Hungry little baby
On a cold hard floor
Crying for milk
But there ain't no more
We can't get credit
At the grocery store
That's how it is
When you're poor
Cry tears, little baby
For the future in store
A lot of troubles
For a child born poor
Slave all your life
Not knowing what for
That's how it is
When you're poor
There's not enough money
To go to school
We can't afford the clothes
To fit the social fools
Lord, forgive me
When I curse the rules
But that's how it is
When you're poor
Gotta work hard
Just the bills to be paid
Sixteen hours
There's a living to be made
Never get ahead
Just living day to day
That's how it is
When you're poor
Hard work buried
In the back of my mind
Don't have much money
But we got a lot of time
It's been done doing
Nothing but trying
But that's how it is
When you're poor
Old house needs fix
But that'll have to wait
I dream about the life
That could be real great
I hope it's not long
Or it'll be too late
But that's how it is
When you're poor