MOTHER MOTHER WHAT CAN I DO
A MAN HAS COME TO TAKE ME AWAY
MOTHER MOTHER HOW CAN I STAY
THIS IS MY CHILDHOOD HOME


THERE'S A MAN WHO DOESN'T LOVE ME
HOW CAN HE LOVE ME 
HE ONLY KNOWS MY NAME
BUT HE'S PROMISED TO KEEP ME
HE SAYS HE WILL KEEP ME
AND WE'LL MAKE A LIFE JUST THE SAME

HE'S GOT A HOUSE AND SOME LAND 
40 ACRES OF LAND
3 CHILDREN FROM HIS WIFE
THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE
THERE WILL BE WORK TO BE DONE
TILL WE'RE TAKEN FROM THIS LIFE
CHORUS:

BUT THE CHOICE IT MUST BE MADE
MOTHER MOTHER I'VE NOTHING TO LOSE
IT'S A HARD LIFE EITHER WAY

FIDDLE SOLO - VERSE

THIS HOUSE, I HATE TO LEAVE IT
THIS HOUSE, I HATE TO GRIEVE IT
BUT IT'S BEEN MY ONLY HOME

AND MAYBE HE WILL LOVE ME
HE COULD LEARN TO LOVE ME
AND HE WOULD BE MY OWN.

MOTHER, MOTHER, I'VE NOTHING TO CHOOSE
BUT THE CHOICE IT MUST BE MADE
MOTHER MOTHER I'VE NOTHING TO LOSE
IT'S A HARD LIFE EITHER WAY
MOTHER MOTHER I'VE NOTHING TO LOSE
IT'S A HARD LIFE EITHER WAY