Horace Andy, or Horace Hinds ( ⋆ 19 Feb 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica) is lege… Read Full Bio ↴Horace Andy, or Horace Hinds ( ⋆ 19 Feb 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica) is legendary reggae artist and roots reggae singer and songwriter. He is also Rastafarian. His first single, "This is a Black Man's Country," was released 1967 Andy is one of the most respected and influential singers in Jamaica, known for his distinctive falsetto vocal style and songs as Skylarking, Government Land, Angel, Five Man Army and for his work with English Massive Attack. He is famous for a covers as Ain't No Sunshine and Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Andys first studio albums were Skylarking (1972), You Are My Angel (1973) and Earth Must Be Hell (1974) . His latest, Broken Beats, was released 2013.
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Horace Andy is a legendary roots reggae singer, notable for such tracks as Government Land, You Are My Angel and Skylarking.

Born Horace Hinds on 19 February 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica, he made his earliest recordings in the late 1960s. Known for his distinctive falsetto vocal style, he sung on many classic production for reggae producers, including Phil Pratt, King Tubby and Prince Jammy. He is a devout Rastafari and, like many reggae singers, much of his material deals with themes of religion and social justice.

Andy found a new generation of fans in the 1990s, thanks to his work with trip hop pioneers Massive Attack. He continues to record new music, with an album called Living in the Flood released in 1999 on Massive Attack's Melankolic record label.

Mother and Child Reunion
Horace Andy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh the mother and child reunion is only a motion away
Oh the mother and child reunion is only a motion away, yeah yeah yeah

No I would not give you false hopes
On this strange and mournful day
But the mother and child reunion is only a motion away
Oh, little darling of mine
I can't for the life of me

Remember a sadder day
I know they say let it be
But it just don't work out that way
And the course of a lifetime runs
Over and over again

No I would not give you false hopes (no)
On this strange and mournful day
But the mother and child reunion is only a motion away

No I would not give you false hopes
On this strange and mournful day
But the mother and child reunion is only a motion away, yeah

Mmm mmm mmm
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-ooh
Oh little darling of mine
I just can't believe it's so
And it seems so strange to say
But I've never been laid so low In such a mysterious way
And the course of a lifetime runs
Over and over again
No I would not give you false hopes (no)
On this strange and mournful day
But the mother and child reunion is only a motion away

Oh the mother and child reunion is only a motion away
Oh the mother and child reunion is only a moment away, yeah yeah yeah
Oh the mother and child reunion is only a motion away
Oh the mother and child reunion is only a moment away, yeah yeah yeah

Oh the mother and child reunion is only a motion away
Yes the mother and child reunion is only a moment away

Overall Meaning

The song "Mother and Child Reunion" by Horace Andy describes the painful separation between a mother and child, and the yearning to be reunited. The lyrics acknowledge the sadness of the situation but also offer hope that the reunion is possible and just a motion away. The line "Oh little darling of mine, I can't for the life of me remember a sadder day" captures the depth of the singer's emotion and sets the tone for the song. The lyrics also suggest that the pain of separation is a recurring theme in the course of a lifetime.

The song's title and chorus reference the dish "Mother and Child Reunion," a Chinese recipe consisting of chicken and eggs. Paul Simon, who wrote the song, came across the name on the menu of a Chinese restaurant and was struck by the juxtaposition of life and death in the name. He felt it was fitting for the theme of the song - the separation of a mother and child.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh the mother and child reunion is only a motion away
The reunion between a mother and child is possible and can happen soon.

Oh the mother and child reunion is only a motion away, yeah yeah yeah
The reunion between a mother and child is possible and can happen soon, without a doubt.

No I would not give you false hopes
I would not deceive you or offer hope without a true possibility of it being fulfilled.

On this strange and mournful day
During this sad and difficult time.

But the mother and child reunion is only a motion away
But the reunion between a mother and child can happen soon.

Oh, little darling of mine
This is a term of endearment for a child.

I can't for the life of me
I cannot recall or understand.

Remember a sadder day
Recall a day that was filled with more sadness.

I know they say let it be
I am aware that people advise to leave things alone or not interfere.

But it just don't work out that way
But it is not that simple or easy.

And the course of a lifetime runs
Throughout the span of one's life.

Over and over again
Repetitively.

Mmm mmm mmm
An interjection used to indicate thought or reflection.

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-ooh
An exclamation used to express emotion or realization.