Poor Boy

 

Never sing for my supper
I never helped my neighbour
Never do what is proper
For my fair share of labour

I’m a poor boy
And I’m a rover
Count your coins and
Throw them over my shoulder
I may grow older

Nobody knows
How cold it grows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If I cross their stiles

Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health

You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight

Never know what I came for
Seems that I’ve forgotten
Never ask what I came from
Or how I was begotten

I’m a poor boy
And I’m a ranger
Things I say
May seem stranger than Sunday
Changing to Monday

Nobody knows
How cold it flows
And nobody feels
The worn down heels
Nobody’s eyes
Make the skies
Nobody spreads
Their aching heads

Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife

He’s a mess but he’ll say yes
If you just dress in white

Nobody knows
How cold it blows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If you cross their stiles

Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health

You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight

Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife

Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health
Oh poor boy

So worried for his life

 

These are the lyrics as recorded by Nick and have been compiled in this format by Bryter Music, the Nick Drake estate. Our thanks go to them for permission to reproduce the lyrics on this site.

The copyright in these lyrics remain with Warlock Music/Evergreen Copyrights and any commercial use of the lyrics has to be cleared with both Nick's Estate and Evergreen in the U.S.