Following the separation of the Beatles in 1969, and after some experimental work with his wife Yoko Ono, John Lennon embarked on a recording of the themes that would be his first solo album, this "John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band" which is already part of history as one of the most shocking ever recorded.
John Lennon dragged his entire life the trauma of the death of his mother Julia, hit by a drunk when the police had 17 years, and this time, encouraged in part by Yoko began a psychological therapy with Dr. Arthur Janov. A therapy called "Primal Therapy" consisting of reaching the "reality" of the individual through all externalize their trauma, "stripping" of this subject.
"Mother" is the shocking result of this therapy, where a John Lennon song exorciza the worst of his demons: the death of his mother. The beginning of the song, with this litany of bells, a symbol of death and dissolution of his previous band and also symbolizes the will to break definitively with the past. Lennon came to say that his time with Dr Janov was more important than all the years spent with the Beatles.
"Mother" was recorded at the Abbey Road studios in London with Ringo Star on drums and Klauss Voorman andalusia low, given the fact that Voorman recognized illustrator, was the one who designed the cover of "Revolver" by the Beatles. The subject was recorded on a minimalist, with an austere instrumentation in which a spotlight highlights the voice of John Lennon desgranando disarming these confessions on the loss of his parents: "Mother, you got me, but I never give myself to you you needed but you never need me, so I have to say goodbye. " The song ends with the shocking "Mama Do not Go" to be transformed into a desperate cry towards the end of the song.
Knowing the psychological background and the circumstances surrounding this recording, "Mother" is even more impressive as a man shows, devoid of any disguise or artifice, to face their monsters.
This "John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band" apart from that contained "Mother" another good collection of songs in the same tone as stark and confessional "Isolation," "Working Class Hero," "Well Well Well" or "God."
In short, a subject that is a true masterpiece in an exemplary record, the highlight of the solo career of John Lennon, a career full of ups and downs.
Mother
(chiming clock)
Mother, you had me but I never had you,
I wanted you but you did not want me,
So I got to tell you,
Goodbye, goodbye.
Farther, you left me but I never left you,
I need you but you did not need me,
So I got to tell you,
Goodbye, goodbye.
Children, do not do what I have done,
I could not walk and I tried to run,
So I got to tell you,
Goodbye, goodbye.
Mama do not go,
Daddy come home.
Mama do not go,
Daddy come home.
Mama do not go,
Daddy come home.
Mama do not go,
Daddy come home.
Mama do not go,
Daddy come home.
Mama do not go,
Daddy come home.
Mama do not go,
Daddy come home ...
