| "Mother" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US picture sleeve | ||||
| Single byJohn Lennon | ||||
| from the albumJohn Lennon/Plastic Ono Band | ||||
| B-side | "Why" (Yoko Ono) | |||
| Released | 28 December 1970 (US only) | |||
| Recorded | September–October 1970 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 5:34 (album version) 3:53 (single edit) | |||
| Songwriter | John Lennon | |||
| Producers | Phil Spector,John Lennon andYoko Ono | |||
| John Lennon singles chronology | ||||
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"Mother" is a song by the English musicianJohn Lennon, first released on his 1970 albumJohn Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. An edited version of the song was issued as asingle in the United States onApple Records, on 28 December 1970.[1] The single edit runs 1:41 shorter than the album due to its quicker fade-out and removal of the tolling bells that start the song. TheB-side features "Why" byYoko Ono. The song peaked in the United States at number 19 on theCashbox Top 100[2] and number 43 on theBillboard Hot 100.[2] InCanada the song reached number 12.[3]
The lyrics of "Mother" address both of Lennon's parents, each of whom abandoned him in his childhood.[4] His father,Alf, left the family when Lennon was an infant.[4] His mother,Julia, did not live with her son, although they had a good relationship; she was killed in a car accident on 15 July 1958 by an off-duty policeman named Eric Clague when Lennon was 17.[4] In one of his last concerts, Lennon stated that the song was not just about his parents, but was rather "about 99% of the parents, alive or half dead".[5][page needed]
"Mother" opens the album, starting with afuneral bell tolling slowly, four times. The song ends with Lennon repeating the phrase"Mama don't go, daddy come home", each time increasing in intensity until he screams the line as the song fades out.[6]
Lennon was inspired to write the song after undergoingprimal therapy withArthur Janov, originally at his home atTittenhurst Park and then at the Primal Institute, California, where he remained for four months. Lennon, who eventually derided Janov, initially described the therapy as "something more important to me thanThe Beatles".[7][page needed]
Although Lennon said that "Mother" was the song that "seemed to catch in my head," he had doubts about its commercial appeal and he considered issuing "Love" as a single instead.[8] In November 1982, a remixed version of "Love" was released as a single to help promoteThe John Lennon Collection LP.[9]
An early version of "Mother" performed on anelectric guitar by Lennon can be heard on theJohn Lennon Anthology box set.[10]
The unused take 91 of the song was featured in the final scene and credits of the 2009 John Lennonbiographical film,Nowhere Boy.[11]
A live version of the song was releasedLive in New York City from his 30 August 1972 concert atMadison Square Garden.
Cash Box said of the single version that "spare production work and a powerful melancholy vocal give the [song] its disturbing brilliance."[12]Record World said that the "mix of psychology and Spectorsound is depressing and dynamic at once."[13]Billboard called it a "slow rock emotion ballad" with a "compelling, biting lyric line."[14]
Stereogum contributors Timothy and Elizabeth Bracy rated it as Lennon's 4th best solo song, saying that "Over a martial beat and insistent piano riff, the question rises inextricably: if we can be abandoned by those who made us, who in the hell can we trust? The screaming, unanswered fade out makes the answer only too clear."[15]Far Out critic Joe Taysom described it as "one of the most moving creations that the late musician ever concocted," saying that Lennon "lays himself emotionally bare and finally deals with the abandonment issues that scarred him from childhood."[4]
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:[16]
Lennon plays guitar rather than piano on theNowhere Boy demo version.[11]
| Region | Sales |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 25,000[24] |
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