Mother (Pink Floyd song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Mother" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Song by Pink Floyd | ||
| from the album The Wall | ||
| Released | 30 November 1979 (US), 8 December 1979 (UK) | |
| Recorded | April-November, 1979 | |
| Genre | Art rock/Progressive rock | |
| Length | 5:32 | |
| Label | Harvest Records (UK) Columbia Records (US)/Capitol Records (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Waters | |
| Producer(s) | Bob Ezrin, David Gilmour and Roger Waters | |
| The Wall track listing | ||
| Another Brick in the Wall, Part II (5 of disc 1) |
"Mother" (6 of disc 1) |
Goodbye Blue Sky (7 of disc 1) |
Mother is a song by the British progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It was released on The Wall album in 1979.
Contents |
[edit] Composition
The song switches from a quiet dynamic to a louder one, expanding its instrumentation from acoustic guitar and solo voice to include (by the song's end) reed organ, piano, drums, electric bass, vocal harmony, and electric guitar. At five minutes, 35 seconds in length, the song has a minimal introduction, consisting only of sharp inhalation and rapid exhalation before the first verses are sung by Roger Waters. David Gilmour sings a chrorus in narrative response to the first set of lyrics and an instrumental interlude follows. Waters sings another verse, which is once more followed by Gilmour's chorus (with altered lyrics). Finally, the song concludes with a suddenly stripped-down arrangement and a ritardando in which Waters sings, "Mother did it need to be so high?" This line is often misheard as, "Mother, didn't mean to get so high," and as such is usually met by cheers when the song is performed live.[citation needed]
[edit] Plot
As with the other songs on The Wall, Mother tells a portion of the story of Pink, the album's protagonist. The song narrates a conversation by Pink (voiced by Waters) and his mother (voiced by Gilmour). We learn of the ridiculous overprotectiveness of Pink's mother, who is unknowingly stacking bricks onto Pink's wall as a result of her actions. She insists that Pink stays by her side even after he grows up, and cannot stand it when Pink eventually grows older and falls in love.
[edit] Inspiration
Much of The Wall is personal to Roger Waters' life; particularly the loss of his father in the World War II campaign in Anzio. Contrary to what one might assume from this song, Waters' relationship with his mother was far happier than that of "Pink" (the main character in The Wall) and the title character of this song.
[edit] Film Version
Oddly enough, although part of Pink's relationship with his mother is shown in this segment, it details more on Pink and his wife. At the end it shows Pink's wife in an affair with the leader of an anti-war group. Pink, now upset, has no words to offer.
[edit] Cover version
Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash would often play 'Mother' as an intro to the band's show-closing song Paradise City.
[edit] Personnel
- David Gilmour - vocals (chorus), guitars, bass
- Roger Waters - vocals (verse), acoustic guitar
- Richard Wright - organ, piano, synthesizer
- Jeff Porcaro - drums
[edit] References
- Fitch, Vernon. The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia (3rd edition), 2005. ISBN 1-894959-24-8
