Level: 2/3
Tuning: Open D

"Poor Boy Long Ways From Home" is a traditional blues song of unknown origin. As with most traditional blues songs, there is great variation in the melody and lyrical content as performed by different artists. The tune became a John Fahey standard. He played it an open D tuning using a strong alternating bass.

There are many source recordings for this tune. In 1927 Gus Cannon (as Banjo Joe) recorded a magical version on bottleneck slide banjo with Blind Blake accompanying him on guitar. Robert Wilkins had a variation recorded in 1929 titled "That's No Way To Get Along" (aka "The Prodigal Son") that was recorded by the Rolling Stones.