Up every morning
With the sun
I work all day

Til the evening comes

Blisters and corns

All in my hands
Lord, have mercy
On a working man


I guess I'm gonna die
Just like I live

In poverty

My pay goes down

And my tax goes up
I drink my tea
From a broken cup


Between my woman
And Uncle Sam

I can't figure out
Who's fool I am


I guess I'm gonna die
Just like I'm living
In poverty


Oh, Lord, it's so hard
But it's fair

Everybody talk but
Nobody really care


Lord, I can't save a dime
Can't borrow one cent
If I pay my bills

I can't pay my rent

The old lady's fussing

And the kids are crying
They won't let me join
The welfare line


I guess I'm gonna die
Just like I'm living

In poverty

There's a war on poverty

They say it's going around
But all that means, people
They're trying hard

To keep you down

Oh, oh, oh, Lord, poverty

That's where I'm gonna stay now