Mother's Children Have a Hard Time
| "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Blind Willie Johnson | |
| Recorded | Dallas, Texas, December 3, 1927 |
| Genre | Gospel blues |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Blind Willie Johnson[1] |
"Mother's Children Have a Hard Time", also known as "Motherless Children", is a gospel blues song recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1927. It is a solo performance, with Johnson singing and playing an acoustic slide guitar.
Background
Johnson recorded the song during his first session for the Columbia label in Dallas, Texas, on December 3, 1927.[2] The lyrics are autobiographical, since Johnson's mother died when he was young. His father remarried soon after her death, and later, the stepmother allegedly threw a caustic solution, which blinded the boy:[2] "Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead, Well don't have anywhere to go, Wandering 'round from door to door".[3]
Blues researcher
Covering Artists
Following Johnson's original recording in 1927, the song has been covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard under the title "Motherless Children".[6][7]
References
- ^ BMI currently lists "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" as BMI Work #6763772 and "Johnson Willie" as the songwriter/composer. "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time". BMI. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
- ^ a b Layne, Joslyn. "Blind Willie Johnson – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Charters 1993, pp. 17–18.
- ^ Charters 1993, p. 18.
- ^ Charters 1993, p. 17.
- ISBN 978-0-7611-5385-6.
- ^ "Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
Bibliography
- The Complete Blind Willie Johnson (CD booklet). Blind Willie Johnson. New York City: Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings. C2K 52835.
- Evans, David (2008). Ramblin' on My Mind: New Perspectives on the Blues. ISBN 0-252-07448-3
- Sackheim, Eric (2003). The Blues Line: Blues Lyrics from Leadbelly to Muddy Waters. ISBN 1-56025-567-6
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