Monday, September 21, 2020

HOLY MOTHER BY ERIC CLAPTON


Didn't really have anything for today so I am dragging this out of my draft drawer. This is my first attempt at new Blogger so we will see. So far I am not amused.

Ever hear a song, enjoy it but never really listened to the message? I am guilt of that with most songs but especially so with Eric Clapton's song Holy Mother.  A blog buddy recommended it several years ago so I went to listen, really liked his version with Pavoritti and added it to my library.  I have listened to it many times and looked on it as a deeply felt prayer from a devote man. Pavoritti literally makes the hair on my arms stand up when he joins in. I am not Catholic nor stoutly religious but this song touched me.  Patti Positive heard only the strength of faith in the song originally.

I was listening to it today as I often play my music while on the computer, so I thought I'd hunt the lyrics. I learned that I had not really been paying attention to it.  Seeing the lyrics, I realized just how dark this song was. It is a song of incredible pain and loss of hope. Not a song in adoration but actually one begging for comfort and release. Eric wrote this song while he was in a downward spiral with drink and drugs. He said writing it turned his life around. I know I will never listen to it the same way again.


Holy Mother
 Holy Mother, where are you?
Tonight I feel broken in two.
I've seen the stars fall from the sky.
Holy mother, can't keep from crying.
Oh I need your help this time,
Get me through this lonely night.
Tell me please which way to turn
To find myself again.
Holy mother, hear my prayer,
Somehow I know you're still there.
Send me please some peace of mind;
Take away this pain.
I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait any longer.
I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait for you.
Holy mother, hear my cry,
I've cursed your name a thousand times.
I've felt the anger running through my soul;
All I need is a hand to hold.
Oh I feel the end has come,
No longer my legs will run.
You know I would rather be
In your arms tonight.
When my hands no longer play,
My voice is still, I fade away.
Holy mother, then I'll be
Lying in, safe within your arms.
Have you ever enjoyed a song but never really listened to the lyrics. Then when you find out what they are, you realize it was not at all what you thought it was?    

30 comments :

  1. The part of the sentence it left off was " it was not at all what you thought it was?"
    Oddly that is not the video I had intended. All in all, I remain not amused with New Blogger. Grrrr.

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  2. Blogger really has issues! I have found that a 10 minute process of composing a blog in the past now takes about an hour 'cause I need to go re-code everything in html.

    I've not heard that song. LOVE Pavrotti!

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    1. Anni,
      At least you know how to re-code. I haven't the foggiest. Guess I will stick with the simplest posts possible.
      Isn't Pavoritti wonderful?

      Delete
  3. The song is lovely....blogger not so much. I have problem after problem.

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    1. Linda,
      Thanks so much for stopping by. I tried to follow you back but can't seem to locate a blog for you. Did Blogger eat it?:))

      Delete
  4. Pavolitti could sing the phone book and give me chills...assuming we could even find a phone book in this day and age.

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    1. Jean,
      Totally agree with you. If not a phone book, how about him singing a cook book. I'd listen.

      Delete
  5. It’s still a great video Patti, and wow—I’ve heard Clapton’s song plenty over the years and did not know his reasons behind it until now. I’ve also found a song can take on new meaning when it’s sung by someone else. Yesterday on ‘Time Goes By’, a video was posted of an Indian singer I never heard of (Shuba) singing a Queen song, “Love of my Life”. I’ve heard Queen’s version many times over the years, but Shuba’s version of it almost had me in tears... so beautiful!

    Speaking of tears—the “new Blogger” is terrible, it has some kinks to work out. I tried changing the header/theme of my blog on Friday (with one I’ve used before for autumn) and it WRECKED my blogs format & layout. Luckily I had a downloaded copy of my blog’s format from 2019 I was able to install. Oh well!

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    1. Doug,
      I know I was surprised to hear how down he was when he wrote that.
      Yikes on Blogger eating your format. So glad you were able to salvage it. What on earth are they thinking? It wasn't broke.

      Delete
  6. I will have to listen to that song again, with new ears now that I know the words. And the new Blogger is fine if you don't try to do anything much! Grrrr! :-)

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    1. Djan,
      Lyrics do make a difference don't they? I think I will be keeping it simple also. I am just not tech savvy enough to get creative.

      Delete
  7. I was in my 30's before I realized what Lola was about and then it was my friend's six year old who pointed it out. I really don't pay attention the way I should.

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    1. Olga,
      I know if it has a good beat and easy to dance to it has me sold. Had to laugh about Lola. I just checked the lyrics and realize I am 81 and just catching on.

      Delete
  8. I've not heard of the song, and seeing the lyrics I understand it isn't what you thought it was.

    I'm slightly hard of hearing, so I never clearly understand the lyrics of any song. It is amusing to my kids when I try to sing along to something, because I make up my own words. Hey, works for me!

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    1. Eileen,
      I think that is my problem also. I tend to sing what I think I hear and it turns out, I am often not even close.

      Delete
  9. It is a wonderful song with lyrics that can make you weep.

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    1. gigi,
      Yes, beautiful but there is a lot of raw pain there.

      Delete
  10. I've never heard this song before, Patti. It's so beautiful. Really hauntingly beautiful. Tugs on the heart with so much longing. Thank you for posting this.

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    1. robin,
      Glad you enjoyed it. I think before I only heard the beauty and never realized the pain behind the words.

      Delete
  11. I used to have so many songs I loved but never knew the lyrics, so a few years ago I started looking up the songs on youtube and listening to the versions that had lyrics with them. I still like all those songs and some even more now that I know all the words.
    This song you have here is not the sort of song I listen too and having now heard it once, that will be enough for me. I'm a rock and roll girl with some pop-country-rock thrown in the mix.

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    Replies
    1. River,
      What you like is my usual choice also but I will include almost everything except rap and progressive jazz.

      Delete
  12. Often newer recordings swamp the singer with overly loud instruments. (That's when I turn the radio off.) Keep at the new blogger, Patti. I'm sure Google will eventually correct the bugs.

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    1. Florence,
      So far I haven't found anything that makes me say--"now that is really a good idea." However since I have no choice, guess I will hang in.

      Delete
  13. I am not familiar with that song. It is beautiful. I am very guilty about not paying attention to the words.

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    1. Sue,
      Me too. Once I was sure I was hearing a song about killing a worm and it was really about killing words like hate. Sure glad we can access lyrics easily these days.

      Delete
  14. Agree, great song, new blogger is terrible.

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    1. Tom,
      If new blogger has any redeeming features, I have yet to find any.

      Delete
  15. Wow! This really is a dark, sad, depressing song. He's had a tough life. I wonder if he wrote this before or after his son died.

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    Replies
    1. Kay,
      Interesting question and you made me do a little research. I had forgotten about his son's tragic death. He evidently died in 91 and Eric wrote this song in 86 so they probably weren't connected. Thanks for making me dig.

      Delete
  16. Has to have been written by a Catholic, as they put much more attention on Mary than most other faiths.

    New blogger won't allow me to post any photos on Chrome. Fortunately I can in Safari. Apparently they are looking into it for me. I won't hold my breath.

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