Well the do ctor comes 'round here with his face all b right
And he says "in a little while you'll be al right"
All he gi ves is a humbug pill a dose of do pe and a great big bill
Tell me ho w can a poor man stan d such times and live ?
He says "me and my old school pals had some might hi gh times down here
And what happened to you poor black folks well it just ain't f air"
He took a look arou nd gave a little pep talk said "I'm wi th you" then he took a littl e walk
Tell me ho w can a poor man stand such times and live ?
There's bodies floatin' on Canal and the leve es gone to He ll
Martha get me my sixteen gauge and some dry shell s
Them who's got got out of town
And them who ain' t got left to dro wn
Tell me ho w can a poor man stand such times and live ?
I got family scattered from Texas all the way to Baltim ore
And I ain't got no home in this world no more
Gonna be a jud gment that's a fact a righteous trai n rollin' down th is track
Tell me ho w can a poor man stand such times and live ?