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?