Motherless children have a hard time When their mother is gone Motherless children have a hard time When their mother is gone Whoa, motherless children have a hard time All that weepin' and all that cryin', Lord Motherless children have a hard time When their mother is gone Tell the truth Papa do best he can When your mother is gone (Mother is gone) Papa do the best he can When your mother is gone (Mother is gone) Papa do the best he can So many little things that a man just don't understand, Lord Motherless children have a hard time When their mother is gone (Mother is gone) People say a sister will do When your mother is gone (Mother is gone) People say a sister will do When your mother is gone (Mother is gone) You know, people say a sister will do But she'll get married, turn her back on you, yeah Motherless children have a hard time When their mother is gone (Mother is gone) They have a hard time (Hard time) Don't you know that they have a hard time (Hard time) Yeah-hey, hey-hey (Hard time) Hey-hey-hey, it's a lonely crime (Hard time) And you know what I'm talkin' about, now (Hard time) They have a hard time (Hard time)