M-O-T-H-E-R
Performer: Henry Burr
Howard Johnson (lyrics), Theodore Morse (music)
Columbia, 1916
MP3 1,654K
Hey, neat! First time I've ever found a good reference to my exact record on the web.It's tempting to scoff all over this one, but, on further reflection, I think I'll just let it stand. Those six letters could spell so very many things, after all.
The B side of this record is another motherfest called "I Was Never Nearer Heaven in My Life," sung by Sam Ash. Despite its age, it's an unremarkable recording that I just couldn't work up the enthusiasm to include.
My mother used to say, speaking of traditional mountain music, that they sang so many 'mother' songs because Mother had such a crappy life and they all secretly felt bad about it (her favorite was, "If I Could Shake Hands with Mother Again." My mother had...mothering issues.
Hard knocks are all I seem to get, perhaps I've been a fool;
But still, some educated folks, supposed to be so swell,
Would fail if they were called upon a simple word to spell.
Now if you'd like to put me to the test,
There's one dear name that I can spell the best!
"M" is for the million things she gave me
"O" means only that she's growing old
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me
"H" is for her heart of purest gold
"E" is for her eyes with love-light shining
"R" means right and right she'll always be
Put them all together they spell MOTHER,
a word that means the world to me.
"M" is for the mercy she possesses
"O" means that I owe her all I own
"T" is for her tender, sweet caresses
"H" is for her hands that made a home
"E" means ev'rything she's done to help me
"R" means real and regular, you see
Put them all together they spell MOTHER,
a word that means the world to me.