How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?

How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?

Blind Alfred Reed

One of our earliest recorded American protest songs, “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?” was written in 1929 as a commentary on the Great Depression. It was written and recorded in New York City by Blind Alfred Reed, and has been covered by numerous artists, including Bruce Springsteen and Ry Cooder.