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