Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) was perhaps the most important folk musician of the twentieth century, inspiring a generation of singers and musicians such as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and many more. Guthrie sang about many topics, but he was particularly known for being a voice of the poor and downtrodden, and the recordings on Poor Boy showcase this side of his work. The recordings were made in the mid-1940s and were originally released under the name Bed on the Floor. Six tracks feature additional singing by Cisco Houston (1918-1961), and two feature harmonica accompaniment by Sonny Terry (1911-1986). The liner notes feature an excerpt from Born to Win, Guthrie's book of drawings, letters, lyrics, and stories.