You can write about your mother if you’re a country singer, a gospel singer, or even a rapper. Generally in those genres, you’re pretty safe writing about the woman who gave you life, but in rock ‘n’ roll, that’s not always the case. Musicians who broke new ground and wore their hearts on their sleeves are ones to admire, but first, let’s raise our glasses to the women of inspiration. Happy Mother’s Day!
1. Bruce Springsteen’s “The Wish”
Grab the Kleenex for this one. The boss takes us back to that special Christmas when he received a guitar from his mom with the rest of the song traveling down a timeline full of altruism and nostalgia.
2. Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child”
At just 13 years old, Sadie Harris gave birth to Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan). The two were abandoned by Holiday’s father, who hit the road to pursuit a career in jazz. In her autobiography Lady Sings the Blues, Holiday’s troubling childhood is apparent from the start, and unfortunately, “God Bless the Child” spurred from an argument Holiday and her mother had over money.
3. Manfred Mann’s “Blinded By the Light”
Unfortunately, when Bruce Springsteen released “Blinded by the Light” in the U.S. of his 1973 debut Greeting from Asbury Park, it flopped. But across the pond three years later, Manfred Mann launched it into a new light, garnering top chart success. Here we have a classic example of a mother’s wisdom, challenged by her child’s need for exploration: Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun/But mama, that’s where the fun is.
4. The Beatles’ “Julia”
When John Lennon was 17, his mother Julia passed away in a fatal car accident by an off-duty cop. The incident would be one of the most pivotal inspirations in his songwriting. In “Julia,” he eulogizes his mother through gentle balladry: Half of What I say is meaningless/But I say it just to please you, Julia.
5. Kanye West’s “Hey Mama”
Say what you will about Kanye, but this little ditty reveals a humbler side as he praises his mother, who sacrificed her career in order for him to pursuit his own. You worked late nights just to keep on the lights/Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike.
6. Mother Love Bone’s “Crown of Thorns”
Though not necessarily glorifying mothers, this one’s got to be included just because Andy Wood was the man. Off the band’s 1989 EP, Shine, “Crown of Thorns” stands the test of time and is often covered by Pearl Jam in their live shows. Beautiful and haunting, the song does seem to be an appropriate representation of mothers after all.
7. Pearl Jam’s “Better Man”
At a concert in 1994, Eddie Vedder introduced the song by saying “This is for the bastard that married my Momma.” It’s a sad portrayal of a woman trapped in a tumultuous relationship, one Vedder knew too well. She lies and says she’s in love with him/Can’t find a better man.
8. Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend”
Young’s honest and simple lyrics shed light on the love of his life and mother of his two children, Pegi Young. The best part here is his description of her riding a Harley Davidson. Talk about a rockin’ mama.
9. Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”
It’s a mother’s job to keep her child away from the dangers of the world, and of course, a kid’s job to rebel and explore life for himself. But in the end, we realize we all end up just like our parents. Mommy’s alright/Daddy’s alright/They just seem a little weird. Even better, they want to be just like us!: Then I woke up, Mom and Dad…Got my Kiss records out.
10. Elvis Presley’s “Mama Liked the Roses”
This one takes the cake and it’s hard to imagine all those martini-drinking conservatives of the 50s detesting Elvis and their children’s love of rock ‘n’ roll when they hear this slice of heaven. When I hear the Sunday bells ringing in the morning/I remember crying when she used to sing/Oh, Mama liked the roses but most of all she cared/About the way we learned to live and if we said our prayers.
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