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 of which 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 discs.
John Lennon dragged his entire life the trauma of the death of his mother Julia, hit by a drunk when the police was 17 years old, and at this time, encouraged in part by Yoko, he 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" in this way to the subject.
"Mother" is the shocking result of this therapy, a song where John Lennon exorcised the worst of his demons: the death of his mother. The beginning of the song, with this litany of bells, symbolizing the death and dissolution of his previous band, and also symbolizes the will to break definitively with the past. Lennon even said that their stage with Dr Janov was more important than all the years spent with the Beatles.
"Mother" was recorded in the studios of Abbey Road London with Ringo Star on drums and Klauss Voorman low, given the fact that Voorman, renowned illustrator, was the one who designed the cover of "Revolver" by the Beatles. The theme was recorded on a minimalist, with an austere instrumentation that stands out in the forefront in the voice of John Lennon husking disarming these confessions on the loss of his parents: "Mother, you got me, but I never had you yourself , You needed but you never needed me, so I have to say goodbye. " The song ends with these shocking "Mama Do not Go" to be evolving 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 in terms shows a man devoid of any disguise or artifice, to face their monsters.
This "John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band" contained apart from this "Mother" another good collection of songs in the same confessional tone and stark as "Isolation", "Working Class Hero," "Well Well Well" or "God".
In short, an issue that is a true masterpiece within a disk copy, the climax 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 needed 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 ...
