"M is for the million things she gave me ..."
Howard Johnson and Theodore Morse, 1915
It's that time again. The day we give thanks and honor our mothers.
And while we really need to do that every day of the year, it is nice we can at least do it one Sunday of the year.
People give flowers, candy, wash the dishes or make meals for their mothers on Mother's Day. Some like to take their mothers to dinner, and others like to leave the house to give their mothers a rest.
Then there are those who write poems and songs.
Back in 1915, lyricist Howard Johnson and music writer Theodore Morse composed "M-o-t-h-e-r," which has become a cliche all these years later.
And while that song is probably the definitive song about mom, there are others that pay tribute to these wonderful women. Here is a list of some more songs about mothers:
"Your Mother Is Your Best Friend After All," Charles Coleman, 1914
"That Old Fashioned Mother of Mine," Harry H. Williams and Caddigan & Story, 1915
"My Mother's Lullaby," Charles Louis Ruddy and Harold Brown Freeman, 1917
It seems mothers were a popular topic in the parlor songs of the early 1900s.
But in the later part of the century, mothers were a hot topic. Some songs were nice, and some were not:
"Mama from the Train," Patti Page, 1956
"Mama Teach Me to Dance," Eydie Gorme, 1956
"Mama Guitar," Don Cornell, 1957, remade by Julius LaRosa later the same year
"Mama Look at Bubu," Harry Belafonte, 1957
"Mama," Connie Francis, 1960
"Mama Said," Shirelles, 1961
"Mom and Dad's Waltz," Patti Page, 1961
"Mother-in-Law," Ernie K-Doe, 1961, remade by Clarence Carter in 1973
"Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean)," Ruth Brown, 1962
"Mama Sang a Song," Stan Kenton, 1962, remade by Walter Brennan and Bill Anderson, later that same year
"Mama Didn't Lie," Jan Bradley, 1963
"Mama Don't Allow," Rooftop Singers, 1963
"Mother, Please!" Jo Ann Campbell, 1963
"Mother Nature, Father Time," Brook Benton, 1965
"Mama," B.J. Thomas, 1966
"Mother's Little Helper," Rolling Stones, 1966
"Mama Come Quick and Bring Your Lickin' Stick," George Torrence, 1968
"Atom Heart Mother," Pink Floyd, 1970
"Mama Liked the Roses," Elvis Presley, 1970
"Mama Told Me Not to Come," Three Dog Night, 1970, remade by Wilson Picket in 1972
"Mama and a Papa," Ray Stevens, 1971
"Mama's Pearl," The Jackson 5, 1971
"Mother," Chicago, 1971
"Mother," John Lennon, 1971, remade by Barbra Streisand the same year
"Mother Freedom," Bread, 1971
"Mother and Child Reunion," Paul Simon, 1972
"Mother Nature," the Temptations, 1972
"Mama Was a Rock and Roll Singer," Sonny & Cher, 1973
"Mama Weer All Crazee Now," Slade, 1973, remade by Quiet Riot in 1984
"Mother for My Children," the Whispers, 1974
"Mama Let Him Play," Doucette, 1978
"Mother," Pink Floyd, 1979
"Mama Can't Buy You Love," Elton John, 1979
"Mother, Father," Journey, 1981
"Revelation (Mother Earth)," Ozzy Osbourne 1981
"Mama Used to Say," Junior, 1982
"Mama," Genesis, 1983
"Mother," the Police, 1983
"Mother's Talk," Tears for Fears, 1986
"Mother," Danzig, 1988
"Mama Said Knock You Out," LL Cool J, 1991
"Mother's Pride," George Michael, 1991
"Mama, I'm Coming Home," Ozzy Osbourne, 1992
"Mother," Tori Amos, 1992
"Mother," Luna Sea, 1994
"Mother," Cyndi Lauper, 1996
"A Song for Mama," Boyz II Men, 1997
"Mother," Era, 1998
"Mother," Puffy Ami Yumi, 1998
"Mother," M Factor, 2002
"Baby Mama," Fantasia, 2005
Of course, there are more, but these are just a few.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com