POVERTY ROW
By: Dixie Hall (BMI)
Tom T. Hall (BMI)

CHORUS: THERE'S JUST ONE THING HARDER THAN DIGGING THE COAL
THAT'S RAISING CHILDREN ON POVERTY ROW

VERSE 1: THE WOMAN LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF HER DAUGHTER
SAID THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
SHE SAID I'VE BEEN THINKING 'BOUT YOUR DADDY'S DRINKING
AND LIFE HERE ON POVERTY ROW

VERSE 2: YOU'D BE BETTER OFF MOVING INTO THE CITY
AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK YOU SHOULD GO
LEAVE HERE TODAY WITH YOUR INNOCENCE SHINING
FORGET ABOUT POVERTY ROW

VERSE 3: SO NELLIE MOVED ON TO A LIFE IN THE CITY
AND NO ONE COULD MENTION HER NAME
HER MAMA KEPT PRAYING HER DADDY KEPT CURSING
AND LIFE THERE WAS NEVER THE SAME

CHORUS: THERE'S NOTHING AS COLD WHEN THE WINTER WINDS BLOW
AS HEARTS THAT ARE FROZEN ON POVERTY ROW

VERSE 4: NELLIE CAME CRYING BACK UP TO THE MOUNTAIN
HEARTBROKEN AND HEAVY WITH CHILD
THE NEIGHBORS ALL PEEKED THROUGH THE HOLES IN THEIR CURTAINS
AND WHISPERED HOW NELL HAD GONE WILD

VERSE 5: HER SISTERS BOTH WENT OUT AND HID IN THE CELLAR
HER MAMA JUST STOOD THERE AND CRIED
HER DADDY HE CURSED AND HE SAID TO HER MAMA
I'D JUST AS SOON HEAR THAT SHE DIED

CHORUS: THERE'S ONE THING FOR CERTAIN WHERE CROPS WILL NOT GROW
DON'T NEED MORE YOUNG'UNS ON POVERTY ROW

VERSE 6: NELLIE GAVE BIRTH TO THE UNWELCOME BABY
HER DADDY WAS DRINKING ALL NIGHT
NELL GATHERED UP ALL HER MEAGER POSSESSIONS
AND LEFT AT THE MORNING'S FIRST LIGHT

VERSE 7: WE STILL HEAR THE CRIES OF THE POOR LITTLE BABY
AT NIGHT WHEN THE WINTER WINDS BLOW
JUST SEVEN POUNDS ADDED TO WEIGH ON THE CONSCIENCE
OF PEOPLE ON POVERTY ROW

CHORUS: THERE'S NOTHING ON THIS EARTH CAN TORTURE THE SOUL
LIKE CRIES OF A BABY ON POVERTY ROW