"Pauper's Grave" lyrics - RICHARD THOMPSON

They found him by the side of the road under two feet of snow
Heaven was the last place he was expecting to go
Nothing in his pocket but a letter nearly falling apart
He read the thing so many times he must have learned it by heart

[Chorus:]
So dress him in a cheap suit, run a comb through his hair
It's the decent thing to do though there'll be nobody there
Put a little rouge on his cheeks, give him one last shave
Before we lower him down in his pauper's grave
His pauper's grave

Well, too many nights spent sleeping on a cold barn floor
The spirit was willing but his body couldn't take any more
Hope was the name of the last town he just passed through
If you're not done with life, one day life's done with you

[Chorus:]
So put him in a cheap suit, run a comb through his hair
It's the decent thing to do though there'll be nobody there
Put a little rouge on his cheeks, give him one last shave
Before we lower him down in his pauper's grave

[Guitar solo]

[Chorus:]
So dress him in a cheap suit, run a comb through his hair
It's the decent thing to do though there'll be nobody there
Put a little rouge on his cheeks, give him one last shave
Before we lower him down in his pauper's grave
Before we lower him down in his pauper's grave
His pauper's grave