Motherless Child
O.V. Wright Lyrics

The lyrics to O.V. Wright's song "Motherless Child" express the feeling of isolation and loneliness experienced by someone who feels like they have been abandoned or disconnected from a maternal figure. The repeated line "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child" emphasizes the internal strife that the singer feels, as they long for the comfort and closeness that a parent can offer. The line "A long way from home" adds to this sense of disconnection and emphasizes the feeling of being lost and far from one's roots.

The second stanza adds another layer to these feelings of isolation, with the phrase "Sometimes I wish I could fly, like a bird up in the sky". This line suggests that the singer longs for freedom and escape from their current situation, but feels trapped and unable to find a way out. The repetition of the line "Little closer to home" further emphasizes the singer's longing for a sense of belonging and connection.

The mention of "motherless children" in the third stanza highlights that the singer is not alone in their struggles, as others who have experienced a similar loss or disconnection also face immense challenges. The repetition of the phrase "so long" in this stanza gives the sense that the pain and suffering of being motherless is persistent and ongoing.

The final stanzas continue to explore the idea of distance and separation, but there is a glimmer of hope with the idea that "sometimes I feel like freedom is near". However, the line "But we're so far from home" brings the lyric full circle, emphasizing that even if freedom is near, the singer still grapples with a sense of displacement and disconnection from where they belong.