Poor Man's House

You know you’ve done enough
When every bone is sore
You know you’ve prayed enough
When you don’t ask any more

You know you’re coming to some kind of understanding
When every dream you’ve dreamed has passed and you’re still standing

Mama says God tends to every little skinny sheep
So count your ribs and say your prayers and get to sleep

Nothing is louder to God’s ears than a poor man’s sorrow
Daddy is poor today and he will be poor tomorrow

Hey, that’s the poor man’s house
Everybody get a look at the poor man’s house
Everywhere they went before must have turned them out
And now they’re living in a poor man’s house

There’s nothing like poverty to get you into heaven
They’ve got a lot of wine and fish up there and the bread’s unleavened
They’ve got a lot of years that have heard a whip go crack
Got some missing toes and fingers and scars upon their back

Daddy’s been working too much for days and days and doesn’t eat
And he never says much but I think this time it’s got him beat
It isn’t that he isn’t strong or kind or clever
Your daddy’s poor today and he will be poor forever

Hey, that’s the poor man’s house
Those kids are living in a poor man’s house
They walk to school with the soles of their shoes worn out
And come home in the evening to the poor man’s house

Why are you chopping that wood now
Why are you growing that corn
Mama’s sewing a brand new shirt
And you’re wearing the one that’s torn
I guess it’s for someone else’s kid
Who wasn’t born in a poor man’s house

A poor man’s house

Hey, take a look at that house
Everybody we’re living in a poor man’s house
Seems like everywhere we go they find us out
Find out we’ve been living in a poor man’s house

-Patty Griffin