motherless child

The title of this track comes from the sample, taken from Mahalia Jackson's rendition of Summertime.

In the song, she sings the familiar verses, and at the bridge, she improvises, "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child….Just a long way from home…."

That line and her evocation of it has resonated with me since the first time I heard it.

I wrote a couple bars for my track, but never recorded it. Maybe one day….(maybe not though, cause I'm not a rapper 😩)

we are gathered here together in mourning

and it's only seven o'clock in the morning

though the sun is up, the clouds is still roaming

my heart is still lonely

you're not here to console me

and i'm tryna hear what the Bible say, I'm tryna pray

Besides what the pastor say, I have nothing to say

Since my mom passed away, nothing in life has ever felt the same to me

you see

there's nobody left on earth to protect me

my burden so heavy, i can't find the space to breathe

gotta stand strong though my heart's been wrecked please

if this is a nightmare, don't awake me from this dream

of you and i meeting each other

we kiss, embrace, like we never left each other

and you whisper in my ear, my daughter, I'm proud of ya

you're exactly who I dreamed you would be

The choirs of angels they sing for you

And the skies open up and cry for you

But it don't compare to how I feel inside

cause sometimes I feel like a motherless child

Gave me life on a warm palm sunday

against advice. had another just like me

was that so, when the prophesy came to be

we would have each other and never be lonely?

She and I stood on that pulpit

And we tried to say what seemed appropriate

But I wanted to scream God, don't you love me?

Then why do we have to endure this suffering?

We all knew the day was gonna come

Thought I'd be prepared wasn't the only one

So I'll spend the rest of my life asking why

I had to be left as a motherless child