Dark Was The Night
Kronos Quartet Lyrics
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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
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 daed, 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
The lyrics of "Dark Was the Night" by Kronos Quartet can be interpreted as a lamentation for the loss of a mother. The singer expresses the difficulty that children face when they lose their mother. The refrain, "Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the loss and the lack of support for the children left behind. The singer also acknowledges that no one can take the place of a mother. The love and care of a mother are unique and cannot be replicated by anyone else. While a spouse or a sibling may try to fill the void left by a mother's death, they can never fully replace her.
The song also explores the loneliness and isolation that motherless children face. They wander from door to door, seeking comfort and refuge but finding none. The singer suggests that even the best efforts of a father or other loved ones cannot fully ease the pain of losing a mother. The loss is a profound one, and the impact lasts a lifetime.
Overall, "Dark Was the Night" is a poignant and powerful tribute to the importance of mothers in our lives. It acknowledges the irreplaceable role mothers play and the void left behind when they are gone. The song's repetition of the refrain emphasizes the ongoing impact of this loss and the struggles that motherless children face.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, well, well, ah
A moment of contemplation before discussing the hardships of motherless children
A motherless children have a hard time
Children who have lost their mother face countless difficulties
Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead
The mother has passed away, leaving the children to face life without the person who was their ultimate source of love and support
They'll not have anywhere to go, wanderin' around from door to door
In the absence of a mother, children have no stable place to call home and may become wanderers seeking shelter and care
Nobody on earth can take a mother's place when, when mother is dead, Lord
No one can replace a mother's love and nurturing when she is no longer alive
Nobody on earth takes mother's place when, mother's dead
The role of a mother cannot be fulfilled by anyone else, no matter how well-intentioned they are
Nobody on earth takes mother's place
The significance and irreplaceability of a mother cannot be overstated
When you were startin', paved the way
Mothers are instrumental in shaping their children's lives from the very beginning
Nobody treats you like mother will when
A mother's treatment and care cannot be matched or surpassed by anyone else's
Your wife or husband may be good to you, when mother is dead, Lord
A spouse may provide care and affection, but it cannot fully replace a mother's love and guidance
They'll be good to you, mother's dead
When the mother has passed away, a spouse or partner may step in to provide support and love
A wife or a husband may be good to you
A spouse or partner may have many good qualities, but they cannot replace a mother's role
But, better than nothing has proved untrue
The idea that anyone is better than no one is false when it comes to replacing a mother's love
Yeah, well, ah
Another moment of thought before continuing the discussion of motherless children
Well, some people say that sister will do, when mother is dead
Some believe that a sister can provide the same support as a mother when she is no longer alive
That sister will do when mother's dead
The idea persists that a sister can step in as a replacement for a mother in terms of care and love
But, as soon as she's married, she turn her back on you
The belief that a sister can be a replacement for a mother is often untrue when the sister's own obligations and responsibilities change
And father will do the best he can, when mother is dead, Lord
When the mother has passed away, the father will do his best to provide care and support
Well, the best he can when mother is dead
The father may be a source of guidance, but he cannot take on the exact role of a mother
So many things a father can't understand
Because the mother plays such a unique and irreplaceable role in the family, there are many things that a father may not fully comprehend
A motherless children have a hard time, when mother is daed, Lord
Once again emphasizing the struggles that children who have lost their mother must face
They'll not have anywhere to go
Children without a mother's care may not have a stable place to call home or feel safe
Wanderin' around from door to door
In the absence of a mother's care, children may be forced to wander, seeking moments of support and care wherever they can find it
Have a hard time
To say that these children face a hard time is an understatement, as they are without one of the most important sources of love and guidance in a person's life
Writer(s): Willie Johnson Copyright: Alpha Music Inc.
Contributed by Gavin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.