“Motherless Children”

Description

"Nobody treat you like mother will when mother is dead." (Various surrogate parents are suggested, but the children "have no place to go." "Motherless children have a hard time when mother is gone.")

Recordings

• Bessemer Melody Singers, "Motherless Children" (Victor V-38606, 1930; Bluebird B-5041 [as Bessemer Melody Boys], 1933)
• The Blind Pilgrim, "Motherless Children" (Anchor 380, n.d.)
• Carter Family, "Motherless Children" (Victor 23641, 1932; Bluebird B-5924, 1935; Montgomery Ward M-5010, 1936; rec. 1929)
• Roscoe Holcomb, "Motherless Children" (on Holcomb2, HolcombCD1)
• Joe, John & Janey Hunter & Mable Hillery, "Motherless Child" (on JohnsIsland1)
• Blind Willie Johnson, "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" (Columbia 14343-D, 1928; Vocalion 03021, 1935; rec. 1927; on BWJ02)
• Blind Gussie Nesbitt, "Motherless Children" (Decca 7131, 1935)
• Joshua White, "Motherless Children" (Banner 32859/Melotone 12786, 1933) (Musicraft 250 [as Josh White Trio], c. 1944)

References

1. Botkin-SoFolklr, p. 761, "Motherless Children Sees a Hard Time" (1 text, 1 tune -- a lyric piece, but with enough common lyrics to apparently belong here)
2. Courlander-NFM, pp. 143-144, "(Motherless Children)" (1 text); pp. 269-270, "Motherless Children" (1 tune, partial text)
3. Silber-FSWB, p. 58, "Motherless Children" (1 text)
4. DT, MOTHRLSS*
5. Roud #16113
6. BI, BSoF761