Mother by Pink Floyd

Album: The Wall (1979)

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Pink Floyd's album The Wall is mainly the creation of founding member Roger Waters. It's a semi-autobiographical story about a young boy who loses his father in the war and is raised by his overly protective mother, who is the focus of this song. The child grows up alone as an outsider that absolutely does not fit in. He feels trapped by his overly protective environment while being shunned by the men around him.

Waters told Mojo that the mother portrayed in the song has some similarities to his own mum. He said: "My mother was suffocating in her own way. She always had to be right about everything. I'm not blaming her. That's who she was. I grew up with a single parent who could never hear anything I said, because nothing I said could possibly be as important as what she believed. My mother was, to some extent, a wall herself that I was banging my head against. She lived her life in the service of others. She was a school teacher. But it wasn't until I was 45, 50 years old that I realised how impossible it was for her to listen to me."

When Mojo asked Waters if his mother saw herself in the song, he replied: "She's not that recognizable. The song is more general, the idea that we can be controlled by our parents' views on things like sex. The single mother of boys, particularly, can make sex harder than it needs to be."
The main character in the song and throughout The Wall is named Pink. In this song, he's portrayed by Roger Waters, who asks his mother a series of questions:

Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?
Mother, do you think they'll like this song?

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour is the voice of the mother telling him the world is terrifying, but she'll protect him:

Mama's gonna put all of her fears into you
Mama's gonna keep you right here under her wing
Unlike many of the songs on The Wall, "Mother" works well when extracted as an individual song, making it suitable for airplay. The songs on the album all flow together, so most don't have clear starting and stopping points, but "Mother" follows "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)," which ends with the sound of a phone ringing. There's then a brief silence before we hear Roger Waters take a deep breath and sing the first line of "Mother." The song is the last track on Side 1 of the double album, so it has a clear ending on the line, "Mother, did it need to be so high?"

Radio stations took advantage and gave the song lots of airplay, playing it right off the album because it wasn't released as a single. It endured for many years on classic rock radio.
The Wall was made into a 1982 movie starring Bob Geldof as Pink. There are animated sequences throughout the film created by Gerald Scarfe, who visualized the mother as a huge monstrous woman with a brick-wall bosom. Roger Waters told Mojo magazine December 2009: "The song has some connection with my mother, for sure, though the mother that Gerald Scarfe visualises in his drawings couldn't be further from mine. She's nothing like that."
Pink Floyd's drummer Nick Mason didn't play on this track. According to Roger Waters, this was because Mason had trouble with the 5/4 time signatures and other changes, as "his brain doesn't work that way." Jeff Porcaro, who was a session drummer and also a member of the band Toto, took his place. Mason was also replaced on drums (this time by Andy Newmark) on the track "Two Suns in the Sunset" from the album The Final Cut.
Roger Waters came up with the idea for The Wall after Pink Floyd's 1977 tour. Over the next year, he developed the idea, and when the band reconvened, he had a 90-minute demo with just his voice and guitar to lay out his vision. With help from producer Bob Ezrin, Waters and the band expanded the songs and tied them all together with sound effects and musical transitions. Many of the songs changed drastically from Waters' demo, but "Mother" hewed close to the original. Other songs that remained pretty much intact include "Is There Anybody Out There?" and "Don't Leave Me Now."
Roger Waters took over most of the songwriting in Pink Floyd starting with their 1975 album Wish You Were Here. By the time they recorded The Wall, there was a great deal of tension in the band. They pulled off one more album (The Final Cut in 1983) before Waters left, which he assumed would be the end of the group. He was wrong. Gilmour and company carried on without him as Pink Floyd, releasing their first Waters-less album, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason, in 1987.

Waters wasn't done performing The Wall though. In 1990 he staged an ambitious concert in Berlin to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall, enlisting famous singers to help out. On "Mother," he was joined by Sinéad O'Connor and three members of The Band: Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Levon Helm.
Pearl Jam performed "Mother" on September 30, 2011 as part of a week-long Pink Floyd tribute on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The Shins, Foo Fighters, MGMT, and Dierks Bentley all played Pink Floyd songs on the show that week.
Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines recorded a cover version in 2013 which was the title track to her first solo album. She decided to cover the song after hearing Roger Waters perform it on his The Wall Live tour, which ran 2010-2013. Waters loved her rendition, telling Rolling Stone, "I get goosebumps just talking about it."

Comments: 59

Steve from LancashireJust a comment about the opening line. I am a few years younger than Roger but grew up in the 50s and 60s when nuclear war was always a distinct possibility. As kids we wouldn't dwell on it but it was certainly a shadow hanging over us.
Ken from Philadelphia, PaSometimes it really isn't so deep. Roger lost his own father during World War II and was raised by a single mother in a time when single motherhood was not so common. He has spoken of how awful it was as a child growing up during the war when nobody's father was around and, then, one day everybody else's father came home but his.
Nate from New York, NyThe line about breaking the balls creeps me out, but it is an awesome song. The Wall is a work of art.
Kyle from Calgary, AbLove David Gilmour's guitar solos. He doesn't do anything overly flashy, he just creates these beautiful melodies that go perfectly with the songs
Nikhil from Bangalore, IndiaI love the last line, The kid is asking his mother does the wall need to be so high, he cant get over it, the wall signifies all the fears the the mother has put into him,
John from Brownsvalley, CaI think this song is representative of any domineering figure in your life, and thats the beauty of this album the versatility of it, the way in can be meaningful to any person and i dont think that this album is entirely autobiographical. I think that they wrote The Wall as one metaphoric statement for todays society, the social isolation, the goverments growing hold over the masses, and the way the youth is in a way being molded into a "functional" members of society. A beautiful song and a beautiful album
Javi D. from New York, NyNo matter who you are now, I think you can agree about this:

If you grew up with a single mother, you don't need to explain this song. You just understand it in a unique way that others won't understand.

And this is why I connect so well Waters' music. It's why I love the Floyd.
Sara from Kenosha, United Kingdomi aggree with bobby, everyone has differnt interpretations, esspecially cause its pink floyd, the things they come up with are insane and you really have to think about the lyrics to truely understand, and most people never really do. but maybe.
Ashley from Ottawa, OhObviously, this song is about the fact that mothers tend to protect their children way too much. Pink is referring to the wall again, the wall mothers have set. A wall that didnt need to be too high, becuase when a wall is too high no room is left for life experiences. Of coarse when something is too far out od reach it's almost habbit to break the rules especially if a mother has made those exact rules. Mother is simply is screaming mothers are too protective, but in the end their rules were only guidelines, that were meant to be crossed and will be crossed. For everyone knows a child with too many rules is always willing to risk the damage of breaking them
Robert from Los Angeles, Cathe last line is not about "setting the bar" too high, its about the wall itself. he cant get over it because its too high.
Jeff from Casa Grande, AzPink Floyd was a combination of souther blues guitarists that Roger "Syd" Keith Barrett put together. They are Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. I've never heard of these two. But, I read it somewhere. FYI
Jeff from Casa Grande, AzMother was the code-name the soviets used to signify the u.s. cia. And, the lyrics, "mother, should I run for president" gives a little taste of this, being that Roger Waters is English, a country that has no "presidents," only royalty and prime ministers. And, if you've ever listened to the Rogers' solo album "Amused to death," you'll know he is big-time into politics. So, yeah, I guess that justifies the whole mother/government conspiracy. ha ha. But, more so, this song is plain as day as it is. Mothers are way over-protective. They create horrible stories they tell to their children to keep them from doing things or going places that would harm them. Unfortunely, like every father knows, the child will not learn from fear--only raw personal experience. A father is balance to the Mother's fears. A father laughs at a child's fears becuase they are not real. He let's his child experience and face those fears he has. A mother will only keep and foster that FEAR--"did it need to be so high?" Without a father, PINK grew out of balance, different. And, he built that WALL with the help of his MOTHER. She put the first bricks in place for him. And, set him on his path of fear and isolation from the painful, "cruel world." God-bless moms, but we all need that father-figure to keep her at bay.
Mitz from Boston, Mai think the last line refers to the "bar" that mother set for son, imagine a son trying to live up to a standard set by a dead heroic military father he never knew- pretty tough to beat or live up to- or it could mean something eniterly differnet LOL....
Melanie from Seattle, WaThe solo in this is amazing.
Bobby B from North West, United KingdomI LOVE these wildly different interpretations. Who's to say one's right or wrong? Is Roger Waters really the man to trust on the song's meaning? What's his agenda? Sure, he wrote it, but maybe he doesn't want to be totally honest about what he meant. Or maybe he meant lots of other things that he simply wasn't conscious of. So stop telling people off for having more "creative" interpretations of the lyrics. Having said that, I always thought the last line was simply about the height of the wall - the singer/pink, having spent the song asking for his mother's help and protection, realises that he can't actually see the world outside anymore, so high is the wall of love and fear his mother has built around him. But that's an obvious reading, and the stranger ones are just as valid, if not more so.
Ray from New York, NyIs there a more gripping or powerfull first line of a song than "Mother do you think they'll drop the bomb"

-Ray, NY-
Mackenzie :) from Fairmont , Wvi can relate to this song very well because my mother was a little overprotective of me considering i was a "wild child", unlike my little sisters who were angels compared to me.
Logan from Timaru, New ZealandI think the last line "mother did it need to be so high refers to the wall, the wall in effect symbolises the barrier between the character in the song and the rest of the world and btw im doing a project on language used by pink floyd to portray a point and you guys have been a huge help thanks alot :)
Nathan from Cleveland, OhI believe the final line - "Mother, did it need to be so high?" is in reference to the wall, why did the wall need to be so high to keep everything out.
Karan from Delhi, IndiaWhat do you guys feel the final line - "Mother, did it need to be so high?" mean. I feel it is significant to the causality of this song being written.. I feel that its like a small chapter of what they felt could have gone wrong with Syd..
Santiago from Ba As, Argentinaif people don't understand that this song is about his mother, while he was in total crisis, maybe you should listen to the record again and watch the movie too.WALL album its an autobiography. as simple as that.
Kris from Wichita, KsWhat? this is the best guitar solo of pink floyd? are you mad? Nothing tops Comfortably Numb's solo it is by far the single greatest solo by Gilmour.
Sheeberson from Wrightsville Beach, NcThis has THE BEST Pink Floyd solo, hands down. They had many, MANY good ones, but... if a guitar could cry, this is how it would sound.
Ryan from Woodbury, Ctthe song is about a boy in world war II and he is praying to an angel(mother)
Andrew from Los Angeles, CaThey say Syd Barret did too much acid.
Derek from South Jersey, NjThe first thing I thought 'Mother' could represent is the government. No doubt.
Josh from Virginia Beach, VaI think he was talking about volume, the song gets softer just before he says that
John from Monvtille, NjI don't understand the last line... "Mother did it need to be so high?" Is he referring to the (hypothetical) wall? I know little about this, I would appreciate if anyone could offer some insight.
Tim from Chicago, IlOoops, I wanted to add another thought/realization.

For better or worse, many of my values were derived from Pink Floyd, Neil Young, "Aqualung" and Andy Griffith reruns.

Pondering the thought above with the inherited baggage, only touched upon in "Mother", OK ? ... I need a minute.
Tim from Chicago, IlI always liked this song and it becomes very relevant at different times in my life. I do not think the words are that difficult to understand or "read", simply take them for their face value. Extremely powerful and timeless, like most Pink Floyd songs. Now as a parent, I must look carefully at the human urge to not "let anyone dirty get through".
Themba from Cola, ScJohn from Albany, I've always thought this song was about the government (not necessarily United States) even from when I first heard it. I understand that the song fits into the plot of the wall but I also believe there's a double-meaning behind "Mother". It concerns the government as well as Pink's mother.
John from Albany, NyMother is a metaphor for the U.S. government. "Mamma's gonna put all of her fears into you." This refers to the government scaring it's people. Over the course of History it's been done to justify war along with many other things. A strong point in the song is to not live in fear because it could be "just a waste of time."
Charlie from Coolsville, Nythis album was meant to be listened to all at the same time; it's telling a story. the fact that this song comes after another brick in the wall (pt. 2) it perhaps could mean that his mother is just another brick in the wall, or perhaps that she is the wall. if this is true then the line "of course momma's gonna help build the wall" means that she is going to put herself in between him and the real world.
Jordan from Hammond, LaThere was never anything that indicated that Waters realized his mother loved him. The only realization he came to was that he had been horrible to his wife ("The Trial", remember, took place inside his own head, so while his "wife" was lobbing insults at him, it signified that he finally realized that it was his fault she left him) The schoolmaster and his mother were simply how he envisioned them: One, a puppet of his "fat, psychotic wife", and the other giant and overbearing.
Gilmour from Lockport, NyRoger Waters never went insane.
Dan from Uh Oh, CaThis song is about an overprotective mother. But thats only because thats how Roger Waters felt when he was insane. After he tore down the wall he realized that his mother loved him.
Andy from Apex, NcThis song is about Waters being protected by an overprotective mother. He was so sad when he found out who his father was
Gerard Howard from Lone Tree, CoAn excellent song, can definitely be related to a lot of people, love it...
Derek from Sarnia, CanadaI can't help but play air guitar when Gilmour hits the first note of the solo
another brilliant Floyd song
Ashley from Moncton, CanadaSuch a sad song, may mean sadness about wanting to return to carefree childhood, and being able to rely on "mother" to solve your problems. Sad

"Mother, should I trust the government?" Short answer- No.
Brian from Why?, Ilmommas gonna put all of her fears into you, to me shows how a mother wants every thing about her to carry on through you even her fears
Candy from Roswell, NmI think this song reminds me of myself as a teenager and growing up in confusion. Not knowing what to trust and seeing the world as it really is, harsh and cold. "Mother should I build a wall?" the boy asks. Should I build a wall to protect myself from the world? A teenager might say, To protect myself from unpleasantness? Is that just a waste of time?
Tim from Washington, DcAndrew... I believe Andres is referring to the movie, in which the manager pays a doctor to administer something that is injected into Pink's arm prior to the concert. This occurs during the Comfortably Numb sequence. You are correct, however, that Waters' illness was the inspiration for the song. BTW... the line is "my hands felt just like two balloons"
Stephen from Steamboat, Co"Mother, should I trust the Government?" Well, thats the best line in the world. WOnderful song, about a boy asking his mom on advice for life, as he builds his fictitous wall from the wall. I still cant answer that question.
Jeanette from Irvine, Cathis album isn't supposed to be about syd barrett or roger waters. part of their lives are intertwined into the story, but its not even close to a biography or either one. its just about...pink floyd like a person. at least thats what i think waters meant in the interview...
Andrew from Austin, VtAndres, the song comfortably numb is not about sid barrets manager doing drugs, it is about how when roger waters was groing up he suffered from Heppatites B and he needed a booster shot. the lines,"When I was a Child I had a fever, My hands just felt to blue, Now I've got that feeling once again." These explain how he had heppatites B when he was young and how he felt the symtoms as an adult. A booster shot would be administered to a person who suffered these symptoms.
Petter from Ã?ngelholm, SwedenI've gotta say... The Wall is perfect for any frustrated teen. especially this song, as it's lyrics perfectly talks about your parents in a way that you maybe wouldn't dare to...
Gilmour from Lockport, NyRick Wright is not on The Final Cut
Don from San Antonio, TxYeah Nathan, the solo is my fave too. The drummer hitting the ride cymbal bell behind the solo really compliments the whole crying vibe. (or whatever emotion you feel is right)
Lisa from Philadelphia, PaRichard Wright was an original member of the band, and did not become a session player until after he was essentially kicked out by Roger during the Wall (although he was on the Wall as a member of the band.) He was only a session musician for The Final Cut and A Momentary Lapse of Reason. He was back as a full member for The Division Bell.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScUmmm... Kent? i don't get what you're talking about Rick Right being a session musician. He was in the group when they did 'dark Side Of the moon' and maybe earlier than that. i think he wrote a song on one of their earlier albums.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Scthe song sort of seems like it's ablut syd Barrett to me. Anyone agree?
Nathan from Memphis, Tnthis song is awesome..especially the solo...
Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaThe only song in which Nick Mason did not play drums. They were instead played by Jeff Porcaro, a session superstar who played with groups like Steely Dan among others. Roger claimed he did this because Nick just couldn't "get" the drum part.
Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaSince he was only a studio musician by this time, one has to guess which songs Rick Wright actually contributed to on this album. My guess is this is one of them. When the piano hits an unusually jazzy minor chord during the verses, I immediately think of Wright.
Eric from Caldwell, Ksone of my favorite songs i like the fact that all he wants is his mothers aproval and never seems good enough and he thinks it's all his fault, he believes himself a failure, and thus hides behind a wall shielding himself from the outside world building up anger and sadness until he has to tear down the wall and understand that his shielding only made it harder for him to cope with the real world, just my 2-cents
Andres from Santa Rosa, CaBut you are right waters life was intertwinded a little into the album
Andres from Santa Rosa, CaThe Wall was semi-BIOGRAPHICAL of Syd Barrett's (the original singer for Floyd) life. He was having troble with the band, left, then went insane shortly there after. The "Wall" is metaphorical for the mental wall that Pink (the character in the album) created between himself and the real world. The album has songs that refer to Pinks father who died in WWII and how after his mental breakdown, the band manager tryed to get him to perform by giving him drugs (Comfortably Numb). The second to last song, The Trial, is him trying himself for realizing what he had done by building The Wall. It is a great movie if you ever get to see it. It has music from The Wall and Final Cut. Don't be surprised that Pink doesn't say a word through out the entire film.
Randy from Bolivar, NyConsider for a moment... What if mother is a metaphor for ANY 'mother figure'... Perhaps Some people look for guidance and acceptance in say, government, religion, etc... Then consider the fact that only you have your best interest in mind. Hense, "Mother do you think..." --- "Hush now baby baby..."

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