mother, mother   got my feeble steps   mother, mother   got my feeble steps   softly as you go   softly as you go   I got me up this   got me up this   hill of life   oh, got me up this   got me up this hill   of life   til I grow a man   til I grow a man      mother, mother   when I grow a man   mother, mother   when I grow a man   big, strong and brave   big, strong and brave   I got my mother   I got my mother   down that hill   got my mother   I got my mother   down that hill   got her to her grave   got her to her grave   got her to her grave   got her to her grave      I've got you up this   I've got you up this   I've you up this   hill of life