Best of the Welcome Columns


Best of the Welcome Columns

Author: Daniel, Bert
Happy Mother's Day

Father's day welcome columnists often write about the "column that nobody reads" (because we're all at the Grass Valley Festival). Mother's Day might be the column that almost nobody reads because you're all off to the great annual festival in Parkfield. Not me. As the change in subject pronoun above indicates, I am here writing my annual Mother's Day "forgotten column" instead of where I'd like to be, listening to all that good Bluegrass music with you folks (who aren't reading this anyway). Around here on Mother's Day, my wife calls the shots. That's as it should be. Both of our moms have passed on. And a Bluegrass festival would be close to last place on Joyce's list of things to do. Oh well. I get to go to Grass Valley every year on my day, so who's complaining? So for those of you who actually are reading, what can I write about for Mother's Day this year? I know, I'll scan my iPad and see what songs I can find that have to do with dear old Mom! For my money the best song ever written about Mother comes from Hazel Dickens. I like songs that tell a story, and this one about a young lady leaving home for the first time speaks to how a mother can strengthen and guide a child for their whole lifetime: I thought of all the years she slaved Thought of all the love she gave She tried to make this run down shack a home A dream that really died 'fore it was born But she pulled us through the hardest times And made us hold our head up high A gift we'd carry with us all our lives For we were so special in Momma's eyes As I look back down that dusty road To Momma and her heavy load I knew what I was leaving I'd never find again And it was hard to let go of Momma's hand One old paper bag full of hand-me-downs Plain old country girl raised on gospel sounds With only the love she gave me, pride in what I am And it was hard to let go of Momma's hand. My Momma's hand. What exactly is a mother? Silly question maybe but think about it. Is it the person who gave you half of your DNA (or in case of a male like me more than half)? Or is it the person who raised you and cleaned up after you and nourished you in body and soul? If you're among the fortunate, one person answers both descriptions, but if I had to put my money on one or the other it would be the latter. Some ambiguity lies in between, as in this Charlie Poole song that you may hear Kenny Hall sing next month: The Marriage rite is over Although I turn aside And keep the guests from seeing The tears I could not hide I wreathed my face in smiling And left my little brother To greet my father's chosen But I could not call her Mother Sadly, this child's natural mother has left the picture. In an old tune like this it would be assumed that she died but in our day divorce is often responsible. That makes it even harder to call her Mother: (The Stanley Brothers) A little tot was playing one night upon the floor Her mother sat and and idly watched the little girl or four All at once she dropped her toys and the tears began to shed She climbed upon her mother's knee and this is what she said Tell me why my Daddy don't come home I know that I am much too big to cry Why don't he come and play with me again Momma, why did Daddy ever say goodbye? I'm sorry. That's a rip your heart out sad song if you've ever listened to it and this is supposed to be a happy day when we all celebrate what our Mothers mean to us. But the fact is, in my random iPad surf, most of the songs I found were sad songs. As an interlude I'll give you this one from Lee Moore: Oh it seems that I can hear my mother calling >From the back door in which she often stood Come, Son and run an errand from Mother Hurry, Dear and bring me in a load of wood Back to sad songs. Several I found concerned either the central role mothers play in shaping the moral foundation of a family or sons going off to war or both: (Ricky Skaggs) While kneeling by her bedside in a cottage on the hill My mother prayed a blessing on me there She was talking there to Jesus while everything was still And I heard my mother call my name in prayer (Joe Val) Dear God watch o'er my boy in service Help him win the victory And when this cruel war is over Send him safely home to me (Norman Blake) Tell my mother I will meet her When my works of love and labor all are through Where the good of earth are gathered with the faithful and the true Tell her that her boy will meet her in the land beyond the blue And many, many songs I found dealt with our mothers who have passed on: (Jim & Jesse) Dear old Mother how I miss you How I long for your sweet face and sunny smile I would give up all I own just to be with you at home And to linger there for just a little while (Monroe Brothers) Shake my mother's hand and tell her (and then tell her) Happy may your spirits be (your spirits be) When the saints come out to meet you (out to meet you) Oh, shake my mother's hand for me! (Ralph Stanley) I'll never forget the love mother gave us As children we'd play around our old home I know her reward is a mansion in heaven While her children on earth are scattered and gone (Bill Monroe & the Bluegrass Boys) Mother's not dead, she's only a sleeping Just patiently waiting for Jesus to come The birds will be singing while Mother is sleeping They will sing o'er as the grave sinks away (Mac Wiseman) I was dreaming of a little cabin when I heard somebody call my name I looked and saw a sweet old lady and it seemed I was a child again She gently put her arms around me and kissed her little boy once more And I knew it was the same sweet mother who had kissed me many times before. Let's not end on a sad song: (Seldom Scene with Linda and Emmy Lou) One day a mother went to a prison To see an erring but precious son She told the warden how much she loved him It did not matter what he had done She did not bring (to him) a parole or pardon She brought no silver, no pomp or style (none to see) It was a halo bright sent down from Heaven's light The sweetest gift, a mother's smile Happy Mother's Day everybody.

Posted: 5/13/2012