There's a single mother working
Trying hard to make ends meet
She's got two boys and another on the way
And it's a cold and crowded winter
In a West Virginia shack
And she cries
Lord, Lord, when are you coming back.

Old man down by the river
With a bottle in his hand
It's as empty as the pockets in his clothes
And he's drifting off to somewhere
Walking down the railroad track
Singin' Lord, Lord, when are you coming back.

Chorus:
Is it gonna be Monday
Is it gonna be Tuesday, Lord
Is it gonna be mornin', nighttime or noon
I know it's gonna be one day
Sooner or later, yea
But the way it's been lately
I hope it's gonna be soon.

It's getting loose around the edges
But I know you're gonna take up the slack
Lord, Lord, when are you coming back.

Chorus:
Is it gonna be Monday
Is it gonna be Tuesday, Lord
Is it gonna be mornin', nighttime or noon
I know it's gonna be one day
Sooner or later, yea
But the way it's been lately
I hope it's gonna be soon.

I've been reading the local paper
I've been watching the nightly news
Yea, this ole world's just rippin' at the seams
And with a past, dark and brooding
And a future looking black
It's got me thinkin'
Lord, Lord when are you coming back
Lord, Lord when are you coming back
Lord, Lord when are you coming back.

Chorus:
Is it gonna be Monday
Is it gonna be Tuesday, Lord
Is it gonna be mornin', nighttime or noon
I know it's gonna be one day
Sooner or later, yea
But the way it's been lately
I hope it's gonna be soon...