The Poor Ditching Boy

	Was there ever a winter so cold and so sad
	The river too weary to flood
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood
	I was looking for trouble to tangle my line
	But trouble came looking for me
	I knew I was standing on treacherous ground
	I was sinking too fast to run free
	With her scheming, idle ways
	She left me poor enough
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood
	I would not be asking, I would not be seen
	A-beggin’ on mountain or hill
	But I’m ready and blind with my hands tied behind
	I’ve neither a mind nor a will
	With her scheming, idle ways
	She left me poor enough
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood
	It’s bitter the need of the poor ditching boy
	He’ll always believe what they say
	They tell him it’s hard to be honest and true
	Does he mind if he doesn’t get paid?
	With her scheming, idle ways
	She left me poor enough
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood

	Was there ever a winter so cold and so sad
	The river too weary to flood
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood
	I was looking for trouble to tangle my line
	But trouble came looking for me
	I knew I was standing on treacherous ground
	I was sinking too fast to run free
	With her scheming, idle ways
	She left me poor enough
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood
	I would not be asking, I would not be seen
	Abeggin' on mountain or hill
	But I' m ready and blind with my hands tied behind
	I' ve neither a mind nor a will
	With her scheming, idle ways
	She left me poor enough
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood
	It' s bitter the need of the poor ditching boy
	He' ll always believe what they say
	They tell him it' s hard to be honest and true
	Does he mind if he doesn' t get paid?
	With her scheming, idle ways
	She left me poor enough
	The storming wind cut through to my skin
	But she cut through to my blood