Cat. #0588 (MFH #467) - As sung by Almeda Riddle, Heber Springs, Arkansas on October 23, 1965
VERSE 1
No home, no home, cried the orphent child
At th door of a princely hall
She shivering stood on th marble steps
An' leaned against the wall
VERSE 2
My Father alas, I never knew
He was lost on the ocean bright
My Mother sleeps in a new made grave
It's an orphant who begs tonight
VERSE 3
Give me a place out'a this cold wind
A place to lie down, she pled
A pallet in th corner would do for me
But please, a piece of bread
VERSE 4
But th rich man shook his haughty head
An' slammed the mansion door
His proud mouth curling with scorn as he said,
I've no room or bread for th poor
VERSE 5
Then I must freeze, n' she sank to th steps
Trying to cover her feet
With 'er ragged dress so tattered and torn
An' covered with snow an' with sleet
VERSE 6
Th rich man sat down at his table fine
Where he n' his family fed
The little girl wept in th snow on th steps
As she begged for piece of bread
VERSE 7
Th rich man lay down on a velvet couch
Dreamed about silver an' gold
The little girl slept in th snow on th steps
But mummer'd, I'm cold, so cold
VERSE 8
Th night rolled on an' th midnight chimes
Rang out her funeral knell
The earth was wrapped in a winding sheet
And th blinding snow still fell
VERSE 9
An' morning dawned th lettle girl
Lay dead at th rich mans door
Her soul had fled to realms above
For ther's room an' bread for th poor
VERSE 10
Th rich man still slept on th couch of down
But his soul to had fled
I don' know where such men go
I just know th rich man's dead