She was born Laura Nigro on 18th October 1947 in the Bronx, New York, of Italian-American and Jewish-American parents. As a child, she taught herself piano, read poetry, and listened to her mother's records by Leontyne Price, Billie Holiday and classical composers such as Ravel and Debussy. She composed her first songs at age eight. While in high school, she sang with a group of friends in subway stations and on street corners.
As a teenager she experimented with using different names, and Nyro was the one she was using at the time. She sold her song "And When I Die" to Peter, Paul and Mary for $5,000, and made her first extended professional appearance in 1966, at age 18, singing at the "hungry i" coffeehouse in San Francisco. Mogull negotiated her a recording contract, and she recorded her debut album, More Than a New Discovery, for the Verve Folkways label. The album provided material for other artists, notably the 5th Dimension.
In 1967, Nyro made only her second major live appearance, at the Monterey Pop Festival. Although some accounts described her performance as a fiasco that culminated in her being booed off the stage,[8] recordings later made public contradict this view.[
Nyro was best known by the general public – and had the most commercial success – as a songwriter rather than a performer. Her best-known songs include "And When I Die" (made a hit by Blood, Sweat & Tears), "Stoney End" (covered by Barbra Streisand), "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", "Save the Country" (all covered by The 5th Dimension), and "Eli's Coming" (a hit for Three Dog Night). Ironically, Nyro's own best-selling single was "Up on the Roof", a cover of the Carole King-Gerry Goffin hit originally recorded by The Drifters in 1962.
She died on 8th April 1997.
In 2012 she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Mother Earth
Laura Nyro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to sing you a new song called 'Mother Earth.'
Deep brown earth
Moon in the branches
Nightingales sing
I love him, body and soul
Night songs pierce my ear
And ring
Do you believe
In Mother Earth?
She will hear you
The earth smells of her
And God is her lover
She will hear you
With wisdom and love
Life, I know
Is the natural blues
Natural like earth and God above
First step to heaven
Is to pay your dues
Roots and meanings flyin' love
Do you believe
In Mother Earth?
She will hear you
The earth smells of her
And God is her lover
She will hear you
With wisdom and love
Bless the train
On the cold snowy winter track
The wind takes you back home
And you may go
To the northwest passage
But never from your heart
Must you roam
Do you believe
In Mother Earth, child?
She will hear you
The earth smells of her
And God is her lover
She will hear you
With wisdom and love
Deep brown earth
Moon in my branches
Have gone where
Nightingales sing
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh
Peace
And joy to the world
The song "Mother Earth" by Laura Nyro is a tribute to nature and the interconnectedness of all things in the universe. The opening lines describe the beauty of the natural world, with deep brown earth and the moon shining in the trees. The nightingales singing create an atmosphere of love and unity. The singer declares her love for the earth and all that it represents, touching on themes of spirituality and faith. She asks the question, "Do you believe in Mother Earth?" suggesting that the earth is a living, breathing entity that can hear us if we speak to it with an open heart.
Throughout the song, there is a recognition of the power of nature and the cycles of life and death that are inherent in the natural world. The reference to "paying your dues" suggests that we must work hard to earn our place in the world and be responsible for our actions. There is a sense of reverence and awe for the power of nature and the beauty that can be found in the world around us.
The final verse speaks to the idea of home and the importance of keeping nature close to our hearts. The phrase "never from your heart must you roam" suggests that no matter where we go, the love for Mother Earth should remain within us. The song ends with a message of peace and joy, suggesting that the beauty of the natural world can bring harmony and happiness to all who embrace it.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep brown earth
The color of earth is deep brown and it symbolizes the foundation of life that exists on this planet.
Moon in the branches
The moon shining through the branches of a tree which signifies the natural beauty of the world and the sky.
Have gone where Nightingales sing
The natural ambiance in which the Nightingales thrive and enhance the experience of the environment with their songs.
I love him, body and soul
Feeling so complete and at peace with the Earth's natural powers which help the body and soul to rest in comfort.
Night songs pierce my ear And ring
The melodious songs of animals in the night that fill the soul with peace and comfort.
Do you believe In Mother Earth?
Do you have faith in the abounding power and healing effects of nature?
She will hear you The earth smells of her And God is her lover
Mother Earth will hear you if you offer her praise & gratitude as the Earth is an extension of God's love in this world.
With wisdom and love Life, I know Is the natural blues Natural like earth and God above First step to heaven Is to pay your dues Roots and meanings flyin' love
Life is full of complexities and constantly changing just like the Earth. We must learn to embrace that and let love be the root of it all.
Bless the train On the cold snowy winter track The wind takes you back home And you may go To the northwest passage But never from your heart Must you roam
The train and its tracks represent the usual pattern of life, but it is important to keep connecting with nature, even while traveling. Although you may wander physically, you must keep the love for nature in your heart.
Do you believe In Mother Earth, child?
A question to close the song and remind us all of the importance of having faith and devotion towards Mother Earth.
Deep brown earth Moon in my branches Have gone where Nightingales sing
The repetition of the beginning of the song, but with a feeling of belongingness and mindfulness of the planet.
Ooh ooh ooh Ooh ooh ooh Ooh ooh Peace And joy to the world
A final chorus echoing the importance of finding inner peace and joy, which ultimately can only be possible with the help of nature and Mother Earth.
Contributed by Hunter F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
satsanganand
Lovely, and tender... like her. I still miss her. I like to think she'd have continued to move us with her lyrical poignancy and melodic creativity had she been longer lived. How precious is this breath that animates and sustains us? Knowing Laura - are we not gifted with that rare appetite for aesthetic excellence? Blessed be Mother Earth and God her lover... Peace on Earth begins within!
Jessica Benge
Totally Gorgeous. Just amazing that this was only on her live album and wasnt released for over 30 years after the concert.
LauraLand4u
well said...