Mother, Mother, Tracy Bonham, 1996
As I was leaving work yesterday, my sweet office neighbor wished me a happy Mother's Day weekend. I responded with the same wish for her and went about my merry way. Ehh. Mother's Day -- I'm not much on commercial holidays. After all, every day is mother's day forever and ever amen.
I'm kind of in love with my psyche right now for waking me to this song. These lyrics are everything. Wow, this whole song is a testament to managing the expectations of familial relationships. I think it's such a unique song for so many reasons. The fact that it's a vignette -- a narrative -- speaks to me. Bonham creates a very vivid picture of a token "just checking in" phone conversation between a daughter and mother and is able to capture the truth of the raw emotions bubbling just under the surface. She captures verbally-laced misdirection in a way that is incomparable. In awe. Poetic.
Singing along to Mother, Mother is completely cathartic. Give it a try. Trust me. Look up the lyrics now. Suggestion: Sing through a great big fake smile during the entire song. There's nothing like smiling through "everything's fine."
Listen, no one can read your mind -- not even your mother. Be honest in life. Be explicit. Be clear. Ask for what you want and need.
Happy Saturday!
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