The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
One more time
Just a little thing they call they poor man blues
I've been a working 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 a can't get down
Another load of Cotton' gotta take into town
I'll take my little money and buy a new par' shoes
I got a woman sittin' home humming the poor boy blues
She goes ahumm ahumm Poor old soul she goes ahumm mm mm
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'll stay in the field til the last bo's gone
I got one old mule, that I recon' is my own
They might keep me down but I'll keep humming my song
I'll go amm ahumm mm
One more time amm mm aumm mm
Just a little thing they call the poor boys blues
Ah they say the great society goin' a change a few things
A farmer like me I wonder what it's goin' a 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 humming let everybody sue
The Poor national anthem called the Poor blues
I go amm amm mm
One more time amm amm
Just a little thing they call the poor boys blues
Amm mm amm
One more time mm fade out
Just a little thing they call they poor man blues
I've been a working 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 a can't get down
Another load of Cotton' gotta take into town
I'll take my little money and buy a new par' shoes
I got a woman sittin' home humming the poor boy blues
She goes ahumm ahumm Poor old soul she goes ahumm mm mm
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'll stay in the field til the last bo's gone
I got one old mule, that I recon' is my own
They might keep me down but I'll keep humming my song
I'll go amm ahumm mm
One more time amm mm aumm mm
Just a little thing they call the poor boys blues
Ah they say the great society goin' a change a few things
A farmer like me I wonder what it's goin' a 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 humming let everybody sue
The Poor national anthem called the Poor blues
I go amm amm mm
One more time amm amm
Just a little thing they call the poor boys blues
Amm mm amm
One more time mm fade out
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Poor Boy Blues Lyrics as written by Carl Perkins
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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