Mom Songs

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Recently a video swept social media of a baby reacting emotionally to her mom’s singing. This story touched me because my mom would also sing to us, from the time we were babies through high school.

I remember when I was thirteen she used to sing these lyrics to the tune of John Lennon’s “Imagine”:

Imagine there’s no fighting
It’s easy if you try
No hitting your brother
Just because he walks by

Imagine the whole family
Living in peace for one day
Aa haa

I always enjoyed her singing her version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”:

With the lights on, your rooms a mess
Here I am now, you have to clean up
I feel stupid I have to tell you son
Here I am now, you have to clean up

She always like the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”:

Hey Joe, I feel bad
Put some gas in my car to make it better
Remember to put the cap back on
Then I’ll start to feel better

Hey, Joe, don’t be afraid
You were made to take out the trash
Every minute you sit in front of the TV
You delay your allowance cash

She must have been a fan of the British invasion because she loved the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction”:

I can’t get no reaction
I can’t get no reaction
I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no

When I’m driving in our car
And you kids start fighting to and fro
And you’re screaming more and more
About some useless ideation
Supposed to drive my imagination
I can’t get no, no no
Hey hey hey, that’s what I say

I can’t get no reaction
I try a car-stopping rear action
I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no

I miss my mom. She died a long time ago. But I can still hear her telling us to shut up–to the beat of a Johnny Cash tune.