The band began in Vancouver in January 2005, when guitarist and vocalist Ryan Guldemond was at music school and wanted to start a band based around vocal-driven pop songs. He recruited his sister Molly along with a friend from college, Debra-Jean Creelman, to accompany his own vocals for the songs he had written, and the trio played as an acoustic act before adding drummer Kenton Loewen and bassist Jeremy Page.
The five members started off playing under the name Mother, and in the fall of 2005, they independently released a self-titled album. This debut album was recorded with Howard Redekopp, who had also worked with The New Pornographers and Tegan and Sara. When the Vancouver Province rated Mother as one of the top five BC bands to watch for in 2007, they began to receive acclaim for their debut album. Shortly thereafter, Mother landed a nationally broadcasted concert opening for K'naan and The Wailin' Jennys. In the summer of 2006, they opened for the Australian band, The Cat Empire, at the sold-out Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Later that year, they made their debut in central Canada at the Montreal International Jazz Festival on June 29 as well as in Toronto on July 1, Canada Day, at the Harbourfront Centre.
In October 2006, after playing a set at the Pop Montreal festival, Mother met with Last Gang Records and later signed a four-album contract. At that point the label encouraged the band to change their name to avoid legal issues, so rather than changing it completely they decided to simply rename themselves Mother Mother. On February 20, 2007, the band re-released its debut album under the new name, renaming the album Touch Up and including two new songs, as well as artwork and overdubs different from the original.
The band released their second album, O My Heart, in 2008. In December 3, it was announced that Debra-Jean Creelman had left Mother Mother, with the addition of a new singer/keyboardist, Jasmin Parkin, announced in January 2009.
Mother Mother's third album, Eureka, was released on March 15, 2011. The album's lead single, "The Stand," entered the Canada Singles Top 100 chart in May 2011 and peaked during that week at position 76. The album prompted a reviewer at the Toronto Star to describe the band as "evolving into orchestral harmonies and hip hop-influenced power ballads, as if Adam Lambert had joined The Dirty Projectors." On January 9, 2012, Kraft Foods launched a series of television commercials featuring the song "Bright Idea."
Mother Mother's fourth album, The Sticks, was released on September 18, 2012. It contains 14 tracks and was co-produced by band frontman Ryan Guldemond and producer Ben Kaplan. The first single, "Let's Fall in Love", was released on July 17, and the second single, "Bit By Bit" in December.
In 2014 the band signed with Universal Music Canada to produce their fifth album, Very Good Bad Thing, which was released on November 4, 2014. The first single from the album, "Get Out The Way" was released on July 15, 2014.
Mother Mother has since produced two more albums under Universal Music Canada. In February 2017 "No Culture" was released, with the first single "The Drugs" released November 4, 2016, and the second single "Love Stuck" released November 29.
In November 2018, "Dance and Cry" was released, the only single "Get Up" released on September 14.
Tic toc
Mother Mother Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kicking in my head, I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my bed I watch this big world float
Cuz I am not listening to you
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
Cuz the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to you
The song Tic Toc by Mother Mother is about someone who is feeling overwhelmed and burnt out from all the pressure, stress and negative words they are receiving from the people around them. The ticking of the clock symbolizes the constant flow of time that cannot be stopped, and how the singer is caught up in it, unable to escape their current situation. They are lying in bed, not wanting to face the world outside, and doesn't care about what other people think or say about them. Instead, they throw the grains of sand from a shattered hourglass into the wind, symbolizing their desire to let go of their worries and fears and to just live in the moment. The sand man tells them that there is no use in listening, which can be interpreted as the singer realizing that they have the power to control their thoughts and emotions, and that they should not let anyone else dictate how they feel.
The repetition of the words "Tick Tock" emphasizes the feeling of time passing by and the urgency to escape that feeling. It also creates a rhythmic pattern in the song that mirrors the ticking of a clock, adding depth to the lyrics. The use of the phrase "all this shit talk" shows the frustration and annoyance of the singer, especially towards the negative words being thrown at them. By saying that they don't care about what others say, it gives them the power and control over their own thoughts and emotions.
Overall, the song Tic Toc by Mother Mother is a powerful message about taking control of our lives, and not letting others dictate our thoughts and emotions. It's about living in the moment, and letting go of our worries and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk
I am overwhelmed by all the unnecessary discussions and negativity around me.
Kicking in my head, I'm staying in bed today
All this negativity is giving me a headache, and I don't feel like facing the world today.
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
I am not interested in hearing anyone's opinions or comments.
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
I am not bothered by anyone's words anymore.
Cuz I am not listening
I am purposely avoiding listening to the negativity around me.
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
The sound of the clock ticking is all I hear as I try to keep my mind occupied.
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
I am just lying in bed, aimlessly passing time, and watching the day go by.
Lying on my bed I watch this big world float
As I observe the world around me, I feel detached and uninvolved.
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
The opinions of others are irrelevant, and I am not affected by their words.
Cuz I am not listening to you
I refuse to let anyone else's words bring me down or take control of my thoughts and feelings.
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
The different hands of the clock represent the passing of time, which feels slow or non-existent depending on my mood.
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
I hold the remnants of an hourglass, which symbolizes the shattered state of my mind and emotions.
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
I am taking control of my situation and choosing to find joy in the midst of chaos.
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
I am indifferent to anyone's judgment or criticism of my actions.
Cuz the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am following the advice of the sandman, who represents my inner voice, and ignoring all external negativity.
I am not listening to you
I am taking control of my own thoughts and emotions, and not allowing anyone else's words to influence them.
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Arpel21
[Lyrics]
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk kicking in my head
I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my back I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening (he is not listening)
No I am not listening to you
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
Cuz the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to you (x5)
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
@earthtoursamajor
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk
Kicking in my head, I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
'Cause I am not listening
Tick-tock, tick-tock
Ticky-ticky-tock
Ticky-ticky-tock
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my bed I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
'Cause I am not listening to you
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
'Cause the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to you
@sarsonist2596
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk kicking in my head
I am staying in bed today
It doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
Oh, I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cause I am not listening
Tic tic toc ticky ticky toc ticky ticky toc goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my back, I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cause I am not listening
(he is not listening)
No, I am not listening to you
You, you, you, you
Tic toc tic toc ticky ticky tic toc
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hourglass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh (haha!)
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
Cause the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to
you
You, you, you, you
Tic toc tic toc ticky ticky tic toc
@natalieoconnor6923
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk
I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my back I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening to you
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
Cuz the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to you
@sophie4297
All this talk, all this ticking
All this shit talk kicking in my head, I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No, I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
'Cause I am not listening
[Verse 2]
"Tick-tick-tock, ticky-ticky-tock, ticky-ticky-tock"
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my back I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
'Cause I am not listening (He is not listening)
No, I am not listening to
[Chorus]
You, you, you, you, and you
You, you, you, you, you you
You, you, you, you, and you
You, you, you, you
Tick-tock-tick-tock, ticky-ticky-tick-tock
[Verse 3]
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh, ha-ha!
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
'Cause the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bada
Dum-bum-bum-bum-bah!
A-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum
[Bridge]
I am not listening to (Bum-bum-bum-bum)
I am not listening to (Bum-bum-bum-bum)
I am not listening to (Bum-bum-bum-bum)
I am not listening to (Bum-bum-bum-bada)
I am not listening to you (She is not listening)
[Chorus]
You, you, you, and you
You, you, you, you, you you
You, you, you, you, and you
You, you, you, you
Tick-tock-tick-tock, ticky-ticky-tick-tock
@steroalt
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk kicking in my head
I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my back I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening to you
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
Cuz the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to you
@tsukishimakeianypronouns8054
Lyrics:
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk
Kicking in my head, I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
'Cause I am not listening
Tick-tock, tick-tock
Ticky-ticky-tock
Ticky-ticky-tock
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my bed I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
'Cause I am not listening to you
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
'Cause the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to you
@killjoy5410
LYRICS
All this talk, all this ticking, all this shit talk
I'm staying in bed today
And it doesn't matter what they'll have to say to me
No I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening
Tick Tock Tick Tock Ticky Ticky Tock Ticky Ticky Toc
Goes the clock and I sit and I watch the hours go
Lying on my back I watch this big world float
And I do not care just what they'll have to say to me
Cuz I am not listening to you
Big hand, little hand, no hand, slow hand
Sitting in my hand is the sand of a shattered hour glass
And I throw these grains of sand into the wind and laugh
And I do not care just what they'll have to say about that
Cuz the sand man told me, there's no use in listening
I am not listening to you
@ecto6331
the "tictoctictocticcyticcytictoc" makes my brain go brrr
@materialistika
LMAO same
@sxgar_cxbes9657
Fr
@sr.jstg.2761
ą¶
@canadianno3606
Yesss
@hectormoya1782
YES
@anneboisvert7904
My brain in class when the teacher is talking
@danielberriel8092
funny cause i'm in class rn listening to this and not my teacher
@emmettmccall9890
I have tourettes and my friend just sent this to me with the caption "it's you"
@Reizadora
I feel sorry for laughing