Zappa disbanded the original Mothers of Invention line-up in 1970 to create music under his own name, but shortly reformed an entirely new band sometimes known as "The Mothers". This new incarnation had a strong vaudeville style and were much bawdier than before, with new vocalists Flo & Eddie, previously of the Turtles, taking the lead. After Zappa was pushed offstage in the Rainbow Theatre in 1971, he broke up this second band and concentrated on a jazzier style with a short-lived big band called the Grand Wazoo, but returned with a third lineup of the Mothers in 1973. This reformed group retained musical similarities to the previous group and the chamber music of the late '60s Mothers, but with a tighter, funkier sound; George Duke's soulful vocals being perhaps the most memorable addition. Whilst members of the new Mothers frequently appeared on albums credited solely to Zappa, three albums, Overnite Sensation, Roxy & Elsewhere and One Size Fits All display the name Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.
The Mothers of Invention (1966-1969)
Frank Zappa - Musical director, guitar & vocals
Ray Collins - Lead vocalist, harmonica, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers 1966-early 1967, September 1967-August 1968
Jim Black - Drums
Roy Estrada - Bass & guitarron; boy soprano
Elliot Ingber - Alternate lead & rhythm guitar early 1966-September 1966
Jim Fielder - guitar, piano late 1966-February 1967
Don Preston - keyboards November 1966-August 1969
Bunk Gardner - woodwinds November 1966-August 1969
Billy Mundi - Drums November 1966-Decmber 1967
Euclid James Motorhead Sherwood - soprano, tambourine baritone saxophone & Roadie 1966, September 1967-August 1969
Ian Underwood -Woodwinds,Saxophone July 1967-August 1969
Arthur Dyer Tripp III - drums, timpani, vibes, marimba, xylophone, wood blocks, bells, small chimes December 1967-August 1969
Lowell George - Rhythm Guitar November 1968-May 1969
Buzz Gardner November 1968- August 1969
Core discography (note that the band's canon is nebulous, due to the often poorly demarcated overlap with Frank Zappa's solo discography; this list additionally omits albums released after the breakup of the band)
1966 - Freak Out!
1967 - Absolutely Free
1968 - We're Only in It for the Money
1968 - Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
1969 - Uncle Meat
1970 - Burnt Weeny Sandwich
1970 - Weasels Ripped My Flesh
1971 - Fillmore East - June 1971
1971 - 200 Motels
1972 - Just Another Band from L.A.
1972 - The Grand Wazoo
1973 - Over-Nite Sensation
1974 - Roxy & Elsewhere
1975 - One Size Fits All
1975 - Bongo Fury (with Captain Beefheart)
Motherly Love
The Mothers of Invention Lyrics
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Motherly love
Forget about
The brotherly and other-ly love
Motherly love
Is just the thing for you
You know your mothers' gonna love ya
The mothers got love
That'll drive ya mad
They're ravin' 'bout the way we do
No need to feel lonely
No need to feel sad,
If we ever get a hold on you
What you need is
Motherly love
(Come on, get it now)
Motherly love
Forget about
The brotherly and other-ly love
Motherly love
Is just the thing for you
You know your mothers' gonna love ya
'Till ya don't know what to do
Nature's been good
To this here band
Don't ever think we're shy
Send us up some little groupies
And we'll take their hands
And rock 'em till they sweat and cry
What you need is
Motherly love
(Get it now)
Motherly love
Forget about
The brotherly and other-ly love
Motherly love
Is just the thing for you
You know your mothers' gonna love ya
'Till ya don't know what to do
We can love ya
'Till ya have a heart attack
You'd best believe that's true
We'll bite your neck
And scratch your back
'Till you don't know what to do
What you need is
Motherly love
Motherly love
Forget about
The brotherly and other-ly love
Motherly love
Is just the thing for you
You know your mothers' gonna love ya
'Till ya don't know what to do
You know I've got a little motherly love for you baby, yeah
You know I've got a little motherly love for you honey, yeah
You know it doesn't bother me at all
That you're only eighteen years old
'Cause I got a little motherly love for you baby
The Mothers of Invention's "Motherly Love" is a satirical song that pokes fun at the idea of motherly love and how it can be used to cover up other forms of intimacy. The song begins by suggesting that "brotherly and other-ly love" should be forgotten and replaced with motherly love. The idea of mothers having a possessive and almost obsessive form of love is presented, with the lyrics implying that they will love you until you "don't know what to do."
The song's sexual undertones become more evident as it progresses. The band boasts of their ability to love until their partners have a heart attack and bite necks and scratch backs until they don't know what to do. The underlying message is that motherly love can be just as suffocating and dominating as other forms of love. The song also includes a reference to groupies, suggesting that the band will take advantage of their adoring fans.
Overall, "Motherly Love" is a tongue-in-cheek critique of the way society views different types of love and how it can be used to manipulate others. The song satirizes the concepts of possessiveness and domination that are often associated with motherly love and presents it in a humorous and exaggerated way.
Line by Line Meaning
Motherly love
The love and care of a mother
Motherly love
The love and care of a mother
Forget about
Disregard
The brotherly and other-ly love
The love and affection of siblings, friends, or romantic partners
Motherly love
The love and care of a mother
Is just the thing for you
Is exactly what you need
You know your mothers' gonna love ya
You know your mother will always love and care for you
'Till ya don't know what to do
To the point of overwhelming you
The mothers got love
Mothers have love to give
That'll drive ya mad
That can be overwhelming
They're ravin' 'bout the way we do
They are excited about the way we love
No need to feel lonely
No need to feel alone
No need to feel sad,
No need to feel unhappy
If we ever get a hold on you
If we ever get close to you
What you need is
What you require is
Motherly love
The love and care of a mother
(Come on, get it now)
Hurry up and experience it
Motherly love
The love and care of a mother
Nature's been good
The world has been good to us
To this here band
To our group (The Mothers of Invention)
Don't ever think we're shy
Don't think we're reserved or timid
Send us up some little groupies
Send some young fans to us
And we'll take their hands
And we'll guide them
And rock 'em till they sweat and cry
And play music for them until they dance and become emotional
We can love ya
We have love to give
'Till ya have a heart attack
To the point of overwhelming you
You'd best believe that's true
It's definitely true
We'll bite your neck
We'll show our passion and excitement
And scratch your back
And provide comfort and support
'Till you don't know what to do
To the point of overwhelming you
You know I've got a little motherly love for you baby, yeah
You know I have some love and care to give you
You know I've got a little motherly love for you honey, yeah
You know I have some love and care to give you
You know it doesn't bother me at all
It doesn't bother me
That you're only eighteen years old
You being young doesn't bother me
'Cause I got a little motherly love for you baby
Because I have some love and care to give you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FRANK ZAPPA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind