Hard Times
Willie Lyrics

Well, well, well, ah
Introduction to the song

A motherless children have a hard time
Children who have lost their mother face a lot of difficulties in life

Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead
Reiterating that the hardships faced by motherless children are because their mother is dead

They'll not have anywhere to go, wanderin' around from door to door
Without a mother, these children have no home or proper care, and may have to wander from place to place seeking help

Have a hard time
The struggles they face will not be easy

Nobody on earth can take a mother's place when, when mother is dead, Lord
No one can fill the void left by a mother's death

Nobody on earth takes mother's place when, mother's dead
Reiterating that no one can replace a mother who has passed away

Nobody on earth takes mother's place, when you were startin', paved the way
A mother's love and care is irreplaceable, especially in the early stages of a child's life where they lay the foundation for their future

Nobody treats you like mother will when
Mothers have a special way of treating their children that is unique to them alone

Your wife or husband may be good to you, when mother is dead, Lord
While a spouse may be a source of support, they cannot replace the role of a mother who has passed away

They'll be good to you, mother's dead
Reiterating that a spouse can be there for you, but cannot replace a mother's love

A wife or a husband may be good to you, but, better than nothing has proved untrue
While a spouse may help, it cannot replace a mother's love, which is invaluable in a way that even the best spouse cannot match

Nobody treats you like mother will when, when mother is dead, Lord
Reiterating that the love and care provided by a mother cannot be replicated by anyone else, no matter how much they try

Lord, Lord, Lord
An expression of sadness and grief

Yeah, well, ah
Interjection, no specific meaning

Well, some people say that sister will do, when mother is dead
There is a belief that a sister can take on the role of the mother when she is no longer present

That sister will do when mother's dead
Reiterating that a sister can step in for a mother who has passed away

Some people say that sister will do, but, as soon as she's married, she turn her back on you
While a sister may be a source of support, they may leave when they have their own family, leaving the motherless child alone once again

And father will do the best he can, when mother is dead, Lord
A father will try to do what he can to take care of his children after the death of their mother

Well, the best he can when mother is dead
Reiterating that a father's efforts cannot replace the role of the mother

Father will do the best he can, so many things a father can't understand
While a father may be a source of support, there are some things that only a mother can truly understand, making their absence all the more difficult for the children left behind

A motherless children have a hard time, when mother is dead, Lord
Reiterating that when a mother passes away, her children will face many hardships

Motherless children have a hard time, mother's dead
Summing up the central message of the song - the difficulties faced by children who have lost their mother

They'll not have anywhere to go, Wanderin' around from door to door
Again emphasizing the lack of a stable home or support system for motherless children

Have a hard time
Underlining the fact that the struggles they face will not be easy