Mother's Children Have a Hard Time
Blind Willie Johnson
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Well, well, well, ah A motherless children have a hard time Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead They'll not have anywhere to go, wanderin' around from door to door Have a hard time Nobody on earth can take a mother's place when, when mother is dead, Lord Nobody on earth takes mother's place when, mother's dead Nobody on earth takes mother's place, when you were startin', paved the way Nobody treats you like mother will when Your wife or husband may be good to you, when mother is dead, Lord They'll be good to you, mother's dead A wife or a husband may be good to you, but, better than nothing has proved untrue Nobody treats you like mother will when, when mother is dead, Lord Lord, Lord, Lord Yeah, well, ah Well, some people say that sister will do, when mother is dead That sister will do when mother's dead Some people say that sister will do, but, as soon as she's married, she turn her back on you Nobody treats you like mother will And father will do the best he can, when mother is dead, Lord Well, the best he can when mother is dead Father will do the best he can, so many things a father can't understand Nobody treats you like mother will A motherless children have a hard time, when mother is dead, Lord Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead They'll not have anywhere to go, Wanderin' around from door to door Have a hard time
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10 facts about this song
Historical Significance"Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" (also known as "Motherless Children") was written and recorded by Blind Willie Johnson, an American bluesman, during the Great Depression.
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Date of ReleaseThis influential work was first recorded on Wednesday, April 20, 1927 in Atlanta, GA, and was released later that year.
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Song GenreEven though the artist Blind Willie Johnson was principally a gospel blues artist, the song "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" blends elements of folk, blues, and gospel music genres.
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Artist BackgroundBlind Willie Johnson lost his eyesight at a young age, and this experience greatly influenced his music style, including this song.
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Belief ThemeLike most of Blind Willie Johnson’s songs, "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" also integrates Christian belief themes involving the struggles faced by the less fortunate, along with the bones of hope present in his faith.
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Vocal TechniqueBlind Willie Johnson's distinctive raspy "false-bass" voice in "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" makes it stand out as an iconic piece of music history.
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RemakesThe song has been performed by various artists over the years, with Eric Clapton's version becoming particularly popular, underscoring the song’s enduring influence in the world of music.
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Lyric InterpretationThe lyrics of "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" speak not just to the hardship of losing a mother, but are often interpreted as a broader commentary on social isolation and struggle.
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LegacyBlind Willie Johnson's recording of "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" was included in the 2018 multi-disc compilation "American Epic: The Collection", aiming to recognize seminal 20th Century American music tracks.
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Personal CircumstancesContrastingly, Blind Willie Johnson's recordings, including "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time", didn't earn him much wealth or recognition during his lifetime and he spent his last years living in poverty. This gives an extra layer of meaning and poignancy to this song.
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Citation
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"Mother's Children Have a Hard Time Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6903875/Blind+Willie+Johnson/Mother%27s+Children+Have+a+Hard+Time>.
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