Poor Boy

Poor boy, poor boy
Where did you learn your song?
From the back of a black hill in the land of the free
Faces of the conquered for the conquerors to see
A mountain murder ballad in four part harmony
That's were I learned my song

Poor boy, poor boy
Where did you learn your song?
From the ring of a hammer on a long iron rail
Sung by the hungry and the young men in jail
Singing for their souls, singing for their bail
That's where I learned my song

Poor boy, poor boy
Where did you learn your song?
From the mourners mourning in the streets of the town
They cried as they layed their brothers bodies down
The songs that they were singing made the sweetest sound
That's where I learned my song

From the preacher preaching in a long monotone
Sharpened by the seasons of slaving alone
But the saint is sinner like a sculpture is a stone
That's where I learned my song

Poor boy, poor boy
Where did you learn your song?