Mother's Little Helper
Polyphonic Size Lyrics
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"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
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 pusuit 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
The lyrics to Polyphonic Size's song "Mother's Little Helper" is a commentary on the changing societal norms and the pressures that come with aging. The opening line, "What a drag it is getting old," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics describe how mothers are increasingly turning to drugs to manage their daily lives. The song is a criticism of a society that places unrealistic expectations on women and mothers.
The song's title, "Mother's Little Helper," is a reference to Valium, a drug that was commonly prescribed to women in the 1960s and 70s to manage anxiety and stress. The lyrics talk about how women of this era were expected to cook, clean, and take care of their families, all while dealing with the pressures of a changing world. The line "Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag" speaks to the push towards convenience foods and the decline of traditional homemaking.
The song also touches on the changing roles of men and how they're failing to appreciate the hard work that mothers put into their families. The line "Men just aren't the same today" is a commentary on how society is changing and how men are struggling to find their place. The lyrics suggest that woman's traditional role in the family is changing, and that men aren't keeping up with the changes.
Overall, Polyphonic Size's "Mother's Little Helper" is an insightful commentary on the changing roles of women and men, and how the pressures of daily life can drive one to seek solace in drugs.
Line by Line Meaning
What a drag it is getting old
Aging is not an enjoyable thing to experience.
"Kids are different today," I hear ev'ry mother say
Mothers think that raising children in modern times is more challenging than before.
Mother needs something today to calm her down
The mother is looking for a way to relieve her stress or anxiety.
And though she's not really ill, there's a little yellow pill
The mother takes medication that she doesn't necessarily need because it makes her feel better.
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
The mother relies on the medication to help her cope with the demands of daily life.
"Things are different today," I hear ev'ry mother say
Mothers feel that there is a shift in societal expectations that makes it harder for them to balance all their responsibilities.
Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag, so she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
The mother finds it difficult to keep up with domestic chores and resorts to taking shortcuts that result in poor quality food.
Doctor please, some more of these, outside the door, she took four more
The mother is addicted to the medication and seeks more of it to satisfy her craving.
"Men just aren't the same today," I hear ev'ry mother say
Mothers feel that their husbands do not appreciate their efforts and are harder to please than before.
They're so hard to satisfy, You can tranquilize your mind, so go running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
The mother uses the medication to escape her problems and feel more relaxed.
And four help you through the night, help to minimize your plight
The mother needs multiple pills to fall asleep and cope with her problems.
"Life's just much too hard today," I hear ev'ry mother say
Mothers feel that life has become too overwhelming and challenging to bear.
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose, no more running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
Taking too much of the medication can be dangerous and harmful to one's health, and the mother should not rely on it anymore.
They just helped you on your way, through your busy dying day
The medication may provide temporary relief, but it cannot help in the long term or prevent death.
Writer(s): MICK JAGGER, KEITH RICHARD
Contributed by Jasmine R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.