Motherless Children - Ralph Stanley

Motherless children sees a hard time 
When their mother's dead
Motherless children sees a hard time 
When their mother's dead
They are driven out in the cold
Cause they've got no place to go
Motherless children sees a hard time 
When their mother's dead 

Orphan children sees a hard time in this world
Orphan children sees a hard time in this world
Sister does the best she can
But she don't really understand
Orphan children sees a hard time in this world 

Brother won't treat you like mother will 
When your mother's dead
Brother won't treat you like mother will 
When your mother's dead
You may ask for a piece of bread
You are told to go to bed
Motherless children sees a hard time 
When your mother's dead 

Orphan children sees a hard time in this world
Orphan children sees a hard time in this world
Sister does the best she can
But she don't really understand
Orphan children sees a hard time in this world 

Friends won't treat you like mother will 
When your mother's dead
Friends won't treat you like mother will 
When your mother's dead
They will tell you what to do 
Then they'll turn their back on you
Motherless children sees a hard time 
When their mother's dead 

Orphan children sees a hard time in this world
Orphan children sees a hard time in this world
Sister does the best she can
She really don't understand
Orphan children sees a hard time in this world