Mother
John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I never had you
I, I wanted you
You didn't want me
So, I
I just got to tell you
Goodbye
Goodbye
Father, you left me
But I never left you
I needed you
You didn't need me
So, I
I just got to tell you, mm
Goodbye
Goodbye
Children, don't do
What I have done
I couldn't walk
And I tried to run
So, I
I just got to tell you
Goodbye
Goodbye
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
Mama don't go
Daddy come home
"Mother" is a song by John Lennon, released in 1970 on his debut solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The song reflects Lennon's childhood experiences and his relationship with his parents. In the first verse, he sings about his mother who gave birth to him but didn't want him. Lennon's parents separated when he was young, and his father left him with his aunt Mimi. He felt abandoned and rejected by his mother who chose to stay with her new husband instead of taking care of him.
In the second verse, Lennon sings about his father who left him when he was a child. He felt like he needed his father, but his father didn't need him. He felt like his father didn't care about him and didn't want to be a part of his life. The chorus of the song is a message to his children telling them not to make the same mistakes he did.
The song ends with a repetition of the lines "Mama don't go, Daddy come home." It shows Lennon's longing for his parents and his wish for them to be together and care for him. The song is a powerful expression of Lennon's emotions and highlights the deep pain and anguish he felt because of his childhood experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, you had me
You birthed me into this world
But I never had you
But we never had a true mother-son relationship
I, I wanted you
I longed for that connection with you, Mother
You didn't want me
But you didn't reciprocate those feelings
So, I
Therefore, I
I just got to tell you
I need to say it to you
Goodbye
Goodbye
Father, you left me
You abandoned me, Father
But I never left you
But I was still here for you, despite your absence
I needed you
I yearned for your presence and support
You didn't need me
But you didn't feel the same way about me
So, I
Therefore, I
I just got to tell you, mm
I have to let you know
Goodbye
Goodbye
Children, don't do
My dear children, don't make the same mistakes that I did
What I have done
I was reckless and made bad choices
I couldn't walk
I couldn't handle the burden of my mistakes
And I tried to run
So, I tried to escape from my problems
So, I
Therefore, I
I just got to tell you
I have to warn you
Goodbye
Goodbye
Mama don't go
Mother, please don't leave me
Daddy come home
Father, I need you to come back and be there for me
Mama don't go
Mother, please don't abandon me like Dad did
Daddy come home
Father, I still need you in my life
Mama don't go
Mother, please don't walk out on me
Daddy come home
Father, I need you more than ever
Mama don't go
Mother, please don't leave me alone
Daddy come home
Father, I need you to come back and be present
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave
Written by: John Winston Lennon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ctmcdonaldmusic6787
The most heart wrenching song ever written- Lennon sings and imitates himself as a 5year old child screaming out for his parents who left him. Only Lennon could write this. This is what makes him a a great song writer.
@bigmuggs123
Perfectly put.
@dyeselayento2384
8 1:05
@adamdorgant9454
Agreed!!!
@violamartini2108
I am so sad.
@cfrnserrano21
You just feel the hurt in his words
@mattbutler3852
It must be one of the saddest songs ever written. The pleas of a grown up child.
@zootsoot2006
Thank god for Mimi. Did he ever write a song about her?
@BrianJohnstonTrombone
Not sure. He did buy a very nice home for her as a thank you for her love.
@maryfurnish5353
It’s the pleas and pain of a little boy, not a grown person. Those of us who have experienced Primal Therapy, as John did, can understand the exquisite poignancy of those screams. This songs still takes me back to the deep yearning of a small girl who desperately needed the love of my parents.