Mother and Child Reunion

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"Mother and Child Reunion" is a song written by Paul Simon, and is on his eponymous debut album. It was released as a single in 1972, and reached #4 on the American charts.

The song was one of the earliest by a white musician to feature prominent elements of reggae. The name has its origin in a chicken and egg dish called "Mother and Child Reunion" that Paul Simon saw on a Chinese restaurant's menu. The song has been interpreted as a meditation on death, either the death of a mother, or the death of a child, and the hope of reunification in the afterlife. The references to a "strange and mournful day" may support this theory.

The song was recorded in Jamaica with singer Jimmy Cliff's backing group; guitarist Hucks (often "Hux") Brown and bassist Jackie Jackson were also long-time members of reggae legends Toots and the Maytals. Cissy Houston, mother of singer Whitney Houston, sang background vocals on this song.

Mother and Child Reunion was featured on the Simpsons 19th season episode Mona Leaves-a in which Homer's mother, Mona Simpson, dies.

[edit] Personnel

Drums: Winston Grennan
Lead Guitar: Huks Brown
Organ: Neville Hinds
Bass: Jackie Jackson
EP: Larry Knechtel
Percussion: Denzil Laing
Rhythm Guitar: Wallace Wilson
Backup Singers: Cissy Houston, Von Eva Sims, Renelle Stafford, Deirdre Tuck