Metal for mom? You bet! 10 Heavy metal songs for Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day. As I’ve said before, every holiday needs a good soundtrack, and whether you love your mom, hate your mom, lost your mom, don’t have a mom or you are a mom, metal has you covered. Here are ten mother-themed metal songs to help you celebrate (or just endure) Mother’s Day this year.
1. THIN LIZZY - “Philomena”
Mellow but heartfelt, “Philomena” is a track from Thin Lizzy’s fourth album Nightlife, released in 1974, and was the album’s first single. It was written by bassist/vocalist Phil Lynott as a tribute to his mother. Born in Dublin, Philomena Lynott was working as a nurse in England when she met a man from British Guiana named Cecil Parris in Birmingham in 1948. The two began a romantic relationship which lasted a few months until Parris was transferred to London. Soon, Philomena realized she was pregnant, and Philip Parris Lynott was born on August 20th, 1949. Because she was an unmarried mother of a mixed-race child, Philomena encountered quite a bit of prejudice when she and Phil settled in Manchester. Fearing that Phil would fall victim to the same kind of racism, she sent him to live with her parents in Dublin when he was 7 years old. Though they only saw each other sporadicly, the two remained close until Phil’s drug related death at the age of 36 in 1986. Though the song “Philomena” isn’t really a heavy metal song, Thin Lizzy are most definitely a heavy metal band, and the lyrics express a longing and devotion sung in that soulful way that only Phil Lynott could deliver. For anyone who doesn’t see their mom as often as they’d like, “Philomena” is for you.
2. UFO - “Mother Mary”
A fan favorite largely because of its deliciously crunchy Michael Schenker riff, “Mother Mary” first appeared on UFO’s 1975 album Force It. However, some consider the vicious and visceral live rendition on 1979’s Strangers In The Night double LP to be the definitive version of the song, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment. As journalist Martin Popoff noted in a review of the live album, the band plays “as if their lives depended on it.” Though the lyrics to this one have always remained a little perplexing to me, it seems to be about a young man (possibly a rock star?) living the wild life, but still seeking guidance and perhaps approval or love from a maternal figure, be she a flesh and blood mom, or something a little bit more spiritual (as in that Mother Mary, the one that might come to you speaking words of wisdom). Either way, its a solid and rocking addition to your Mother’s Day Playlist.
3. OZZY OSBOURNE - “Revelation (Mother Earth)”
The lyrics to this deep cut from Ozzy’s debut solo album Blizzard Of Ozz from 1980 were written by bassist Bob Daisley about the destruction of the planet. Bob said in an interview that he had been in the band rehearsal room playing the John Lennon song “Mother.” Later, when they started playing the backing track for what would become “Revelation (Mother Earth),” Ozzy walked in and sang “Mother” just like the Lennon song. From then on, they started calling it “Mother Earth,” with some lyrics inspired by the biblical book of Revelations. This is another one that starts off pretty mellow, with some gorgeous piano work from keyboardist Don Airey. The metal kicks in around the five minute mark, including an absolutely ripping solo from Randy Rhoads that showcases the classical/rock hybrid direction he was pursuing before his untimely death in ’82. So yeah, technically not a song about dear old mum, but seems like a good idea to spare a thought for dear old Mother Earth from time to time, especially on Mother’s Day.
4. DIAMOND HEAD - “Am I Evil?”
With the opening lines “My mother was a witch/ She was burned alive/ Thank this little bitch/ for the tears I cried,” it’s clear from the get-go that this is not a song written from the perspective of a person that has a good relationship with their mother. It’s also a tale of revenge, as the protagonist sets out on a quest to avenge his mother’s death. Memorably covered by Metallica in 1984 on the B-side of their “Creeping Death” single, the original 1980 version of “Am I Evil” by Diamond Head still packs quite a punch. The overall message seems to be answering the question “Am I Evil?” with a resounding “Yes I am!…Thanks to you, ma!”
If your relationship with your mom isn’t the greatest, then cranking this one all the way up on Mother’s Day just might prove to be therapeutic!
5. MAMA’S BOYS - “Don’t Tell Mama”
It’s not surprising that a band called Mama’s Boys would have a song about Mama somewhere in their catalogue. These Irish lads never were a huge hit in the States, but they did achieve some minor success in Europe with their 1985 album Power And Passion. Though the more radio-friendly “Needle In The Groove” was the surprise hit single from the record, “Don’t Tell Mama” rocks so much harder (despite the distracting keyboards in the mix). Lyrically, It tells a familiar tale: “High, high hopes/ pockets low in cash/ and it’s oh so hard/ to make my savings last/ But don’t tell Mama…she mustn’t know…” Anyone who’s ever struck out on their own only to realize how tough it is out there (but the last thing you wanted to do was to make Mom worry) can definitely relate to this one.
6. DANZIG - “Mother”
Originally released in 1988, this is by far the biggest and best known hit from Glenn Danzig’s eponymous post-Misfits/Samhain band. In fact, a 1993 live version titled “Mother ’93” almost cracked the American top 40, peaking at number 43 that year. Danzig says he was inspired by Tipper Gore’s PMRC record labelling campaign, and wrote the song as a sort of “challenge” to parents who think they can protect their children forever from thoughts and ideas they might not agree with: “Mother/ tell your children not to walk my way/ not to hear my words/ what they mean, what they say/ mother/…can you keep them in the dark for life?/ Can you hide them from the waiting world?/ Oh, mother,” wails Glenn in his trademark Jim Morrison-meets-Elvis bellow. As with most of the songs on this list, this one’s best experienced at maximum volume.
7. LIFE OF AGONY - “Unstable”
I lost my mom to breast cancer in the summer of 1995. Still reeling and trying to make sense of that loss, this song hit me like a fucking sledgehammer when it appeared on Life Of Agony’s Ugly album in October that same year. Bassist Alan Robert wrote the lyrics based on his own mother’s battle with cancer. Extraordinarily powerful, with an anguished and heartbreaking vocal from singer Mina Caputo, this is as emotional as heavy metal gets, and is definitely not for the faint of heart. For those with moms that left this world way too soon (especially if that early exit was due to cancer), this one’s for you…but it hits hard. Tread carefully if that wound is still fresh.
8. CLUTCH - “Motherless Child”
Blues metal at it’s finest delivered in that loose jam-metal fashion that is so uniquely Clutch, “Motherless Child” is the opening track to their 2009 album Strange Cousins From The West. Singer Neil Fallon roars like an old-time pentecostal preacher crossed with a modern day Robert Johnson, looking for the crossroads and finding nothing but heartache and trouble.
9. UNLEASH THE ARCHERS - “The Matriarch”
One of my favorite female metal singers these days is the mighty Britney Slayes, frontwoman for Canadian power metal band Unleash The Archers. Wanna’ know why? Just listen to her soaring vocal delivery on this track from the band’s 2017 Apex album. Operatic but still badass. So why does this one make the Metal Mother’s Day Playlist? Well, because of lyrics like this: “There’s no hiding from her/ she see everything/ rules with the iron fist, you know she is…The Matriarch!” Did you ever really piss off your mom when you were little? Then you probably suffered the wrath of “The Matriarch!” This one’s for all the tough moms out there that have to lay down the law from time to time. As Britney sings, “All hail the mighty Queen(s)!”
10. OVERKILL - “A Mother’s Prayer”
This one’s a bit of a deep cut from Overkill’s 19th studio album The Wings Of War. Singer Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth sings from the point of view of a young man with nothing left to lose, perhaps about to try something/embark on a journey that he knows his mother won’t approve of. But he’s going to do it anyway, because he knows his mother will still be praying for him, and in a mother’s prayer, it’ll all be alright. I think. Not sure. This one’s definitely the trashiest song on our list, so maybe just turn it up and rage with mom.
Thanks, moms! Enjoy your day and enjoy the tunes.