It was just a little store
On the back streets of Williamson, West Virginia
Thirty miles from Peter Creek where I used to live
It's gone now it has nothing more to give

Oh they had no fancy clothes
No suits for the well to do
They catered to poor folks
You know people like me and you

I remember back it was a long time ago
I think it was 1946 or so
It was my first visit to any town
I was only ten years old you know

The buildings were so big 
Some were three or four stories tall
To me that was big
Of course I was small

They had Murphy's five and dime 
The prices were really cheap
Penny candy, toys, and lots of other things
For a nickel or dime 
You could take them home to keep

But, Poor Man's Paradise
Was the place that impressed me
Y' they had more clothes 
Then I had ever seen

I had seen other folks
That dressed, and looked better then us
But I was as happy with my hand me downs
I would never complain or fuss

Poor Man's Paradise has disappeared 
From the Streets of that small town
Stores don't cater to poor folks
Reckon they don't want us around

There is a new store now it's called Goodwill
That has heard the cry of the poor
It has replaced "Poor Man's Paradise"
Thank God I don't need them anymore

But I do go to "Goodwill" from time to time
Oh not to buy things of course
But to take things 
It's my way of helping the poor

©James Sanders
2008
Used With Permission
All Rights Reserved By Author
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Artist: Randy Souders