In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Never sing for my supper
I never help my neighbor
Never do what is proper
For my fair share of labor.
I'm a poor boy
And I'm a rover
Count your coins and
Throw them over my shoulder
I may grow older
Nobody knows
How cold it grows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If I cross their stiles.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health.
You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight.
Never know what I came for
Seems that I've forgotten
Never ask what I came for
Or how I was begotten.
I'm a poor boy
And I'm a ranger
Things I say
May seem stranger than Sunday
Changing to Monday.
Nobody knows
How cold it flows
And nobody feels
The worn down heels
Nobody's eyes
Make the skies
Nobody spreads
Their aching heads.
Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife.
He's a mess but he'll say yes
If you just dress in white.
Nobody knows
How cold it blows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If you cross their stiles.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health.
You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight.
Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health
Oh poor boy.
I never help my neighbor
Never do what is proper
For my fair share of labor.
I'm a poor boy
And I'm a rover
Count your coins and
Throw them over my shoulder
I may grow older
Nobody knows
How cold it grows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If I cross their stiles.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health.
You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight.
Never know what I came for
Seems that I've forgotten
Never ask what I came for
Or how I was begotten.
I'm a poor boy
And I'm a ranger
Things I say
May seem stranger than Sunday
Changing to Monday.
Nobody knows
How cold it flows
And nobody feels
The worn down heels
Nobody's eyes
Make the skies
Nobody spreads
Their aching heads.
Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife.
He's a mess but he'll say yes
If you just dress in white.
Nobody knows
How cold it blows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If you cross their stiles.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health.
You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight.
Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health
Oh poor boy.
Lyrics submitted by foxyurchin
Poor Boy Lyrics as written by Nick Drake
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I really think that he is talking about himself. I understand that he starts talking about what people say about him. All his flaws, then he tells us what happens in his mind. Like saying, Ok, I do all this bad things, but do you really know what's happening to me? You can list all my flaws, but do you care why I am like that?
i'm surprised there were no comments on this song. more people need to experience nick drake's greatness. this song's soo good.
Yes this is one of my favourites from the amazing nick drake
Shouldn't it be "Nobody smiles if I cross their STYLES"?
Though stiles could work, just a thought.
He was an extreme introvert. I'm one too, and I interpret this as I've experienced life - wondering and assuming you know what people are thinking about you. Introversion can be a very self-centered state - you assume everybody's thinking about you all the time, judging you and finding you lacking, laughing at you in contempt. It's not true, of course, but still that's how the introvert feels.
Bless his heart.* He was keenly aware of how he appeared to others, but he couldn't see past his insecurity to recognize his own immense worth.
*It's not always an insult, y'all. :)
@aventurine That sounds less like introversion and more like severe social anxiety and possibly delusion.
Doesn't the phrase "spreads their aching heads" seem a bit odd? How does one spread a head? Doesn't "spreads their aching hands" make more sense?
@cai1020993 other lyric websites show it as heads too ...
@cai1020993 I know but does that make any sense? Maybe they all have it wrong?
Undoubtedly a reflection of Nick's troubles finding love. I heard "how steep my stairs" as "how I steal my stares". In other words, his stares at women. Not sure which one is right.