorus:
Poor man, poor man
What can you do?
Except work all your life
And hope someday the Lord saves you

Now granddad worked the steel mills from the age of fourteen
Turning coal and iron into towers that gleam
But he never slowed down ‘til his ticker gave out on him
And I know we built this land
On the backs of 10 million others just like him

Chorus

Now daddy worked these hills a quarter century
Raising pigs and cattle and corn and beans
‘til a man in a suit came and took it away
he said “son, find something you love
and don’t you ever let anything get in the way”

Chorus

Now, I’ve worked all my life just to make my keep
I picked up shifts when a man’s supposed to sleep
But I heard every last word my papa spoke
So I sing all across this land
And I’m happy as a clam even though I’m broke

Chorus

Chorus

credits

from Kansawyer, released November 13, 2011
W.C. Beck—lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitars
Jesse Bates—drums
Lewi Longmire—electric guitar and harmonies
Scott Hay—pedal steel guitar
Morgan Geer—bass and harmonies
David Lipkind—harmonica, accordion and harmonies

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about

W.C. Beck New York

W.C. Beck is an itinerant singer/songwriter from KS who now calls New York home after long stints in Portland, OR and Paris, France. Beck’s songs span from indie folk to classic country and tell of the American heartland and a forgotten epoch. With catchy melodies and sophisticated compositions, most songs find their depth in the personal, moving narrative. ... more

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