(Traditional)
Well, well, well, ah
A motherless children have a hard time
Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead
They'll not have anywhere to go, wanderin' around from
door to door
Have a hard time
Nobody on earth can take a mother's place when, when
mother is dead, Lord
Nobody on earth takes mother's place when, mother's
dead
Nobody on earth takes mother's place,
When you were startin', paved the way
Nobody treats you like mother will when
Your wife or husband may be good to you, when mother is
dead, Lord
They'll be good to you, mother's dead
A wife or a husband may be good to you,
But, better than nothing has proved untrue
Nobody treats you like mother will when, when mother is
dead, Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord
Yeah, well, ah
Well, some people say that sister will do, when mother
is dead
That sister will do when mother's dead
Some people say that sister will do,
But, as soon as she's married, she turn her back on you
Nobody treats you like mother will
And father will do the best he can, when mother is
dead, Lord
Well, the best he can when mother is dead
Father will do the best he can,
So many things a father can't understand
Nobody treats you like mother will
A motherless children have a hard time, when mother is
dead, Lord
Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead
They'll not have anywhere to go,
Wanderin' around from door to door
Have a hard time