Thinking of my mother. Classic Western songs about mothers.
As the saying “a mother’s strength” suggests, mothers are truly remarkable.
It’s no different for musicians, of course, and there are countless songs around the world that take mothers as their theme.
In this article, we’ll feature classic Western songs about mothers, spanning genres and eras.
You’ll find songs filled with love for beloved mothers, as well as tracks that explore the sometimes complex parent-child relationship—offering many different forms of “songs for mothers.”
We also touch on the lyrical content in our reviews, so if you want to understand the meaning behind the songs, this is a must-read!
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Thinking of Mother: Classic Western Songs About Mothers (71–80)
Mama Said Knock You OutLL Cool J
The performer of this song, LL Cool J, is a hip-hop MC from the United States.
He has the distinction of being the first hip-hop musician to receive the Kennedy Center Honors, in 2017.
The song’s content is along the lines of “I’m going to knock you out—because Mama said so,” which makes you realize that, for boys, a mother’s presence is, for better or worse, truly immense.
My Mother & ILucy Dacus
American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus’s “My Mother & I” is a song written around the theme of “what is passed down from mother to daughter.” In 2019, the year the track was released, Lucy announced she would be putting out songs tied to various holidays.
The second release in that series was “My Mother & I,” in honor of Mother’s Day.
On the day it came out, Lucy revealed on Instagram that she was adopted.
The song reflects on what is inherited from mother to daughter through blood, the body, and everyday interactions.
Even when we say simply “mother and daughter,” that relationship can take many forms.
Whether connected by blood or not, a bond is born between two people through the time they share.
It’s a song that contemplates a “mother and daughter” relationship that isn’t confined to a single idea of family.
Mama from the trainPatti Page
Patti Page, an American singer known for songs like Tennessee Waltz.
This is a song whose relaxed delivery draws you in.
It depicts a scene of riding a train and parting from one’s mother, expressing feelings toward her with gentle care.
Mother and Child reunionPaul Simon
This song, included on the album Paul Simon, is sung by one half of the duo known as Simon & Garfunkel.
Centered on a reunion with his mother, it’s a track where Simon’s gentle vocals make for a soothing listen.
You & The 6Drake
Many rappers active in the hip-hop scene spent their childhoods in complicated family environments.
Drake, who’s hugely successful in the mainstream, is one of those rappers.
His song “You & The 6” is about his relationship with his mother, portraying the love he feels toward her despite behavior that bordered on neglect.
It’s a work that captures emotions too complex to sum up in a single word.
Be sure to check out the Japanese translation as well.
All That I Got Is YouGhostface Killah
Ghostface Killah, who made his name as part of the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.
“All That I Got Is You” is his solo debut song, a classic in which he sings about his love for his mother while recounting his own life story.
Reading the lyrics, you can see just how intense a life Ghostface Killah has lived.
He lost his father at the age of six, and from then on his mother did everything she could to support the family.
He suffered from poverty and illness, at times wondering, “Why was I born into a place like this?” After discovering hip-hop, he achieved worldwide success and poured his gratitude and love for his mother into this song.
It’s a track that makes you realize a mother’s greatness and resilience.
Mother PopcornJames Brown
James Brown, an American soul singer whose on-stage performances are striking.
This is a track with a richly seasoned vocal that you never get tired of listening to.
The song is included on the album ‘It’s a Mother,’ released in 1969.