Kersting, Man Reading by Lamplight
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We invite you to attend to our exploration of Mothers of Different Sorts. There are the problems of motherhood, needing little helpers, envying (or perhaps not) those still free to live it up without the drag of children. Then there is the Mother-Son relationship, and the Mother-Daughter relationship – not the same things, of course. And finally the mythic mother and divine Mother. So we’ll hear from the Stones, the Kinks, the Miracles, Randy Newman, Dylan, Dr Hook, and introducing Louis Barabbas and the Bedlam Six, a wonderful group from Manchester with their own problems with Mother. There’s not much reading this time, just a few anecdotes about RLS and his mother. Also songs in Yiddish and, I think, Greek. Lots to ponder on here.
Between The Buttons (UK Version) (Rolling Stones, “Mother’s Little Helper”)
Something Else By The Kinks (Kinks, “Two Sisters”)
12 Songs (Randy Newman, “Mama Told Me Not to Come”)
Bringing It All Back Home (Bob Dylan, “It’s Alright Ma [I’m Only Bleeding]”)
Completely Hooked: the Best of Dr. Hook (Dr Hook, “Sylvia’s Mother”)
the naughty nineties LP
(Beatrice Kay, “Heaven Will Protect the Working Girl”)
The Yiddish Radio Project (Barry Sisters, “Oh, Mama, I’m So in Love”)
Song for Athene – Svyati and other Choral Works (Tavener, “Hymn to the Mother of God”)
LOUIS BARABBAS AND THE BEDLAM SIX
You can see more about Louis Barabbas and the Beldam Six at these sites:
http://www.debtrecords.net
http://www.bedlamsix.com
The group is currently booking a UK, Irish and European tour for early next year to promote its new EP – ‘Get Religion!’ – which will be released at the end of January.
‘Found Drowned’ is the only album the group has recorded at the moment. Mr Barabbas has written and planned the next few, and we are waiting until these appear.
I hope we’ll hear more of the group on Evening under Lamplight.
Here are the Lyrics to Louis Barabbas and the Bedlam Six’s “Mother”.
Mother
I crumpled up all the creeds of Man
And ran out into the rain
Where I mourned for my lost virtue
But mourned more for what remained
I’d give my grief to God
But I’m just too proud to pray
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
I’m a busted bulb in your lighthouse
I’m your guilt dashed on the cliff
I read about perpetuity
I hope it’s just a myth
Some people talk of progress
But all I see is decay
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
I pin my hopes upon the future
Like martyrs to a tree
But they haven’t yet built the religion that can hold me
I hear tomorrow will be better
I heard the same thing yesterday
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
Each night I go to sleep
The way Christians go to lions
God can take my body
But I’m leaving my soul to science
I’m sure He had a plan in Man
But something’s gone agley
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
There’s a stranger in this mirror
Or is it just stained glass?
I’ve changed my face so many times
But I wish I could change the past
There are more epithets than cigarettes
Stubbed out in my ashtray
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
I’m a gentleman charlatan
A pledge from a poison pen
I lately made a big mistake
Told the truth and sounded fake
My friends are all long gone
There’s none left to betray
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
I keep my guardian angel close
But always gagged and bound
Can someone please let me know
The way off this misery-go-round?
I long to see the spin on me
In St Peter’s Dossier
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
I’m told there’ll be no jobs until somebody dies
But you know a pay-cheque is just another term
For “consolation prize”
So I’m plodding through Perdition
Like some latter day Dante
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
Now I’ve given out all my thoughts
But I haven’t yet got the penny
You ask if there were bad times
Yeah… MANY
I long to say I love you
But it’s such a damned cliche
Mother, why did you raise me this way?
(from http://www.louisbarabbas.com/)
To Mystery…
Being a daughter and having no sons, I especially enjoyed the second part…
“Shel, don’t ruin it! & Really, what label?” Perfect…
..and ‘Neuralgia?’ ~~ ‘poifect for a working goil’ like me…
God willing – heaven protects us- even Me!
and ‘Oy, Mama!’ was a treat as well
Am off to find Barabas on uTube… and Molly Picon’s version… oy mama I want a fiddler, too!!! : )
you took me back to my grandparents’ victorla in the living room in East Oak Lane.
Thanks for another delightful listen, and lesson on persephone,RL.
No one will make it out…
emilie
…It never occured to me you might have listeners who do not remember payphones?
Correction: Victrolla and 78 records! e
Thanks for a very interesting musical conversation. Though The Miracles “Mama” was presented apologetically as “a curiosity”, I actually found it most enjoyable. Ironic cheeky lyrics and catch in the voice combined with nice shifting rhythms and “true” at the end of a line continued with the sax break. An unrepentant soufflé prepared with art.
much enjoyed listening – thank you!
and good to meet yesterday at Patrick & Jill’s wedding 🙂
Joy
I’m glad the show was pleasing. Come back for more.
RLA