Mother (John Lennon song) Mother (John Lennon song) "Mother" is a song by English musician John Lennon, first released on his 1970 album "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band". An edited version of the song was issued as a single in the United States on Apple Records, on 28 December 1970. The single runs about 1:41 shorter than the album due to a lack of the tolling bells intro and a quicker fadeout. The B-side features "Why" by Yoko Ono. The song peaked in the United States at number 19 on the "Cashbox" Top 100 and number 43 on the "Billboard" Hot 100. The lyrics of
Mother (John Lennon song) "Mother" address both of Lennon's parents, each of whom abandoned him in his childhood. His father, Alf, left the family when John was an infant. His mother, Julia, did not live with her son, although they had a good relationship; she was hit and killed in a car accident on 15 July 1958 by a drunk off-duty policeman named Eric Clague, when Lennon was 17. In one of his last concerts Lennon stated that the song was not just about his parents, but was rather "about 99% of the parents, alive or half dead". "Mother" opens the album, starting with