“Poor Little Joe (The Dying Newsboy)”

Description

The singer is in New York when he meets a newsboy -- "Although he was singing, he wanted for bread; Although he was smiling, he wished himself dead." The poor newsboy is ignored by the well-to-do, and is at last found dead in the street

Recordings

• Red Patterson's Piedmont Log Rollers, "Poor Little Joe" (Victor 35874, 1928)
• James Ragan [pseud. for Roy Harvey], "Poor Little Joe" (Challenge 394, c. 1928)
• Earl Shirkey & Roy Harper [Roy Harvey], "Poor Little Joe" (Columbia 15376-D, 1928)
• Arnold Keith Storm, "Poor Little Joe" (on AKStorm01)

References

1. Randolph 716, "Poor Little Joe" (1 text plus a fragment)
2. JHCox 152, "Poor Little Joe" (1 text)
3. JHCoxIIB, #33, p. 209, "Poor Little Joe" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
4. cf. Gardner/Chickering, p. 482, "Poor Little Joe" (source notes only)
5. Roud #3111
6. BI, R716