How can a poor man stand such times and live

[David Thielk]

This tune (How can a poor man stand such times and live) has been played
by the Fly By Night String Band and Ry Cooder. I believe it originally
came from an Arthur Smith, but not sure.

I am interested in the lyrics to one of the versus. It has to do with
buying a shirt, or getting a shirt laundered. The other versus go:

Once there was time when everything was cheap
But now prices almost put a man to sleep. . . .

The schools they got today aint worth a cent
But they see to it that every child is sent. . . .

The preacher preach for dough but not for souls
Its what keeps a poor man in the hole. . .

The doctor come around with face so bright
And he says in a little while you'll by alright . . .

Its time for every man to be awake
We pay fifty cents a pound when we ask for steak . .

And then there is at least one additional verse. ???????????????????????
Any body know about this tune, its source and the lyrics to the other
verse?

Thanks

David Thielk
sl...@olympus.net

[JLittlehal]

Tom Paley sings all of the many verses understandably on an old (I think)
NLCR recording (forget which one). I can look it up over the weekend if no
one else remembers.
--jody littlehales

[Frank Dalton/Emily Fine]

>Tom Paley sings all of the many verses understandably on an old (I think)
>NLCR recording (forget which one). I can look it up over the weekend if no
>one else remembers.

Why not go to the original source and try to dig up a copy of the Rounder LP
by Blind Alfred Reed? Lots of folk singer types have sung this song but Reed
is the author; the LP is called (guess what?) - _How Can A Poor Man Stand
Such Times And Live?_ (ROU 1001, way out o' print, of course!)

I just ran downstairs and checked, and the booklet includes the words to all
the songs.

Here's the verse about the shirt:

"I remember when dry goods were cheap as dirt
We could take two bits and buy a dandy shirt
Now we pay three bucks or more
Maybe get a shirt that another man wore

Tell me, how can a poor man..."

And ain't it the truth!

Regards, Frank

********************************************
Frank Dalton Emily Fine Nate Dalton

Do not replace family traditions with
media imposed conventions.
- Marc Savoy

<dal...@mail.med.upenn.edu>
********************************************

[FdBSr]

The New Lost City Ramblers did the song on "Songs from the
Depression" Folkways FH5264 with Mike Seeger on vocal.
The source was attributed to Blind Alfred Reed, Victor
40236. It's also available on Smithsonian Folways CD
SF40036 "NCLR, The Early Years 1958-1962." The verse you
want is

I remember when dry goods was cheap as dirt
we could pay two bits and get a dandy shirt
now we pay three bucks or more, maybe get a
shirt that another man wore ...

The CD has a bunch more excellent songs and is well
worth getting. Happy listening
Frank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
Frank DeBolt | Always take things by the
Savannah, GA | smooth handle.
Fd...@AOL.com | T. Jefferson

[Stefan Keydel]

In article <4lr9vv$a...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, fd...@aol.com (FdBSr) wrote:

> The New Lost City Ramblers did the song on "Songs from the
> Depression" Folkways FH5264 with Mike Seeger on vocal.
> The source was attributed to Blind Alfred Reed, Victor
> 40236. It's also available on Smithsonian Folways CD
> SF40036 "NCLR, The Early Years 1958-1962." The verse you
> want is

It's also available on a Rounder release of Blind Alfred's recordings.
Amazing recording all around, especially Walking in the Way with Jesus.

[Oldtime1]

Stefan is correct, this is a Blind Alfred original and to my ear his
version is by far the best one. Some songs are best sung by believers.
Joe Wilson