Motherless children
Have a hard time
When mother is gone
Mother is gone

Motherless children
Have a hard time
When mother is gone
Mother is gone

They don’t have
Nowhere to go
Wandering around
Door to door

Motherless children
(Have a hard time)
Have a hard time
Just when mother is gone
(Let me say this)
Mother is gone

Nobody on earth
Can take mother's place when
When mother’s gone
(Mother is gone)
Nobody on earth
Can take mother’s place
When mother is gone
(Mother is gone)
Nobody on earth
Can take mother’s place
Many will start
And then just fade away
Nobody
(Nobody treats ya)
Treats ya
(Like mother will)
Like mother will
Yeah, yeah
When mother is gone
Sho’ ‘nough, sho’ ‘nough
Mother is gone
Some people say
That sister will do
When mother is gone
(Mother is gone)
Some people say
That sister will do
When mother is gone
(Mother is gone)
Some people say
That sister will do
But when she get married
She’ll turn her back on you

Nobody treats ya
(Nobody treats ya)
(Like mother will)
Like mother will
When mother is gone
When mother is gone
(Mother is gone)

Well, father will do
The best he can
When mother is gone
(Mother is gone)
Yes, he will
He’ll do what he can
When mother is gone
(Mother is gone)
Yeah, he’ll do
The best he can
But so many things
He just don’t understand
Nobody
(Nobody treats ya)
Treats ya
(Like mother will)
Like your mother will
When mother is gone
Mother is gone

Motherless children
Have a hard time
When mother is gone
Mother is gone

Motherless children
Have a hard time
When mother is gone
Mother is gone

They don’t have
Nowhere to go
Wandering around
From door to door

Motherless children
Have a hard time
Have a hard time
When mother is gone
Mother is gone
Oh, Lord