Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
Encyclopedia
Spiritual (music)
Spirituals are religious songs which were created by enslaved African people in America.-Terminology and origin:...
.
The song dates back to the era of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when it was common practice to sell children of slaves away from their parents. An early performance of the song dates back to the 1870s by the Fisk Jubilee Singers
Fisk Jubilee Singers
The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an African-American a cappella ensemble, consisting of students at Fisk University. The first group was organized in 1871 to tour and raise funds for their college. Their early repertoire consisted mostly of traditional spirituals, but included some Stephen Foster songs...
. Like many traditional songs, it has many variations and has been recorded widely (see partial lists of choral arrangements and covers below).
The song is clearly an expression of pain and despair as it conveys the hopelessness of a child who has been torn from his or her parents. Under one interpretation, the repetitive singing of the word "sometimes" offers a measure of hope, as it suggests that at least "sometimes" I do not feel like a motherless child.
Although the plaintive words can be interpreted literally, they were much more likely metaphoric. The “motherless child” could be a slave separated from and yearning for his African homeland, a slave suffering “a long ways from home”—home being heaven—or most likely both.
El Chicano Version
El ChicanoEl Chicano
El Chicano is an American chicano rock and brown-eyed soul group from Los Angeles, California, whose style incorporates various modern music genres including rock, funk, soul, blues, jazz, and salsa...
Released a cover of "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" on their 1970 initial album "Viva Tirado". It was one of 9 songs on the album that produced their first El Chicano
El Chicano
El Chicano is an American chicano rock and brown-eyed soul group from Los Angeles, California, whose style incorporates various modern music genres including rock, funk, soul, blues, jazz, and salsa...
hit single "Viva Tirado".
Other Recordings Or Covers
- Paul RobesonPaul RobesonPaul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, originally recorded by EMI in the 1930s, on his album Songs of Free Men (1997) as well as on his album Paul Robeson: The Complete EMI Sessions 1928-1939 (2008) and on several previous LPs. - Elmer Keeton, who arranged a performance by the Northern California Negro Chorus for a radio program commissioned in 1942 by the Federal Music Project, Works Progress Administration. This version was later used in an animated Soviet propaganda film called "Black and White" depicting racism in the United States.
- Louis ArmstrongLouis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
on Louis and the Good Book (1958) - Lou RawlsLou RawlsLouis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
and the Pilgrim TravelersPilgrim TravelersThe Pilgrim Travelers were a gospel group popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s.-Musical career:Formed in the early 1930s in Houston, Texas, they were strongly influenced by another Texas-based quartet, the Soul Stirrers...
for the album The Soul Stirring Gospel Sound of the Pilgrim Travelers (1962). - OdettaOdettaOdetta Holmes, known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter, and a human rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals...
's live performance of the song on April 8, 1960 at Carnegie Hall was released on "Odetta at Carnegie Hall" (1960) and used on the soundtrack to Pasolini's film "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" (1964); she performed it as recently as summer 2008, during her final tour. - Folk artists The Simon SistersSimon SistersThe Simon Sisters was a band of two sisters, Carly Simon and Lucy Simon. They were signed up by Kapp Records in 1964. That same year Kapp released their only albums with the record label: Meet The Simon Sisters and later Cuddlebug...
in the mid 1960's - Mahalia JacksonMahalia JacksonMahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
recorded it as a medley with Gershwin's "SummertimeSummertime (song)"Summertime" is an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP....
" - Darlene LoveDarlene LoveDarlene Love is an American popular music singer and actress. She gained prominence in the 1960s for the song "He's a Rebel," a #1 American single in 1962, and was part of the Phil Spector stable that produced a celebrated Christmas album in 1963....
covered part of it for the first part of the Gospel Medley in the Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback SpecialElvis Presley's '68 Comeback SpecialElvis, starring Elvis Presley, was the title of a 1968 United States television special. Sponsored by The Singer Sewing Machine Company, it aired on December 2, 1968 on the NBC television network...
(1968) - Jimmy ScottJimmy ScottJimmy Scott , aka "Little" Jimmy Scott, is an American jazz vocalist famous for his unusually high contralto voice which is due to Kallmann's syndrome, a very rare genetic condition. The condition stunted his growth at four feet eleven inches until, at age 37, he grew another 8 inches to the...
on his album The Source (1969) - Ike & Tina TurnerIke & Tina TurnerIke & Tina Turner were an American rock & roll and soul duo, made of the husband-and-wife team of Ike Turner and Tina Turner in the 1960s and 1970s. Spanning sixteen years together as a recording group, the duo's repertoire included rock & roll, soul, blues and funk...
covered it on their 1969 album Outta Season - Kathleen EmeryKathleen EmeryKathleen Emery is the recording artist of a 1970 rendering of the public domain African-American spiritual "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child". Emery's version encorporates fuzz guitar, a funky hip-hop style beat, string orchestra and brass...
on her single (19701970 in music- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
) - The Les Humphries SingersLes Humphries SingersThe Les Humphries Singers was a 1970s musical group formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1969 by the English born Les Humphries , who had been inspired to do his own version of the Edwin Hawkins Singers.The Les Humphries Singers dissolved at the end of the...
on their first album Rock My Soul in 19701970 in music- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs.... - Richie HavensRichie HavensRichard P. "Richie" Havens is an African American folk singer and guitarist. He is best known for his intense, rhythmic guitar style , soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.-Career:Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children...
used lyrical elements of this piece in an improvised song at Woodstock FestivalWoodstock FestivalWoodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
in 1969 when he ran out of songs to play after being called back for multiple encores. - Donny OsmondDonny OsmondDonald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
covered the song Live on the album "The Osmonds Live" to screaming fans in 1971. - Boney M. on their second album Love for saleLove for Sale (Boney M. album)Love for Sale is the second album by Boney M. The album includes the hits "Ma Baker" , and "Belfast"...
(19771977 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
) - Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
on Poetic Champions ComposePoetic Champions ComposeAllMusic's review referred to it "another of the art records" that Morrison had been producing since perhaps Common One but called it a "bit shocking" that "Morrison begins to shake off his self-conscious straitjacket here, letting a little more grit into the music, even if the record still is...
(19871987 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
), also on The Best of Van Morrison Volume TwoThe Best of Van Morrison Volume TwoThe Best of Van Morrison Volume Two is a compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison released in 1993.Morrison chose the tracks for this album himself. It is mostly drawn from his work during 1984-1991. "Real Real Gone" from the 1990 album Enlightenment was the only song...
(19931993 in musicThis is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
) - Martin L. GoreMartin GoreMartin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
, on Counterfeit e.p.Counterfeit e.p.Counterfeit e.p. is the first solo recording by Martin L. Gore, the primary songwriter for the band Depeche Mode.Released in 1989, Counterfeit is a six-song E.P. of cover songs, hence the name, implying that the songs were not written by Gore...
(19891989 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
) - Crime and the City SolutionCrime and the City SolutionCrime and the City Solution was a rock music band formed by Australian singer and songwriter Simon Bonney.They had four distinct line-ups: Sydney in 1977–78, Melbourne in 1979, and two groupings in Berlin from 1985–1990. The only common member in all four line-ups was Bonney.Other members included:...
, on Paradise Discotheque (19901990 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
) - Charlie HadenCharlie HadenCharles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
and Hank JonesHank JonesHenry "Hank" Jones was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts honored him with the NEA Jazz Masters Award...
on Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns, and Folk Songs - Marion WilliamsMarion WilliamsMarion Williams was an American gospel singer.-Early years:Marion Williams was born in Miami, Florida, to a religiously devout mother and musically inclined father. She left school when she was nine years old to help support the family, and worked as a maid, a nurse, and in factories and...
recorded it on "Strong Again" (1991) - The Kelly FamilyThe Kelly FamilyThe Kelly Family is an Irish-American-European music group consisting of a multi-generational family, who play a repertoire of rock, pop and folk music. They have had chart and concert success in Europe and other parts of the world, especially in Germany, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, Eastern...
on Honest WorkersHonest WorkersHonest Workers is the fifth regular studio album by The Kelly Family, released in 1991.-Track listing:# "Danny Boy" - 3:45# "Hey, Mr. Big Time" - 3:46# "Honest Workers" - 5:07# "Motherless Child" - 5:25# "A Hard Day's Night" - 2:46...
(19911991 in musicSee also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
) - Hootie & the BlowfishHootie & the BlowfishHootie & the Blowfish is an American rock band that enjoyed popularity in the second half of the 1990s. They were originally formed in 1986 at the University of South Carolina by Darius Rucker, Dean Felber, Jim Sonefeld, and Mark Bryan. The band has recorded five studio albums to date, and has...
, on Cracked Rear ViewCracked Rear ViewCracked Rear View is the major-label debut album by Hootie & the Blowfish, released on July 5, 1994 by Atlantic Records. It was the highest-selling album of 1995, with 10.5 million shipments that year alone, eventually shipping 16 million copies to retailers by March 31, 1999...
(19941994 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
) - Kevin EubanksKevin EubanksKevin Tyrone Eubanks is an American jazz guitarist and composer who was the leader of the Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno from 1995 to 2010. He also led The Primetime Band on the short-lived The Jay Leno Show.- Personal background :Eubanks was born into a musical family...
, on Live at Bradley’s (1996, Blue Note) (19941996 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
) - Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
(accompanied by Portishead) on ReloadReload (album)Reload is the title of an album, released in 1999 by Welsh singer Tom Jones.After a lengthy career, and a notable absence from the music charts for several years, Jones resurrected his career with this album of 15 cover versions and 2 original tracks recorded as duets with current artists...
(19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
) - The daughter character, Keesha, sang this piece in the play I Can Do Bad All By Myself, written by Tyler PerryTyler PerryTyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
(19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
) - Amy Jo JohnsonAmy Jo JohnsonAmy Jo Johnson is an American actress, singer, songwriter and musician.She is best known for her roles in the televison series as the constable Jules Callaghan in the Canadian CTV television series Flashpoint, the famous jockey Tina Sharp in the ABC Family's original show Wildfire, the rookie cop...
, for the film "Sweetwater: A True Rock Story" (1999) - WatersonWaterson-People:* Alfred Waterson , Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom.* Colin Waterson , Scottish musician.* Edward Waterson , English Catholic priest and martyr.* Lal Waterson , English folksinger and songwriter....
on Matchbox Selection (2000) - Under the name Lucky Pierre, Aidan MoffatAidan MoffatAidan John Moffat is a Scottish vocalist and musician, best known for his work with Malcolm Middleton in Arab Strap.-Early life:...
used an operatic sample of the phrase "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child" on the track of the same name from his 2002 solo album Hypnogogia. - John LegendJohn LegendJohn Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
on Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting FactorySolo Sessions Vol. 1: Live At The Knitting FactorySolo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory is a live album by John Legend. Recorded in July 2003 at the Knitting Factory in New York City, this album features John performing solo on the acoustic piano with special guest appearances by Kanye West, J...
(2005) and at the Hope for Haiti NowHope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake ReliefHope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief was a charity telethon held on January 22, 2010 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time . The telethon was the most widely distributed telethon in history...
telethon (2010). - Wishbone AshWishbone AshWishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular records included Wishbone Ash , Argus , There's the Rub , and New England...
on Clan DestinyClan DestinyClan Destiny is an album from rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first album to feature guitarist Muddy Manninen, who replaced his student, Ben Granfelt, in 2004.-Track listing:#Eyes Wide Open #Dreams Outta Dust #Healing Ground #Steam Town...
(20062006 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
) - Ghostface KillahGhostface KillahDennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
in Ironman (album)Ironman (album)Ironman is the solo debut album by American hip hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released October 29, 1996, on Epic Records...
(19961996 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
) - Wynton MarsalisWynton MarsalisWynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, Track 14: Traditional Spiritual from Portrait of Wynton Marsalis, SONY Classical, 1989/92 - John FruscianteJohn FruscianteJohn Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
- live version at the Hollywood Moguls 3/28/97. - Over the Rhine recorded a live version for Live from Nowhere: Volume Three (2007)
- Eric BurdonEric BurdonEric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
, for the film The Blue HourThe Blue HourThe Blue Hour is a film directed and written by Eric Nazarian. It stars Alyssa Milano and had its world premiere at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2007...
(2007). - Matthew Perryman JonesMatthew Perryman JonesMatthew Perryman Jones is an American singer-songwriter who currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.Jones began his career as a singer-songwriter in 1997, playing his first public performances at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA...
, on Swallow the Sea (2008) - Beth Nielsen ChapmanBeth Nielsen ChapmanBeth Nielsen Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, mostly known for her numerous hits recorded by country and pop music performers.-Early history:...
, the 2008 compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Song of AmericaSong of America (album)Song of America is a 3-disc, compilation album comprising 50 songs related to the history of America. Released on September 18, 2007 under Split Rock Records/Thirty One Tigers, the music collection was conceived by former U.S... - Loren Connors and Suzanne Langille, on 1987-89 (2000)
- John ScofieldJohn ScofieldJohn Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
on Piety StreetPiety StreetPiety Street is a studio album by jazz musician John Scofield. It was recorded in New Orleans with local musicians including Meters bassist George Porter, Jr. and Jon Cleary....
(2009) - Arms and SleepersArms and SleepersArms and Sleepers is an ambient/trip-hop duo consisting of Max Lewis and Mirza Ramic . The band was formed in 2006 and has since released a handful of albums and EPs, most notably the Bliss Was It In That Dawn To Be Alive EP from 2006, the well-received album Black Paris 86 released in 2007, and...
on "The Motorist" (2009) - The Wailin' JennysThe Wailin' JennysThe Wailin' Jennys are a Juno Award-winning Canadian folk trio from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and New York, and they consist of soprano Ruth Moody, mezzo Nicky Mehta and alto Heather Masse. In previous years, the Jennys have also toured with fiddler and mandolinist Jeremy Penner, who is from Ruth's...
on "Live At The Mauch Chunk Opera House" (2009) - Mr. BlottoMr. BlottoMr. Blotto is a jam band band from Chicago, Illinois. They blend hard rock, original rock, southern rock, folk music, and country rock. They formed in 1991, and tour extensively in the midwest area. Along with their five album releases and two DVDs, they have also released four "official bootleg"...
at "Blottopia X" 2009 - Sweet Honey in the RockSweet Honey in the RockSweet Honey in the Rock is an all-woman, African-American a cappella ensemble. They are an American Grammy Award-winning troupe who express their history as women of color through song, while entertaining their audience. They have together worked from four women to the difficult five-part harmony...
on their album ...Twenty-Five... (1998) - Patty PravoPatty PravoPatty Pravo is an Italian pop singer whose career has spanned more than four decades. Her first single "Ragazzo triste", released in 1966, was the first pop song aired on Vatican Radio...
on her album Patty Pravo (1970) - ClutchClutchA clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
on the album "Strange Cousins from the West" (2009) - Barbara HendricksBarbara HendricksBarbara Hendricks is an African American operatic soprano and concert singer. Hendricks has lived in Europe since 1977, and in Switzerland on Lake Geneva since 1985, She is a citizen of Sweden.-Early life and education:...
& Dimitri AlexeevDimitri Alexeev-Life:Dmitri Alexeev was a student at the Moscow Conservatory. He also studied under Dmitri Bashkirov. In the 1970s he made his debut in London, Vienna, Chicago and New York...
on the album "Negro Spirituals" (rec. 1983) - Madrugada on the album "Live At Tralfamadore" (2005)
External links
- Lyrics as by J. W. Johnson & J. R. Johnson (1926) at negrospirituals.com
- Art of the States: Piano Sonata No. 4 musical work quoting the spiritual by African-American composer George Walker