(Bessie Smith)

Mister rich-man, rich-man, open up your heart and mind
Mister rich-man, rich-man, open up your heart and mind
Give the poor man a chance, help stop these hard, hard times

While you're livin' in your mansion you don't know what hard times means
While you're livin' in your mansion you don't know what hard times means
Poor working man's wife is starvin', your wife is livin' like a queen

Please, listen to my pleading, 'cause I can't stand these hard times long
Oh, listen to my pleading, can't stand these hard times long
They'll make a honest man do things that you know is wrong

Poor man fought all the battles, poor man would fight again today
Poor man fought all the battles, poor man would fight again today
He would do anything you ask him in the name of the U.S.A.

Now the war is over, poor man must live the same as you
Now the war is over, poor man must live the same as you
If it wasn't for the poor man, mister rich-man what would you do?