Poor Little Joe

Cat. #1577 (MFH #498) - As sung by Mildred Ivie, Goodman, Missouri on September 27, 1976

VERSE 1
While walking along in New York City's great throng
I met a poor boy who was singing a song
He was singing a song, while begging for bread
And as I walked past him he wished himself dead

VERSE 2
Cold was th wind, deep was th snow
No place for shelter, no where for to go
No Mother to guide him, in th grave she lies low
Lying out in th cold streets was poor little Joe

VERSE 3
A carriage passed by with a lady inside
She looked at poor Joe an' saw that he cried
He followed th carriage but she gave him not a smile
She was only caressing her own darling child

VERSE 4
Th lights had gone out, th clock had struck one
Everybody ws going home for their duties were done
Bright eyes turned toward Heaven they were covered with snow
Lying out in th cold streets was poor little Joe

VERSE 5
Cold was th wind, deep was th snow
No place for shelter, no where for to go
No Mother to guide him, in th grave she lies low
Lying out in th cold streets was poor little Joe

VERSE 6
When morning had dawn, little Joe, he was dead
He will never more sleep on a cold snowy bed
He will never more wander, he'll never more roam
For the Angels have carried poor little Joe home

Variants