There's cryin' in the city
All the people are sayin'
I heard it on the mountain
Where I was living

No food for the children
Oh, the times are so bad
Whatever happened to giving

Oh mama, mend the hole in my coat
Take my guitar off the wall
I've got to go see what I can do
And I hope I'll be back by fall

Summer was a dry one
The wind burned across
And the crows carried off
What was left over

Five nights in the valley lights burned
The people did not stop
As the damage they try to recover

Oh mama, mend the hole in my coat
Take my guitar off the wall
I've got to go see what I can do
And I hope I'll be back by fall

There's lightning in the mountain
And the wind blow so sweet
I swear sometimes this must be heaven

Don't look back, don't think about it
Just think about the road beneath your feet
Remember the gift that must be given

Oh mama, mend the hole in my coat
Take my guitar off the wall
I've got to go see what I can do
And I hope I'll be back by fall