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