F (3:10)

day is so wonderful Then suddenly it's hard to breathe now and then I get insecure from all the pain I'm so ashamed I am beautiful no matter what they say Words can bring me. I am beautiful in every single way yes, words can bring me down oh, no, don't you bring me down today.

B (4:15)

This song is over 20 years old now. It's been a time, long, long time since I heard it.

C (4:19)

Oh, wow.

B (4:19)

Yeah. Can you believe it?

C (4:21)

I can't.

B (4:23)

But it was so good hearing it and in the context of her story, just so moving.

F (4:28)

Yeah.

C (4:28)

I mean, I think now that you're seeing this. I remember very keenly when it came out and how it really did give a lot of people a sense of power because it's. There's a lot of vulnerability in feeling comfortable and living in your body as it exists. Saying that I'm okay with who I am, how I look, how I present, and that I belong here and that I am beautiful. And that's just amplified for someone who's going through cancer and all the things and the changes that are happening to your body. And I also think about, as she mentioned, the difficulty of a parent wanting to protect their child. A mom wanting to protect their child from that.

B (5:13)

Yeah. Her mom wanting to be strong and project strength and not have her daughter worry. Yeah. We heard a lot of stories from listeners whose moms either got sick or they've passed away. This one sent in from Grace. It wasn't the only one to talk about their moms and what their moms thought of themselves, their self image and the idea of their worth. And particularly as they struggled through a rough period. Another song, sort of similar song that came up was you Are so Beautiful by Joe Cocker, although I think it might be a little more romance. Yeah, Focused on romance. But let's get to one of the written comments that we received. We had a form that people could fill out and people also emailed us. And I'll just say, just kind of a quick aside here about the stories that we got from listeners, both the written comments and the voice memos. We, we had to shorten some of them just for time. So some of these are edited down a little bit. We'd love to be able to play everything, but we wanted to be able to get to as much as possible. This comment we got comes from Belinda in Southern California. She writes, my wonderful mother raised three kids on her own in the late 60s and early 70s. She was young, divorced, receiving no financial support, going to school while juggling three kids between the ages of four and one. We never wanted for anything and she was always there for us. Being a single mother in those days was frowned, but she held her head up and built a life for herself for us. She loved us so unconditionally and we still feel that love today. And the song that Belinda picked is Harper Valley pta, performed by Jeanne C. Reilly.

F (6:59)

I want to tell you all a story about a Harper Valley widowed wife who had a teenage daughter who attended Harper Valley Junior High. Well, her daughter came home one afternoon and didn't even stop to play. And she said, mama got a note here from the Harper Valley PTA. Well, the note said, Mrs. Johnson, you're wearing. Your dress is way too high. It's reported you've been drinking and, or running round with men and going wild. And we don't believe you ought to be bringing up your little girl this way. And it was signed by the secretary, Harper Valley pta.

B (8:03)

It's hard to interrupt this. Cause it's a story song. And we're getting a full story. You know, Belinda from Southern California who wrote in about this, didn't say exactly what it was about this song, but perhaps there's something in this story that she identified with.

C (8:19)

Yeah. And the difficulties her mother likely faced. There's always a lot of shame and respectability put on women, particularly mothers who are parenting without a male spouse. And it's the case now, and I know it was even more the case then. And so I, I loved her, picking this song almost as an empowerment anthem for her mother and what she likely faced.

B (8:45)

Yeah, I mean, that's something else we we heard consistently across all these songs, too, were songs of empowerment, you know, about staying strong in the face of adversity, being true to who you are. And then also, you know, those lessons and values being passed on to their kids. And, you know, and acknowledging, you know, the people calling and writing in, acknowledging that, gosh, you know, my mom managed to do all this and also make life fun for us while it was also a struggle.

C (9:15)

Yeah. I will also say I love the mention of Peyton Place because I'm a soap fan in the song, but I also just love the mention in Harbor Valley PTA of sort of the hypocrisy of those folks who are shaming her.

B (9:28)

Right.

C (9:29)

So I just. It's such a great story song.

B (9:32)

One thing that was clear in all of these submissions we got is how much people love their moms. It's like, you know, I mean, usually when we do call outs, a fair number of people will write in with a song about, you know, basically what a horrible monster their mother was. You know, like. Well, what one person did write in and they mentioned the song Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead, you know, noted. Every time I hear it, I'm reminded that I never have to see her again.

C (9:59)

And, you know, and, you know, what we were. That is a valid feeling. Depending on their relationship with their mom.

B (10:06)

Absolutely. 100% total respect there. But overall, just so many sweet memories and stories, including this one from a listener named Phoenix in Northern Maine. This is one of the voice memos we got. And the song that Phoenix mentions is Rainbow Connection from the Muppet Movie.

G (10:23)

It reminds me of my mother because she used to sing it to me and my brother when we used to all lived together. And we would. We were in rooms right next to each other, and she would swing back and forth between the two rooms and just looking at us. And if she ever ended with my brother and not me, then I would start crying because I thought that meant she didn't love me as much. I was a very dramatic child. And then she also missed a whole verse in the song every single time she sang it. She never sang the full song, but she did sing the ending part where it goes la dee da da. But she would try to hit a high note and she would just go, la dee da da da. And that was always something. But every time that song comes on always reminds me. My mother and I still sing it to all the kids that I work with whenever they're feeling stressed out.

B (11:13)

Why are there so many songs about

F (11:17)

rainbows and what's on the other side

B (11:25)

Rainbow Are visions But only illusions and

F (11:31)

rainbows have nothing to hide so we've been told and some choose to believe it I know they're wrong Wait and see Someday we'll find it the rainbow connection the lovers, dreamers and me.

B (12:05)

I love this song so much.

C (12:08)

I. Every time I hear it, I start to get all emotional.

B (12:11)

Oh, what is it? It's conjuring.

C (12:13)

It's such a. Just gentle song, and it's such an optimistic and hopeful song. Yeah. And then, of course, you think about Kermit on the log and Kermit on

B (12:23)

the log and they open.

C (12:25)

Yes.

B (12:26)

You know, one thing that struck me about this is how. And this is true of so many of the stories and songs that we got are. It's how people fell in love with the songs that their. Their parents gave, you know, and it's like Phoenix, who sent in the voice memo for this, you know, could have just as easily thought, oh, God, that song. Right. But, you know, and now she sings it for me. I don't. Maybe she's a teacher or something, but she says she sings it with the kids, for the kids that she works with. I loved this movie when it came out. I was in elementary school, and it had its 40th anniversary run. They showed it in theaters again. And I took my young son, who was about the age I was when it came out, and I don't think he was feeling it quite well. Like this thing that was so magical to me, you know, And I don't think he was feeling it, but still.

C (13:12)

Yeah, it's still a great. I mean. And Phoenix is a really great storyteller.

E (13:17)

Yes.

C (13:17)

Yes. I could absolutely sort of see mom bouncing from room to room.

B (13:23)

It made me think about the routines I have with my kids. Right. You know, they're both still pretty young, and I get them up every morning. The song I always sing every morning as obnoxiously as I possibly can, is the Good Morning, Good morning from Singing in the Rain.

C (13:37)

Good morning, Good morning, Devin Reynolds.

B (13:40)

Yeah, you've slept well. I say you've slept the whole night through. I don't think that's actually a line in the song. I say you've slept the whole night through Good morning, Good morning. You know, but. Yeah, you know, Making memories.

C (13:51)

Yeah.

B (13:52)

Making memories.

C (13:54)

Well, so speaking of memories, I can share mine.

B (13:58)

I would love for you to. I didn't want to. I wasn't sure if you were ready yet.

F (14:02)

I'm ready.

C (14:02)

I'm ready. So thinking of memories and songs and trying to Decide on the song. I focused on the joy that I always see my mother exhibit with certain songs. And it was hard because my mom loves music, even if she doesn't specifically say that, like, out loud. So at first, I was gonna pick a song by Robin S. Show Me Love, because I have very real memories of my mother dancing at a wedding, an electric blue dress to the song, just having the time of her life. But I ultimately settled on a song by one of her favorite favorite singers, Phyllis Hyman. The song is you know how to love me.

F (15:04)

All love so, so much pleasure. Like a haunting melody. You came inside and captured me. And I'm so happy. You're the riddle of my ride. You and I together we'll stand the test of time. You know how to love me. Shit. Do you know how to make it right? So nice. You know how to love me. There's no denying there's only mine.

B (15:50)

Where's it taking you?

C (15:51)

It's taking me to my mother washing dishes. And it comes on the radio. Her hands are in the dishwater and she is dancing like she is back in whatever club or disco that she heard it in the first time. And she's just having the time of her life. That is, without question, like, her favorite song. She will jam to it at any given time. Loves it deeply. And as a result, I love it deeply. Yeah, I think about my mom's relationship to this song, to Phyllis Hyman. Just taught me so much about how to relate to music and how to relate to these artists that you love, both in the joy and in When Phil Simon passed away. Seeing my mother's sorrow at this artist who she has such a deep love for. I'd never sort of seen that from her for somebody who she didn't actually know. So it just sort of helped me understand relationship to music. But I, more than anything, just think about how much she loves dancing to this song.

B (16:56)

It's such a celebration, too, right? You know, it's not a sad song. It's not a sentimental song. It's just like. Feels so good. And I love how it's not too on the nose, you know, it's not like. I mean, it's all in there, but there's just the. The simple little images and ideas, like looking up at the stars and, you know, being alone with your thoughts and, you know, just noting how fast time goes by. Like, that's life, right? It's all. There's just so much understood and implied in all of that.

C (17:24)

Oh, yeah.

B (17:25)

Great pick.

C (17:25)

Great pig.

A (17:29)

This message comes from Whole Foods Market. Make Mother's Day special with brunch or dinner from Whole Foods Market. Start with quality cheese and charcuterie with no synthetic nitrates. Then choose sustainable, wild, caught or responsibly farmed seafood on sale. Finish with seasonal bakery treats like Strawberry Pretzel Cream pie or keep it easy with Ready to Heat Quiche Lorraine, deviled eggs and fresh cut fruit. Celebrate mom with Whole Foods Market. This message comes from BetterHelp. May is mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder that you don't have to do this life alone. From loneliness to anxiety to financial stress, Right now people everywhere are struggling, but having a licensed therapist with you by video phone or chat can make a difference, and BetterHelp makes it easy. Sign up now and get 10% off@betterhelp.com NPR that's betterhelp.com NPR Support for this podcast and the following message come from Strawberry Me Be honest. Are you happy with your job? Are you stuck in a job you've outgrown or never wanted in the first place? Are your reasons for staying really just excuses for not leaving? Let a career coach from Strawberry Me help you get unstuck. Discover the benefits of having a dedicated career coach in your Corner and get 50% off your first coaching session at Strawberry.

B (18:56)

You know, there are so many songs that make me think of my mom. You know, she really loved music. She sang a lot, she played music, she played piano. You know, she's really the one who encouraged me in my life as I got more into music. But the song that I want to play is one that came into our lives pretty late, actually, both my mom's and mine. It's a song called oh Mother by the artist known as Milk. She's a musician that I really, really love and I featured her on the number of times over the years. We did a couple tiny desks with her. Anyway, back in the first year of the pandemic, so this was in 2020, Milk posted this very bare bones performance, a video of her playing the song, just her and her piano. She posted that on Instagram and I just happened to find it and I just bawled my eyes out and I immediately thought of my mom and I sent it to her, said, you've got to listen to the song. She really, really loved it too. We talked about it and how much. And you know, apart from the obvious fact that it's called oh Mother and it's about Milk's mom, I always think of this song when I think of my mom because it was sort of the last musical sort of sharing moment that I had with her because she ended up passing away suddenly, not long after I shared this song with her and after we talked about it, and so I can't think of my mom without thinking of this song.

F (20:38)

Oh, mother, where do I start? How do I mend myself? Without breaking your heart? A thousand songs are written for everyone else. The one that belongs to you. Collect stars on the shelf. Cause we're complicated? We're up and we're down? We're right and we're wrong? We let the bottom fall out? When we're blind with emotion? When words turn to shouts? We keep making it hard to want to stick around? But I keep showing up?

B (21:27)

Showing up.

F (21:29)

Cause you and I, we're still growing up? Growing up we try. I'm not running anymore. Yeah, I'll keep knocking on your door. Maybe that's enough. Keep showing up, Keep showing up.

B (21:59)

You know, my relationship with my mom was nowhere near as fraught as I think the one that Milk sort of describes in this song with her mom, you know, but there's so many of the sentiments I think, in it are just universal and forever. And, you know, particularly the fact that, you know, something that kids don't always. Well, certainly young kids never recognize, and that is that your mom is also human.

F (22:25)

Yeah.

B (22:25)

And she's been through everything you've been through, and, you know, she's fallible, and she's still trying to figure things out. Right.

C (22:31)

Yeah.

B (22:32)

And then also just the fact that you keep, you know, the idea of you just keep showing up for each other no matter what.

C (22:38)

Yeah. There were just so many lines that felt very like, whew, you hitting. You're hitting. You're hitting me hard right now. Of, you know, how do I mend myself without breaking your heart? As we sort of, as adults look back on the things that maybe were not the smoothest in our upbringings and how, you know, we navigated that and how our mothers navigated that. But also, there's a line at the end that really caught me, which is, you're strong enough to tell you I love you, but still call you out.

E (23:08)

Yeah.

C (23:09)

So having that courage and that love and that respect for your relationship.

B (23:14)

Yeah.

C (23:15)

To be able to say, I love you more than anything else in this world, and I am still gonna tell you, but that what you did was not okay.

B (23:25)

Right.

C (23:26)

Which is hard.

B (23:26)

It's so hard.

F (23:28)

Yeah.

B (23:28)

Oh, well, Mitra, what do we got next?

C (23:32)

So this next one comes from Steven. He didn't say where he's Located. But he picked a song that a lot of people mentioned.

B (23:39)

One of my earliest memories is my mother singing you are my sunshine to me. She died several years ago, and I miss her every single day. But I was in Victoria, Canada, recently, and the Bell Carol on there actually played you are my sunshine when I was walking by. And that's how I know that she's still looking down on me and very much looking forward to a happy reunion someplace down the road.

F (24:11)

You are my sunshine? My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear? How much I love you? Please don't take my sunshine away. The other night, dear? As I lay sleeping? I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, oh dear, I was mistaken? So I hung my head and cried.

B (25:03)

Such a beautiful version of this song. It's a song by Christina Perry. We talk about romantic love versus love of a parent and a mother. And this is a song that works either way, right?

C (25:16)

It does.

B (25:16)

100%.

C (25:17)

It really does. It is because it's so simple. There's not a lot of complexity to it, and it just still manages to fit in however you need it to fit. I always just love hearing this song because of its joy in it in this simple way, because that's a simple concept of somebody brightening your day, somebody being the sunshine. How many other songs do we have that refer to people as their sunshine or their brightness? They all sort of derive at some point from this song.

B (25:47)

Yeah. My daughter is. Is eight, and just the other night, it's probably just three nights ago, she asked me to sing this song to her. And I was so surprised because I don't think I ever have before. And I don't. I don't even know if I've ever played it. But it's a song that also just sort of exists in the ether. Right. It's like everyone. Everyone knows you are my sunshine.

C (26:07)

Exactly. Like, I was sitting here thinking, like, I don't even know who wrote it at some point in history, but whoever it was, bravo.

B (26:15)

And one thing that you note is that it's sort of a simple song. And I found that a lot of the music that people wrote in and told us about were those sort of simple songs, you know, like Que Sera Sera came up a lot. The Dorset version of Que Sera Sera. A lot of people mentioned John Denver songs, some Beatles songs, a number of people mentioned Downtown by Petula Clark, that song. I think maybe they just have memories of, like, going on trips with their. With their mom or something. But I can see that. But I think, you know, one of the reasons is that these songs came up is because they are simple. They're so singable. Right. And people have memories of their mom singing these songs also. You know, certainly the time they came out in the generation that a lot of people were referencing. All right, let's get to another voice memo we got. This one is from Paulie Polly in Ohio, who says that the song that reminds her of her mom is the Lion Sleeps Tonight. By the tokens.

D (27:13)

She would play this on the radio in the kitchen at loudest volume that could go, and all seven of us kids were in there dancing with her. We couldn't wait till we were the one that she selected to pull our arms and start dancing with us. And she would sing along in her awful singing voice that we all inherited. But just recently, I was looking on my phone and saw a video of my daughter Mallory, who passed away at the age of 24 two years ago. This video was probably when she was 23, 24, and she was out with friends at a bar, and she was singing along as loud as she could to the Lion Sleeps Tonight. I was laughing, I was crying. All I could think about was, Mallory and my mom are up in heaven together having the greatest time, singing and laughing and just enjoying getting to know each other. It's a wonderful memory. I miss them both so much. But it brings great joy to my heart to know that they're together and I still have this video.

F (28:52)

In the jungle, the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight in the jungle the dragon sleeps tonight.

B (29:23)

I'm just thinking it is so. She just told the most heartbreaking story to me. And first off, I'm so sorry for Paulie's loss. But then you hear this. It's just like, how can you feel bad about anything in the world listening to this song?

C (29:38)

I mean, because I'll tell you, when I was listening to the voice note, I was on the train and I'm crying on the platform listening. But I also am listening to the song and thinking about the story and thinking about, again, the joy of having that memory with her mother and then having that memory of her daughter and seeing in her mind's eye them enjoying it together in their afterlife and their next place and just wishing that comfort on her also, just. It's such a wonderful and fun song.

B (30:09)

Yeah. Yeah.

C (30:10)

And I'm also imagining she didn't give us this information, but I'm imagining giving her age, her probably hearing it in the Lion King as a kid, and so there's just all this, even in this sadness, there's all this joy and fun.

B (30:26)

And I love that Paulie found this video of her daughter. It was almost like she was caught.

C (30:32)

Oh, yeah.

B (30:33)

You know, like that. She never would have known that this song meant that much to her daughter as well. Right. But she found this video and she's clearly, like, it could clearly, it's clearly got handed down.

C (30:43)

Exactly. Exactly. Because I'm sure Paulie was singing it to her daughter.

B (30:47)

Yeah.

C (30:47)

Oh, yeah.

B (30:49)

I love it. Thank you so much, Paulie, for sharing that again. From Paulie in Ohio, this message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana Making buying a car 100% online with real transparent pricing and customizable financing that fits your budget. Browse thousands of cars and get yours delivered. Visit Carvana.com today. Delivery fees and terms may apply this week on Up first gas prices just jumped 30 cents per gallon in a single week. With the Strait of Hormuz still closed, the global energy shock is only getting deeper. Listen for overnight developments on Iran, plus primaries in Ohio and Indiana as midterm election season heats up. We'll have the very latest every morning. Enough. First listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, Mitra, let's do one of the written comments we got.

C (31:41)

Sure. So we've got a comment from Lauren and Chattanooga. Growing up, my mom would sing Motown music on the kitchen radio while she was cooking or cleaning. Every time Reach Out I'll Be There by the Four Tops would come on. She would belt out the lyrics. And when the part just look over your shoulder would come on, she'd turn and look over her shoulder. She was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in her 50s. And even when she didn't speak much anymore and didn't remember the names of anyone in my family, she'd still hum the Motown songs and smile when that part came on. The last time I heard this song with her, she lay still in the hospice bed with her eyes closed. And when he said, just look over your shoulder, her hand twitched and her whole body shook. It's hard to listen to the song now, even though I love it. And I try to think of the times that she sang this song with a big smile on her face.

F (32:34)

Now if you feel that you can't go home because all of your hope is gone and your life is filled with much confusion until happiness is just an illusion and your world around is crumbling down. Come on, girl, reach out for me Reach out for me. I'll be back with the Love that will shelter you. I'll be back with the love will see you.

B (33:22)

That part she's talking about, just look over your shoulder. That comes pretty close to the end of the song. So it's. We're just playing partial cuts here. But I can so see her mom doing that. Right. Looking over, giving a smile and saying

C (33:36)

that, first of all, I'm a big four types fan. I love Levi Snub's voice on these songs. And so. But we were talking about before these songs that are so well written, it can be a romantic partner. But in this case, it's so. I can still very clearly see it in that I am. I'm here for you as your parent. You need anything in this life. Yeah, just. I am right behind you. Yeah, I got you.

B (34:03)

Yeah. Yeah, I love that too. And music, it's like. It's almost mystical.

C (34:10)

Yes.

B (34:10)

Right. I mean, I think we talked about this the last time we did a show. We started talking about God and spirituality, and I'm like, I don't. I don't know, man. You know, but, you know, when I see the way that music affects people, you know, or, you know, I just can't help but think there's gotta be something. Right? I mean, something's going on here. Because we heard so many stories from people with moms, you know, struggling. They're sick, they're battling dementia or Alzheimer's, and then music reaches them in a way that nothing else can.

C (34:39)

Yeah. And not just reaches them, but also still allows them to. To express that feeling and that love, even as, you know, they're having those difficulties. And as you said, with dementia and everything, I'm just really feeling in that moment and seeing in that moment her mother saying to her, just by squeezing her hand, even if I'm not here, I'm here with you.

B (35:02)

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, so powerful. Well, as I mentioned at the top of the show, I feel like we just started. We've been going on. I guess we've been going on a while here. We can only get to a fraction of the stories and the songs that listeners sent in. Truly, I was just blown away by how many submissions we got. So thank you to everyone for sharing and taking the time to pass along all of these wonderful memories and the music, too. We're going to close out with one more voice memo. This is from Hannah in Salt Lake City and Mitra Arthur, thank you so much for coming on the show again and taking this journey with me.

C (35:45)

Thank you again for the invite. This was fun. Getting to sort of honestly be in my feelings again with you.

B (35:53)

Well, that's what we'll do. You'll be the. Oh, we've got to do a show about getting our feelings. Bring Mitra on and we'll do more. Yeah.

C (36:00)

Yeah.

B (36:01)

Okay. All right. And for NPR Music, I'm Robin Hilton. It's All SONGS Considered.

H (36:06)

Hi, my name's Hannah, and I'm calling in from Salt Lake City, Utah. And the song that reminds me of my mom is Wanting Memories by Sweet Honey and the Rock. I first heard this song when going to a choir concert, and I remember sitting there and listening to the lyrics and sitting next to my mom and tears were streaming down my face. I think this song is a beautiful way to talk about what our parents teach us. And I'm so lucky that my mom is still alive today. And this song, I think, often talks about how their mom is no longer alive. But I listen to this song and it reminds me to be thankful and to appreciate the time I have with my mom. I love you, Mom.

F (36:53)

I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me to see the beauty in the world through my own eyes. I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me to see the beauty in the world through my own eyes. You used to rock me in the cradle of your arms? You said you'd hold me till the pains of life were gone? You said you'd comfort me in times like these? And now I need you. Now I need you. I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me to see the beauty in the world through my own eyes? Since you've gone and left me there's been so little beauty. But I know I saw it clearly through your eyes. Now the world outside.

B (38:34)

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