I was a boy I was a good little boy Wantin' in the playground fun They said na na nay Boy you can't play 'Cause you were born a poor man's son I met a girl She was a pretty little girl Would you be my only one She said meet me where nobody can see 'Cause you were born a poor man's son I spend all my lifetime thinkin' what I coulda done Then I work my fingers to the bone I met a man He was a business man Said I'm a hard workin' son of a gun He said you know the rules you shoulda stayed in school
But you were born a poor man's son I spend all my lifetime thinkin' what I coulda done Then I work my fingers to the bone I met a guy He was a crazy guy He said I'm gonna get me some Let's go across the tracks where they keep the jack All we need is a little black gun They got the hounds and they tracked us down They said we know what you have done You're gonna do the time it's gonna fit the crime You shoulda shot a poor man's son You shoulda shot a poor man's son You shoulda shot a poor man's son