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Poor Boy

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Fminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/11

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 11Position: 8

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

note: see below for chords
INTRO
Cm7 Fm7sus2 x2
VERSE 1
  Cm7Never sing Bm7for my supper
  Cm7I never helped my Bm7neighbour
  Cm7Never do Bm7what is proper
  Cm7For my fair share of Bm7labour
   Bbm7I?m a Ebm7sus2poor boy
  Bbm7And I?m a Ebm7sus2rover
  Bbm7Count yoEbm7sus2ur coins and
         Bbm7Ebm7sus2 Cm7  
  Throw them over my  shoulder
I may Bm7grow older
PRE-CHORUS
  C7Nobody knows
  B7How cold it grows
  Bb7And nobody sees
  CHow shaky my knees
  C7Nobody cares 
  B7How steep my stairs
  Bb7And nobody smiles
  CIf I cross their stiles
CHORUS
 COh Fmaj7poor boy
 CSo sorry for himFmaj7self
 COh Fmaj7poor boy
 CSo worried for his Fmaj7health
You may Gsay every day
Where will he stay toCm7night
SOLO
Cm7 Fm7sus2 x2
VERSE 2
  Cm7Never know Bm7what I came for
  Cm7Seems that I?ve foBm7rgotten
  Cm7Never ask Bm7what I came from
  Cm7Or how I was beBm7gotten
  Bbm7I?m a Ebm7sus2poor boy
  Bbm7And I?m a Ebm7sus2ranger
Bbm7Things I Ebm7sus2say 
    Bbm7Ebm7sus2       Cm7  
May seem stranger than Sunday 
Changing Bm7to Monday
PRE-CHORUS
 C7Nobody knows 
 B7How cold it flows
 Bb7And nobody feels
 CThe worn down heels
 C7Nobody?s eyes 
 B7Make the skies
 Bb7Nobody spreads
 CTheir aching heads
CHORUS
 COh Fmaj7poor boy
 CSo worried for his Fmaj7life
 COh Fmaj7poor boy
 CSo keen to take a Fmaj7wife
He?s a Gmess but he?ll say yes
If you just dress in Cm7white
SOLO (follows the chord pattern of the verse)
   Cm7           Bm7x4
Bbm7  Ebm7sus2    x4
Cm7   Bm7
PRE-CHORUS
 C7Nobody knows 
 B7How cold it blows 
 Bb7And nobody sees
 CHow shaky my knees
 C7Nobody cares
 B7How steep my stairs
 Bb7And nobody smiles
 CIf you cross their stiles
CHORUS
 COh Fmaj7poor boy
 CSo sorry for himFmaj7self
 COh Fmaj7poor boy
 CSo worried for his Fmaj7health
You may Gsay every day
Where will he stay toCm7night
SOLO
Cm7 Fm7sus2 x2
OUTRO (the choir sings on)
   C                         Fmaj7\
 Oh poor boy                     \ 
                   C           Fmaj7\
 So worried for his life           \
   C                             Fmaj7|
 Oh poor boy                        |
                  C              Fmaj7|
 So keen to take a wife             |
                                    |
                                    - repeat while fading out
   C                             Fmaj7|   
 Oh poor boy                        |
                C                Fmaj7|
 So sorry for himself               |
   C                            Fmaj7/
 Oh poor boy                      /
                   C          Fmaj7/
 So worried for his health      /
CHORDS
    Cm7    Bm7   Bbm7Ebm7sus2    C7    B7    Bb7    C    Fmaj7    GFm7sus2
e|------------------------------------------------3-----------|
B|-8---7----6------6-------8---7---6----8---10----3---8-------|
G|-8---7----6------6-------9---8---7----9---9-----4---8-------|
D|-8---7----6------8-------8---7---6----10--10----5---10------|
A|-10--9----8------6-------10--9---8----10--8-----5---8-------|
E|-8---7----6--------------8---7---6----8---------3-----------|

All chords in this song (9)

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Poor Boy

by Nick Drake

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Cm7

Bm7

Bbm7

Bb7

Fmaj7

note: see below for chords

INTRO

Cm7 Fm7sus2 x2

VERSE 1

Cm7 Bm7

Never sing for my supper

Cm7 Bm7

I never helped my neighbour

Cm7 Bm7

Never do what is proper

Cm7 Bm7

For my fair share of labour

Bbm7 Ebm7sus2

I?m a poor boy

Bbm7 Ebm7sus2

And I?m a rover

Bbm7 Ebm7sus2

Count your coins and

Bbm7 Cm7

Ebm7sus2

Throw them over my shoulder

Bm7

I may grow older

PRE-CHORUS

Nobody knows

How cold it grows

Bb7

And nobody sees

How shaky my knees

Nobody cares

How steep my stairs

Bb7

And nobody smiles

If I cross their stiles

CHORUS

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy

C Fmaj7

So sorry for himself

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy

C Fmaj7

So worried for his health

You may say every day

Cm7

Where will he stay tonight

SOLO

Cm7 Fm7sus2 x2

VERSE 2

Cm7 Bm7

Never know what I came for

Cm7 Bm7

Seems that I?ve forgotten

Cm7 Bm7

Never ask what I came from

Cm7 Bm7

Or how I was begotten

Bbm7 Ebm7sus2

I?m a poor boy

Bbm7 Ebm7sus2

And I?m a ranger

Bbm7 Ebm7sus2

Things I say

Bbm7 Cm7

Ebm7sus2

May seem stranger than Sunday

Bm7

Changing to Monday

PRE-CHORUS

Nobody knows

How cold it flows

Bb7

And nobody feels

The worn down heels

Nobody?s eyes

Make the skies

Bb7

Nobody spreads

Their aching heads

CHORUS

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy

C Fmaj7

So worried for his life

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy

C Fmaj7

So keen to take a wife

He?s a mess but he?ll say yes

Cm7

If you just dress in white

SOLO (follows the chord pattern of the verse)

Cm7 Bm7

Bbm7 Ebm7sus2 x4

Cm7 Bm7

PRE-CHORUS

Nobody knows

How cold it blows

Bb7

And nobody sees

How shaky my knees

Nobody cares

How steep my stairs

Bb7

And nobody smiles

If you cross their stiles

CHORUS

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy

C Fmaj7

So sorry for himself

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy

C Fmaj7

So worried for his health

You may say every day

Cm7

Where will he stay tonight

SOLO

Cm7 Fm7sus2 x2

OUTRO (the choir sings on)

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy \

C Fmaj7

So worried for his life \

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy |

C Fmaj7

So keen to take a wife |

- repeat while fading out

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy |

C Fmaj7

So sorry for himself |

C Fmaj7

Oh poor boy /

C Fmaj7

So worried for his health /

CHORDS

Cm7 Bm7 Bbm7 C7 B7 Bb7 C Fmaj7 G

Ebm7sus2 Fm7sus2

e|------------------------------------------------3-----------|

B|-8---7----6------6-------8---7---6----8---10----3---8-------|

G|-8---7----6------6-------9---8---7----9---9-----4---8-------|

D|-8---7----6------8-------8---7---6----10--10----5---10------|

A|-10--9----8------6-------10--9---8----10--8-----5---8-------|

E|-8---7----6--------------8---7---6----8---------3-----------|

About Poor Boy Chords by Nick Drake

Learn how to play Poor Boy by Nick Drake with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Poor Boy chords”, “Poor Boy guitar chords”, or “Nick Drake Poor Boy chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Poor Boy chords and for experienced players who want accurate Poor Boy lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Cm7, Bm7, Bbm7, C7, B7, Bb7.

FAQ — Poor Boy by Nick Drake

How do I play "Poor Boy" by Nick Drake on guitar?

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Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Poor Boy" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Poor Boy"?

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Is "Poor Boy" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Poor Boy" in?

The chords for "Poor Boy" show the original chord names (including Cm7, Bm7, Bbm7, C7, B7, Bb7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.