Motherless children have a hard time

When their mother's dead.

Motherless children have a hard time

When their mother's dead.

See them wander from door to door,

Lord, they don't got no place to go.

Nobody love you like your mother can

When your mother's dead.



Father will do the best he can

When your mother's dead. 

Father will do the best he can

When your mother's dead. 

Father will do the best he can

But some things, your father can't understand.

Nobody loves you like your mother can

When your mother's dead.



When your mother's dead

When your mother's dead, Lord

Nobody loves you like your mother can

When your mother's dead.



When your mother's dead.

When your mother's dead, Lord

Nobody loves you like your mother can

When your mother's dead.



Sister will do the best she can

When your mother's dead

Sister will do the best she can

But she'll go and leave you for another man

Nobody loves you like a mother can

When your mother's dead.



When your mother's dead

When your mother's dead

Nobody loves you like a mother can

When your mother's dead





When you mother's dead

When your mother's dead

Nobody wants you

Nobody needs you

Nobody loves you like a mother can

When your mother's dead