you for a while

Music and Lyrics by: Tori Amos

Instrumentation: Vocal, Acoustic Piano.

Brief Summary: Mother, in a way, is like Winter except instead it is about the relationship between a mother and a coming-of-age daughter rather than a father and his daughter. However, the verdict is out if the feeling between this mother and daughter is as amiable as between the two people in Winter. Without delving too far into an interpretation here (I’ll let other fans do that below), it appears as though a young woman is leaving home, whether it is just that time or the mom is pushing we don’t know for certain, but she’s leaving and the girl is not very confident that she’ll succeed out there. She doesn’t know if she’s quite grown up enough yet for whatever it is that awaits her. And she is desperate to make sure the porch light will be on for her if she decides to come home.

Tori’s Comments: (from the Little Earthquakes songbook) “Mother came on a bit like dream sleep. It was early morning when I made my way to the piano. I knew that “they” were trying to show me something a memory of ‘the fall,’ not the one we’ve been taught, but the other side of the story which is the belief of certain ancient mythologies. Mother changed me because I began to remember, where I believe, we come from.”

Fan Comments/Interpretations: Common interps are varied, with some believing the mother is pushing her daughter into a marriage, others believing she’s forcing her daughter into prostitution at a young age, and still others believing the girl is leaving of her own accord (whether to be married, or head off for show business), but has reservations. The mom is either the bad guy or the good guy. I guess the line is open for fans to interpret this according to their own experiences. And that all of Tori’s songs allow this, well, thats why we all just about idolize her.

China2Ny’s Comments: To me, Mother means different things on different days. But, for the most part, I think it is about knowing your roots…no matter where life takes you, to always remember your roots.