Home · Songs · Pink Floyd · Mother
From album
The Wall
Pink Floyd · 1979
Details
TonalidadG
Compás4/4
Tempo136 BPM
Duración2:59
CompositorRoger Waters
ÁlbumThe Wall
Año1979
Credits
Music Roger Waters
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The story behind
The song Mother, part of Pink Floyd's album The Wall, immerses us in an intimate and complex conversation. It begins very simply, almost whispered, with a solo voice and an acoustic guitar. As it progresses, instrumentation is added: an organ, piano, drums, bass, and electric guitar. What's interesting is how the rhythmic structure constantly changes, moving through time signatures like 5/8, 8/8, 6/8, and even 9/8, which gives it a sense of fluidity and sometimes tension. Drummer Nick Mason found these changes complicated to follow, and given the tight recording schedule, American session drummer Jeff Porcaro handled the percussion. The piece ends by returning to its essence, with only the acoustic guitar and Roger Waters' voice, leaving a feeling of something unfinished.
Mother was written by Roger Waters, who explained that the song explores how parental perspectives, especially those of a single mother, can influence how their children perceive topics like sexuality. In the context of The Wall, the lyrics narrate the relationship between Pink, an alienated rocker, and his mother. She, having lost her husband in World War II, becomes overprotective, helping Pink build his metaphorical "wall" to isolate himself from the world. The song was recorded between April and November 1979, and released on November 30, 1979, in the UK and December 8, 1979, in the US, under the Harvest and Columbia labels respectively. The production was handled by Bob Ezrin, David Gilmour, James Guthrie, and Roger Waters himself.
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