Very Unfortunate Man

This was recorded during my second visit the the Smith Barn Concert series in Covington, PA on November 2, 2012. Bruce and Debbie Smith host this wonderful, intimate house concert series for their friends, and Bruce joined me to play this great old song. Many thanks to our good friends Bruce and Debbie and all the wonderful folks who came to enjoy the music!

VERY UNFORTUNATE MAN (traditional)

There once was a lawyer they called Mr. Clay
He had but two clients and they wouldn't pay
At last of starvation he grew so afraid
That he courted and married a wealthy old maid

At the wedding the lawyer made one big mistake
It was not in omitting the wine or the cake
The ring was well chosen, they had a big feed
But the lawyer did not get a warrantee deed

CHORUS:
He's a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate man
He's a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate man

That night in their chamber the maiden arose
And began to prepare to retire and repose
Her husband sat near her admiring her charms
Which gave him such pleasure to hold in his arms

She went to the basin to bathe her fair face
And thus she destroyed all her beauty and grace
The rose in her cheeks quickly grew very faint
And he saw on the towel it was nothing but paint

She went to the mirror to take down her hair
And when she had done so her scalp was all bare
Her trembling husband thought sure he would die
When she asked him to come and take out her glass eye

The lawyer was biting his quivering lips
As she was removing her counterfeit hips
Just then her false nose clattered down on the floor
And the poor lawyer screamed and ran out at the door

Come all you young men who would marry for life
Be sure to examine your intended wife
Remember the lawyer who trusted his eyes
And a little bit later got quite a surprise

He's a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate man
He's a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate, a very unfortunate man