Holy Mother by Eric Clapton

Album: August (1986)

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Songfacts®:

Clapton wrote this with Stephen Bishop, who had a solo hit with "On and On" and wrote the #1 "Separate Lives." Clapton and Bishop worked together for the first time when Clapton played guitar on "Save It For A Rainy Day," which was on Bishop's first solo album.
Bishop told Songfacts how this one came together: "Phil Collins married his second wife Jill in 1984 and I was invited to the wedding, so I went and stayed at Eric and Pattie's castle Hurtwood Edge. While I was there, Eric asked me if I wanted to work on this idea he had called 'Holy Mother.' I went upstairs to my room and started working on the idea - played what I had for him and he worked on it later and he recorded it on his August album with Phil Collins producing. He also did a version of it with Pavarotti which is really great."
Eric Clapton posted on Facebook how he was inspired to write the song after watching Prince's Purple Rain in a Canadian movie theater.

"In the '80s, I was out on the road in a massive downward spiral with drink and drugs, I saw Purple Rain in a cinema in Canada. I had no idea who he was, it was like a bolt of lightning!

In the middle of my depression, and the dreadful state of the music culture at that time it gave me hope, he was like a light in the darkness...

I went back to my hotel, and surrounded by empty beer cans, wrote Holy Mother."

Comments: 10

Steve From Sj from NjI also can’t stop listening to it. I listen to it when I pray the rosary every day.
Mary Jo Rusinko from PaEric I need your help so bad
Phyllis from ConnecticutIn his 1986 version he sings “pain goes thru my soul, I can’t control” why did he change it? And if any version is fantastic it is this one with Phil Collins at drum! The song gave my life hope and got me back to religion!!!! Thank you Mr. Clapton
Larry from In Usa, State Of New Hampshire,city Of Dover,Iove it each time I hear it.
Great song, Great pairing, great words, great tune.
When I think of the loss of your child,
I imagine this as one of your painful
crys.
Jr Schmidt from Jacksonville FlIt sounds like Luciano sings I CALLED YOUR NAME 1000 times Not I cursed it as lyrics say. Why would he curse The Holy Mother?
Jennifer Andrews from Bend, OrTwo blessed voices and one brilliant composer
Dawn from Georgia I had never heard this song before but I can’t stop playing it. One of the most beautiful lyrics. This song will forever be with me. I love both versions of it. Eric and Eric and Pavarotti.
Charmaine from Jonesboro, Ar. 72401You are a man that knows how to wear a mustache and beard!
Hanna from Raleigh, Nc[This song was wrote in the Clapton alcholism period. In his book "Clapton" he says "It was like a moment of clarity when I saw the absolute squalidness of my life at that
moment. I began to write a song called “Holy Mother,” in which I asked for help from a divine source, a female that I couldn’t even begin to identify. I still love that song, because I recognize that it came from deep in my heart as a sincere cry for help."]
Jim from Sugar Grove, IlWhy did you change the previous holy mother, I thought that was the best with the choir behind Clapton without Pavi; we can see the Clapton/Pavi version on other sites