Our List of 10 Ten Mother's Day Songs
Sunday, May 13, 2012 at 9:20AMI won't be visiting Mom today because I'm flying home from the UK (I did sent some flowers, though). in addition--with the help of intrepid list-maker Brent Chittenden--we present this list for ten songs just for mother. - AC
It’s Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate those woman in our life that helped bring us up right. And if you didn’t have a woman like that in your life please take time out to tell the person in your life who helped you make it to this point.
So with mothers there comes songs about moms. Which means we can do a great top ten list of songs about mothers.
10) The Shirelles – "Mama Said"
A song about a mother encouraging her child that yeah there will be terrible days but if you get through them, there are better days ahead.
9) The Rolling Stones – "Mother’s Little Helper"
A very different kind of mom: the kind that takes Valium to get through the day (a popular thing for moms in the 60s). The subject of this song also quite possibly wants to date Keith Richards if only for his access to prescription pads.
8) Fountains of Wayne – "Stacy’s Mom"
The ode to the younger, hotter mom of your friend--who who would punch you in the face if you said something about it, let alone sing a song about how hot she is. And you would deserve every minute of your beating. [A song from the genre known as "MILFrock." Maybe that's another list...? - AC]
7) Lenny Kravitz – "Always on the Run:
Lenny’s Mama (who’s real life mom played Helen Willis on The Jeffersons) isn’t so much over protective but has some pretty good advice for her son. Although Lenny does hang out with bad boy Slash, so maybe the advice was unheeded.
6) Danzig – "Mother"
A song about an overprotective mother, apparently trying to protect her daughter from Glen Danzig. Let’s be fair though, if Glen showed up at your door to pick up your daughter, you’d probably be over protective too.
5) Lynard Skynard – "Simple Man"
The ultimate song of advice from a mother (or grandmother) to a son.
4) Pink Floyd/Roger Waters – "Mother"
Speaking of over protective mothers, the mother of the main character in The Wall seemed to have good intentions but she was a little over zealous, I think.
3) LL Cool J – "Mama Said Knock You Out"
Built on inspiration from LL’s grandmother (the woman who raised him), the song is essentially about how Cool J should silence all his critics and that “Mama” believes in him.
2) Paul Simon – "Mother and Child Reunion"
A weird somber yet up beat song that seems to be about the possible reunion of mother and child in the afterlife by Paul Simon. Although it might very well be about Paul Simon’s family dog, I’ll go with the mother idea instead. (Actually, the dog story is true. Wikipedia wouldn't lie to us, would it?- AC]
1) 2Pac – "Dear Mama"
Surprisingly one of the best and more tender songs dedicated to a mother comes from gangsta rapper 2Pac. The song is a fitting tribute from son to mother thanking her for everything she did for him as well as excepting all of her faults as a human. Great track.
I’d be remiss not to mention my own mother who not only raised me (with my Dad) but had a big part in my musical awareness as well. So what’s more fitting to throw one last tune in for my Mom that’s directed at a mom by one of my Mom’s favorite bands. Happy Mother’s Day!
Reader Comments (1)
Well, let's see...on a more alternative bent we could go for "Don't Tell Your Mother" by the Sundays. Elvis Costello's "Veronica" is about his mother (OK, grandmother -- but she was someone's mother). Hrm, Fatboy Slim's "Ya Mama" is probably getting a little far afield....
I guess singing about your mom is just not rock, alternative or otherwise.