Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Phair followed this with her second album, Whip-Smart (1994), which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998). Ten years after the release of her debut, Phair's fourth album, Liz Phair (2003), released on Capitol Records, moved towards pop rock, earning her a mainstream audience but alienating critics.
After the release of her fifth album, Somebody's Miracle (2005), Phair left Capitol and released her sixth album Funstyle independently in 2010. In 2018, it was announced that Matador Records would be releasing a retrospective set for Phair's debut album Exile in Guyville which includes remastered recordings from her original Girly-Sound demo tapes. Phair released her seventh studio album, Soberish, in 2021.
Mother's Little Helper
Liz Phair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Kids are different today", I hear every mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day
Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag
So she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And to help her on her way, get her through her busy day
Doctor, please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Men just aren't the same today", I hear every mother say
They just don't appreciate that you get tired
They're so hard to satisfy, you can tranquilize your mind
So go running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight
Doctor, please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Life's just much too hard today", I hear every mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day, hey
The lyrics to Liz Phair's song, "Mother's Little Helper" are a commentary on the pressures of motherhood and aging. The opening line, "What a drag it is getting old," speaks to the general feeling of frustration and exhaustion that can come with age. The next few lines highlight the idea that children have changed and that mothers need something to calm them down. The "little yellow pill" referenced is likely a reference to Valium, which was commonly prescribed to women in the 1960s and 1970s to alleviate anxiety.
The second verse delves deeper into the pressures of being a mother and a wife. Cooking fresh food is a "drag," and instead, mothers opt for instant cakes and frozen steaks. The line "And to help her on her way, get her through her busy day" speaks to the need for the mother to keep going even when she feels overwhelmed.
The third verse discusses the differences between men and women and the fact that men don't appreciate the tireless work that women do. The line "And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight" references the idea of using sleeping pills to find peace and quiet.
Overall, the song is a critique of the pressures placed on women to perform as wives, mothers, and homemakers, and the toll that it takes on their mental and physical health.
Line by Line Meaning
What a drag it is getting old
The singer is voicing her frustration about the challenges of aging and the struggles of daily life.
"Kids are different today", I hear every mother say
Mothers today often suggest that their children are different from when they were young, and it can be hard to relate to them and their problems.
Mother needs something today to calm her down
The mother is struggling to cope with the stresses of daily life and desires something to help soothe her nerves.
And though she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill
The mother is not actually sick, but she takes medication to help her deal with anxiety and stress.
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
The mother relies on medication as a way to escape from the pressures of daily life and find peace.
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day
The medication provides the mother some relief from the stress and strain of daily tasks, allowing her to cope better with her busy schedule.
"Things are different today", I hear every mother say
Many mothers suggest that things have changed in society, and traditional roles and expectations are no longer sufficient or appropriate for modern lifestyles.
Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag
The duties of running a household, including meal preparation, are viewed as tedious and time-consuming by some women.
So she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
When trying to take shortcuts or perform tasks in a hurry, it's easy to make mistakes, including overcooking food or looking for simpler options that sacrifice quality.
And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
The mother relies on medication to help her find relief from the stresses of life, including the challenges of keeping a household running smoothly.
And to help her on her way, get her through her busy day
The medication helps the mother deal with the challenges of daily life, giving her more energy and resilience to handle her busy schedule.
Doctor, please, some more of these
The mother is asking for a prescription to get more medication of the same type.
Outside the door, she took four more
The mother is taking more medication than directed, which may be dangerous for her health.
"Men just aren't the same today", I hear every mother say
Mothers today often suggest that men have changed and are not as dependable, sensitive or helpful as they used to be.
They just don't appreciate that you get tired
Men often fail to notice the amount of work and effort that mothers put into keeping a house, raising children, and maintaining a happy family life.
They're so hard to satisfy, you can tranquilize your mind
To deal with the stress of raising a family and dealing with a partner who is not responsive or understanding, some women turn to medication to find peace and calm their nerves.
So go running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
The mother relies on medication to help her cope with an unsatisfying or stressful life that seems to be beyond her control.
And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight
The mother takes a larger dose of medication to find even greater relief from her troubles and to calm her fears and insecurities.
"Life's just much too hard today", I hear every mother say
Many mothers feel that modern life is too demanding and challenging, leaving little time or energy for relaxation, pleasure or personal growth.
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
Mothers may feel trapped in lifestyles that do not offer much joy or meaning in the long run, prompting feelings of dissatisfaction, resignation, and disappointment.
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
Taking too much medication can be harmful and cause an overdose, which may be fatal or result in serious side effects.
No more running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
The mother decides to stop using medication to cope with life's challenges and to find other means of support or solutions to her problems.
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day, hey
The mother acknowledges that the medication only provided temporary relief from her problems and may have hastened her eventual decline or demise.
Lyrics © Alfred, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE CROPPER, WILSON PICKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Felis silvestris
Lyrics:
What a drag it is getting old
"Kids are different today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though she's not really ill
There's a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day
"Things are different today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag
So she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And two help her on her way, get her through her busy day
Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Men just aren't the same today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
They just don't appreciate that you get tired
They're so hard to satisfy, You can tranquilize your mind
So go running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight
Doctor please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old
"Life's just much too hard today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day.
malbuff
One of the best covers I've ever heard of any song. She replaces Jagger's contempt with a detached irony that can't quite be called compassion. Like everything else Liz Phair does, this is a winner.
SLASHER amc
Was the Rolling Stones the original composers? Or who where they?
malbuff
Yes, it's a Mick/Keith credited tune.
afa78djd
I agree.
Ky Olsen
Liz does a great version here!
Though I personally love the contemptuous tone in Mick's voice it really lends well to the mood of the 60's scorning kids doing drugs while ignoring if not endorsing middle class mothers popping pills such as Valium, or similar drug, legally with a doctors prescription.
malbuff
@Ky Olsen Yep. Times sure have changed. :-)
Ron Potts
I think it hits different when a mom (Phair) is singing it. I also like her vocal delivery here; very clear, moreso than Jagger's version.
Puka Reyesvilla
Love it.
Tim Richards
That's Liz Phair...more than just one tune ..she has real talent!!!
Guido Trejo
Muy buena interpretación.