Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child

This article is about the Negro spiritual. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_0

For the blues song, see Motherless Child Blues. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_1

"Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" (or simply "Motherless Child") is a traditional Negro spiritual. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_2

It dates back to the era of slavery in the United States. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_3

An early performance of the song dates back to the 1870s by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_4

Commonly heard during the Civil rights movement in the United States, it has many variations and has been recorded widely. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_5

Description Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_section_0

The song is an expression of pain and despair as the singer compares their hopelessness to that of a child who has been torn from her or his parents. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_6

Under one interpretation, the repetition of the word "sometimes" offers a measure of hope, as it suggests that at least "sometimes" the singer does not feel like a motherless child. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_7

Renditions Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_section_1

Multiple recordings of the song were made by Paul Robeson, starting in 1926. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_8

Bessie Griffin and The Gospel Pearls recorded the song on their Portraits In Bronze album in 1960. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_9

Odetta performed the song at Carnegie Hall on April 8, 1960. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_10

The song was included on her album, Odetta at Carnegie Hall the same year. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_11

This version was part of the soundtrack of Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964). Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_12

Mary Travers performed the song on Peter, Paul and Mary's album: A Song Will Rise (1965) and on Milt Okun's album: Something to Sing About in 1968. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_13

Esther & Abi Ofarim recorded the song for their album Das Neue Esther & Abi Ofarim Album (1966). Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_14

Richie Havens performed a historical rendition of the song – retitled Freedom (Motherless Child) – on August 15, 1969 at the Woodstock festival (opening for the festival). Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_15

Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA recorded the song in 1988 for the stereocassette, "Songs of My People." Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_16

It was re-released in 2020 for the 30th anniversary of Sister Bowman's death as part of the digital album, . Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_17

Martin Gore recorded his rendition of the song (titled only Motherless Child) on his 1989 EP Counterfeit. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_18

Prince performed his rendition of the song at many concerts beginning in 1999. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_19

Soprano Barbara Hendricks sang it when she received the 2002 Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_20

John Legend sang the song during the Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief telethon in 2010. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_21

The song is also included on his 2004 album, Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live at the Knitting Factory. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child_sentence_22

Credits to the contents of this page go to the authors of the corresponding Wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.