Ralph Stanley Follow

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