In recent years, Nicholson has also moved into music production, working on albums for artists such as Angie Hart (Frente), Catherine Britt, Beccy Cole, Sarah Humphreys, Nikki Jensen, Israel Cannan, and the Quarry Mountain Dead Rats. Nicholson was named Producer of the Year at the 2013 Country Music Awards of Australia.
Poor Boy
Shane Nicholson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never help my neighbour
Never do what is proper
For my share of labour.
I'm a poor boy
And I'm a rover
Count your coins and
Throw them over my shoulder
I may grow older
Nobody knows
How cold it grows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If I cross their stiles.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health.
You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight.
Never know what I came for
Seems that I've forgotten
Never ask what I came for
Or how I was begotten.
I'm a poor boy
And I'm a ranger
Things I say
May seem stranger than Sunday
Changing to Monday.
Nobody knows
How cold it flows
And nobody feels
The worn down heels
Nobody's eyes
Make the skies
Nobody spreads
Their aching heads.
Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife.
He's a mess but he'll say yes
If you just dress in white.
Nobody knows
How cold it blows
And nobody sees
How shaky my knees
Nobody cares
How steep my stairs
And nobody smiles
If you cross their stiles.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health.
You may say every day
Where will he stay tonight.
Oh poor boy
So worried for his life
Oh poor boy
So keen to take a wife.
Oh poor boy
So sorry for himself
Oh poor boy
So worried for his health
Oh poor boy.
The lyrics to Shane Nicholson's "Poor Boy" describe the everyday struggles of a man who seems to have given up on improving his lot in life. He is a poor boy and a rover who doesn't sing for his supper, doesn't help his neighbour, and doesn't do what is proper. He seems to have lost hope and direction in his life, always on the move, always searching for something that is just out of reach. The singer speaks of his shaky knees, steep stairs, and the fact that nobody seems to care about his well-being or the struggles he faces every day. The constant repetition of "poor boy" and "worried for his health" highlight just how hopeless this man's situation is, and how isolated he feels in a world that doesn't seem to care about him.
Despite the bleak subject matter, there is a sense of resignation in the singer's voice. He seems to have accepted his fate, and the lines "He's a mess but he'll say yes / If you just dress in white" suggest that he is open to possibilities but doesn't actively seek them out. It is a poignant reminder of how easy it is to get stuck in a rut, and how important it is to take action to improve our situations, even when it seems hopeless. Overall, the lyrics of "Poor Boy" are a powerful commentary on the human condition, and the struggles that we all face at one point or another in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Never sing for my supper
I do not help others or do the right thing unless there is something in it for me.
I never help my neighbour
I do not like to lend a helping hand to anyone around me, even if they need it.
Never do what is proper
I do not believe in following societal norms or doing what is expected of me.
For my share of labour.
I feel that I am not entitled to work unless there is an immediate reward for me.
I'm a poor boy
Despite all my shortcomings, I do not have much to my name.
And I'm a rover
I have no fixed address or place that I call home.
Count your coins and
The only thing that would help me right now is a little bit of financial assistance.
Throw them over my shoulder
I hope that with a little monetary help, I can easily move forward from my current situation.
I may grow older
I may become older but it is uncertain where my life will lead me.
Nobody knows
My situation is such that nobody can be sure what will happen to me next.
How cold it grows
My existence is desolate and unpleasant with no hope of a better tomorrow.
And nobody sees
The people around me do not care or want to acknowledge how bad things are for me.
How shaky my knees
I am terrified of the future and how it could affect me.
Nobody cares
The people around me do not want to invest any time or effort into helping me.
How steep my stairs
The journey ahead is difficult and challenging and I have no assistance to make it through.
And nobody smiles
The people I know do not think my predicament is worth even a hint of happiness.
If I cross their stiles.
If I try to interact with people who aren't in the same position as me, I am not sure what their response will be.
Oh poor boy
I cannot escape my current situation even though I want to.
So sorry for himself
I feel nothing but pity for my situation and myself.
So worried for his health.
I am anxious about my future and my wellbeing.
You may say every day
People may talk about me and gossip behind my back, but that doesn't help me.
Where will he stay tonight.
People are uncertain of my future and whether I will be able to find a place to sleep.
Never know what I came for
I have lost sight of my goals and do not remember why I started in the first place.
Seems that I've forgotten
My memory and focus have been impaired, and I cannot find my path.
Never ask what I came for
I'm not really sure why I'm doing what I'm doing anymore.
Or how I was begotten.
I do not remember how I got here or what led me to this point in my life.
And I'm a ranger
I am constantly moving with no purpose or destination in sight.
Things I say
The words that come out of my mouth might seem strange or out of place to others.
May seem stranger than Sunday
What I say might come off as odd or peculiar to others in ways that they wouldn't expect.
Changing to Monday.
The unpredictability of my life and existence means that I cannot predict what will come next.
Nobody feels
The pain and suffering that I experience every day is mine alone, and no one wants to acknowledge it.
The worn down heels
The journey ahead of me feels tiring, exhausting and like walking barefoot with blisters.
Nobody's eyes
People seem to go out of their way to avoid noticing how bad things are for me.
Make the skies
The sky above me is grey and overcast, and it feels like it's been that way for a long time.
Nobody spreads
There is no one to comfort or support me.
Their aching heads.
The people I know do not want to acknowledge any unpleasant emotions, such as pain or sadness.
So worried for his life
I am very concerned about staying alive and well, given the insecurity of my financial situation.
So keen to take a wife.
I need companionship and emotional support but do not have the means to provide it myself.
He's a mess but he'll say yes
Even though I may not be presentable or look the part, I will agree to anything that might help me.
If you just dress in white.
Anything that may help me, including a loving relationship, seems out of reach and difficult to claim.
Oh poor boy
My situation is very unfortunate and unlucky.
So worried for his health
My anxiety about the future and my physical wellbeing persists.
So sorry for himself
I feel as though there is little to no hope of me needing able to drastically change my life around.
Oh poor boy.
Even though my situation is bleak, I am still determined to move forward in any capacity I can.
Contributed by Mackenzie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tara
Thanks for this! Gotta love Shane =]