My Mother the War
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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Flanks avenues
The parades pass
White glove attended by
My mother the war
She'll raise a shaft
Toss a rose
My mother the war
She knows every neighbor
Chats at their doors
Compare
Econosize electric appliances
Come share tea
And a seat by my
Cradle with
My mother the war
Forsaken vigil
Three years each tour
Hands of God enfold him
Prayed mother of the war
Haunt a doorway
Beg a postman
Is there word
For mother the war
5 black stars
In bitter defiance
She's spitting the corps
Wet a brood
Short league for combat
My mother the war
Well acquainted
With sorrow
With grief
My mother the war
Folded lace
Carrion and
Blood soaked robes
Folded lace
Carrion
Blood soaked
Shroud
My mother the war
The lyrics of 10000 Maniacs’s song My Mother the War are a commentary on the effects of war on the lives of women, particularly mothers. The song describes a mother who is actively engaged in war efforts, but also deeply affected by them. The lyrics are laden with images of her activities during war time - on one hand, she is shown as a public figure, involved in raising banners and tossing roses, while on the other, she is shown as a private individual, concerned with her family and household activities.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, depicting the mother as someone who is a part of the public life of the city - “She borders the pavement, flanks avenues, the parades pass, white glove attended by.” The rest of the song builds on this image, detailing her efforts in the war as well as her grief and sorrow at its consequences. The lines “Folded lace, carrion and blood soaked robes” serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of war on human lives.
Overall, the song speaks of the dual role of women in times of war - as supporters and participants in war efforts and as those who suffer the consequences of those efforts. It is a powerful anthem that reminds us of the cost of war and the resilience of those who survive it.
Line by Line Meaning
She borders the pavement
She moves along the edge of the road
Flanks avenues
She walks alongside the city streets
The parades pass
She sees the marching processions
White glove attended by
She is accompanied by army officials
My mother the war
The artist's mother is associated with the war
She'll raise a shaft
She raises a flag or banner high
Lift a banner
She proudly displays a flag in honor of the war
Toss a rose
She throws a flower in respect of the army
She knows every neighbor
She is familiar with everyone in the community
Chats at their doors
She talks with people at their homes
Compare
She makes comparisons among things
Econosize electric appliances
She tries to save on electricity usage
Come share tea
She invites people over for tea
And a seat by my
She offers a place to sit near the singer
Cradle with
She comforts the singer when he/she was a baby
Forsaken vigil
She is left alone to keep watch
Three years each tour
She endures three years on each war tour
Hands of God enfold him
She prays to God to protect her family member at war
Prayed mother of the war
She is a religious mother praying for her son in the war
Haunt a doorway
She stands at a doorway waiting for news of her son
Beg a postman
She pleads with the postman to deliver letters from her son
Is there word
She anxiously waits for any news of her son
For mother the war
The mother is redefined as a warrior of the war
5 black stars
The five-star military rank associated with the mother as a war hero
In bitter defiance
She strongly resists the war effort
She's spitting the corps
She is insulting and rebelling against the military
Wet a brood
She sends her own children to war
Short league for combat
Her children join the army quickly without thinking
Well acquainted
She is very familiar with the realities of war
With sorrow
She feels deep sadness
With grief
She is overwhelmed with pain and sorrow
Folded lace
She prepares for her son's funeral with care and attention
Carrion and
The dead body of her son
Blood soaked robes
The robe used to cover the dead body is bloody
Folded lace
She carefully folds a lace cloth for her son's funeral
Carrion
She must bury her son
Blood soaked
The burial involves blood and pain
Shroud
She covers the body for burial
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: JOHN LOMBARDO, MICHAEL GENE WALSH, NATALIE A MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind