Capo 3rd fret 
 
 
             G                         D                       G    
Well, the doctor comes 'round here with his face all bright  
                                                  D    
And he says "in a little while you'll be alright" 
         G                                       C                      Am   
All he gives is a humbug pill, a dose of dope and a great big bill  
            G                       D                         C             D G 
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live? 
                                                             D                         G    
He says "me and my old school pals had some might high times down here  
                                                                            D     
And what happened to you poor black folks, well it just ain't fair"  
                     G                                            C                                  Am   
He took a look around gave a little pep talk, said "I'm with you" then he took a little walk 
            G                         D                       C            D G 
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live? 
                                                    D               G     
There's bodies floatin' on Canal and the levees gone to Hell  
                                                            D     
Martha, get me my sixteen gauge and some dry shells  
                G                   
Them who's got got out of town 
                   C                  Am    
And them who ain't got left to drown  
           G                        D                        C        D G 
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?  
                                           D                     G    
I got family scattered from Texas all the way to Baltimore  
                                                  D     C 
And I ain't got no home in this world no more  
               G                                          C                           Am 
Gonna be a judgment that's a fact, a righteous train rollin' down this track  
            G                        D                        C       D G 
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?