You came where the river bends
With shoes that never saw the end
I came barefoot, heart in hand
You smiled — you tried to understand
They said you were above
This kind of dirt-floor love
But I saw something in your face
A recognition — grace
Poor man, poor man
Love in rags still stands
Poor man, poor man
Barefoot on this land
I am the one who survives
A poor man's heart never dies
They mocked my clothes, my empty plate
They said I wasn't fit for fate
But love's not stitched in velvet thread
It's found in words we never said
I held my head — I held my ground
While they tried to cut me down
This poverty is holy, see
It made a prophet out of me
Poor man, poor man
Love in rags still stands
Poor man, poor man
Barefoot on this land
I am the one who survives
A poor man's heart never dies
Hallelujah for the river stones
Hallelujah for these bones
I loved you pure, I loved you clean
The richest thing they've never seen
I see you now in silken halls
While I still sing beside these walls
You wear their jewels, you speak their tongue
But I remember when we were young
By the water, by the bend
Before the world came rushing in
You touched my face like I was blessed
Like poverty was holiness
Poor man, poor man
Love in rags still stands
Poor man, poor man
Barefoot on this land
I am the one who survives
A poor man's heart never dies
Poor man
Poor man
Still standing by the river
Poor man
