Was there ever a winter so cold and so sad The river too weary to flood The storming wind cut through to my skin But she cut through to my blood I was looking for trouble to tangle my line But trouble came looking for me I knew I was standing on treacherous ground I was sinking too fast to run free With her scheming, idle ways She left me poor enough The storming wind cut through to my skin But she cut through to my blood I would not be asking, I would not be seen A-beggin' on mountain or hill But I'm ready and blind with my hands tied behind I've neither a mind nor a will With her scheming, idle ways She left me poor enough The storming wind cut through to my skin But she cut through to my blood It's bitter the need of the poor ditching boy He'll always believe what they say They tell him it's hard to be honest and true Does he mind if he doesn't get paid? With her scheming, idle ways She left me poor enough The storming wind cut through to my skin But she cut through to my blood