HOW CAN A POOR MAN...

STAND SUCH TIMES AND LIVE?


Those are the lyrics and title of a brand new song written by Bruce Springsteen and debuted at JazzFest on Sunday. It's just one of several ways Bruce demnstrated his clear sence of reality and his ability to connect. A lot of people are going to, as they always do about someone, claim that Springsteen's appearance was superfluous and stupid, but those people weren't there. The people who were there got it when he sang Poor Man and when he turned "We Shall Overcome" into a truly communal church moment, or when he rededicated his "City In Ruins" to New Orleans... the whole band calling and the audience responding to the repeated command to "Rise Up!" When he closed with a slow accoustic version of "When The Saints Go Marching In" there wasn't a dry eye on the field.

But the new song... that was a Springsteen original and a homecoming present just for us. You can see a video of the performance here.

The song is an adaptation of an old song by Blind Alfred Reed that was written during The Great Depression. Springsteen kept the original first verse, but wrote three more about New Orleans after the storm. Here are the lyrics... pay particular attention to the second verse.

Well, the doctor comes 'round here with his face all bright
And he says "in a little while you'll be alright"
All he gives is a humbug pill, a dose of dope and a great big bill
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?

He says "me and my old school pals had some mighty high times down here
And what happened to you poor folks, well it just ain't fair"
He took a look around gave a little pep talk,
said "I'm with you" then he took a little walk
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?

There's bodies floatin' on Canal and the levees gone to Hell
Martha, get me my sixteen gauge and some dry shells
Them who's got got out of town
And them who ain't got left to drown
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?

I got family scattered from Texas all the way to Baltimore
And I ain't got no home in this world no more
Gonna be a judgment that's a fact, a righteous train rollin' down this track
Tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?