Johnson recorded the song during his first session for the Columbia label in Dallas, Texas, on December 3, 1927.
[3] Blues researcher Samuel Charters describes Johnson's slide guitar playing as having "a nuance and delicacy that extended and clarified the emotion of his singing", which is supported by his rhythmic fingerpicked bass line.
[4] Columbia issued the song on a 78 rpm record with the title "Mother's Children Have a Hard Time".
Charters notes that this was based on a misinterpretation of Johnson's lyrics and the correct title is "Motherless Children Have a Hard Time".
[5] Following Johnson's original recording in 1927, the song has been covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton on his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard under the title "Motherless Children".