Ry Cooder - How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?

                                                 Album "Showtime " 

                                                Maybe the best slideguitarsolo ever?

   "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?" is an American folk song originally recorded on December 4, 1929 in New York City. It was written, composed, and performed by Blind Alfred Reed, accompanying himself on the violin. The song tells of hard times during the Great Depression. It is considered an early example of a protest song.

There was once a time when everything was cheap.

But now prices almost puts a man to sleep.

When we pay our grocery bill,

we just feel like making our will.

Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?

-First verse from original version by Blind Alfred Reed

                    Blind Alfred Reed, at right, with fiddler Fred Pendleton in about 1927.