Mayflower

Poor Man's House
Patty Griffin
© One Big Love Music/Chrome Dog Music, ASCAP

You'll know you've done enough
When every bone is sore.
You'll know you've prayed enough
When you don't ask any more.
You'll know you're coming to some kind of understanding
When every dream you've dreamed is passed
And you're still standing.

Momma 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.
Every where they went before must've 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 ears
That've heard a whip go crack.
Lots of missing toes and fingers
And scars upon their back.

Daddy's been working too much
For days and days and doesn't eat.
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.
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.
In 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.