POOR PEOPLE

A song I wrote in the '70's. I was living in Salem Mass. at the time, had just read Poor People by Dostoyevsky and maybe I was feeling a little homesick for the Po folk back home. Reuben the cat makes a brief appearance.
Have you ever been to
West Virginia
Little Switzerland, Mountain State
Poverty pocket
Everyone knocks it
They wag their heads they say it's a shame

The high looks we are given
for a life we can't help livin'
what pray tell did we do something wrong
I guess you're right there
Ma's on welfare
it just ain't fair you dully sing along

But mister, mister
the point you missed here
may one day be your clear, clarion call
I was not born to
underscore you
I will not die 'neath your leviathan stall

If you must help the needy
but you yourself are greedy
precious riches to clutch you crave
pick some few flowers
have them sent to our house
I'll place them gently on my woman's grave.

(C) 2010 T. Paige

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Music

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