SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A MOTHERLESS CHILD - Free Jazz Leadsheet

sometimes i feel like a motherless child is a traditional African-American spiritual first documented in the 19th century. Its haunting melody and profound sense of longing have made it a deeply influential piece in both jazz and gospel repertoires.

The earliest known recordings date from the 1920s, including versions by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, emphasizing the song’s emotional depth and plaintive tone. Later jazz interpretations by artists such as Paul Robeson and John Coltrane brought new textures to the work.

The lyrics express profound sorrow and yearning for belonging, while the musical structure is free and fluid, allowing performers to stretch the melody and harmonies to enhance emotional expression.