Perhaps The Greatest

Perhaps the greatest songwriter of the U S of A
Where many of his songs are national treasures today 
For a while wealthy and famous he died in poverty 
Fame can have it's price is how it seems to be 

Many of the songs he did write of the people without a god on their side
At parties and concerts in pubs today sung Worldwide
Though in the world of entertainment his is an enduring fame
He was one who died without a penny to his name

For humanity a legacy of beauty he did create
Stephen Collins Foster deserves the title of a songwriting great
Though songwriting greatness he cannot be denied
Poor and of alcoholic poisoning it is said that he died

As a songwriter none greater in the U S of A
And this is a big thing of him for to say
And the beauty he created in life does live on
Though since his time the last living breath from billions of people has gone.