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The pictures that go along with this old proclaimers song are from women working in a aircraft factory during war time. So many beautiful women doing tasks that traditionally might be the sole domain of men.

Wars change society in so many ways, Back in the day, women moving out of the home and into the factory looks so revolutionary, When you look at these pictures are you able to tell if the women are from Russia or from America.

Anyhoo the song is about getting lucky with a girl, and the feeling you get when someone who you think is unobtainable suddenly becomes accessible.

It is about being lucky in love. We all need a bit of that sometimes

The first time I heard this song it was by Ry Cooder, and more recently Bruce Springsteen has done his own version of it but written his own lyrics to reflect the tragedy of the floods in New Orleans, but the original was done by Blind Albert Reed in 1929.

The song that Reed wrote had a ton of verses and I have selected a few of them to sing. What is evident is that the concerns people had back in the 20's are exactly the same as we have today ( Financial crises. food prices, education, misuse of power, health )

Everything changes but everything stays the same... and the poor, thank God, will always have music and dance

Lyrics

There was once a time when everything was cheap
But now prices almost puts a man to sleep
When we pay our grocery bill
We just feel like making our will
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live

I remember when dry goods were cheap as dirt
We could take two bits and buy a dandy shirt
Now we pay three bucks or more
Maybe get a shirt that another man wore
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live

Oh the schools we have today ain't worth a cent
But they see to it that every child is sent
If we don't send everyday
We have a heavy fine to pay
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live

Most our preachers preach for gold and not for souls
That's what keeps a poor man always in a hole
We can hardly get our breath
Taxed and schooled and preached to death
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live

Oh it's time for every man to be awake
We pay fifty cents a pound when we ask for steak
When we get our package home
A little wad of paper with gristle and a bone
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live

Well the doctor comes around with a face all bright
And he says in a little while you'll be all right
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