by Bessie
Smith
recording of
from The
Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 (Columbia/Legacy
52838),
copyright
notice
Mister rich-man, rich-man, open up your heart and mind
Mister rich-man, rich-man, open up your heart and mind
Give the poor man a chance, help stop these hard, hard times
While you're livin' in your mansion you don't know what hard times
means
While you're livin' in your mansion you don't know what hard times
means
Poor working man's wife is starvin', your wife is livin' like a
queen
Please, listen to my pleading, 'cause I can't stand these hard times
long
Oh, listen to my pleading, can't stand these hard times long
They'll make a honest man do things that you know is wrong
Poor man fought all the battles, poor man would fight again today
Poor man fought all the battles, poor man would fight again today
He would do anything you ask him in the name of the U.S.A.
Now the war is over, poor man must live the same as you
Now the war is over, poor man must live the same as you
If it wasn't for the poor man, mister rich-man what would you do?