“Mother” and its fiery-delivered lyrics are some of the most famous in all of 1980s American rock. Glenn Danzig never shied away from a confrontation, never hid from the waiting world. But, believe it or not, the former Misfits singer was subtle about his message in this most famous single of his.
Today, I am looking at the anthemic single by Danzig and providing context for the meaning of the lyrics to “Mother.”
Danzig’s Journey to Going Solo (Sort Of) and Making “Mother”
To some MTV viewers and rock radio listeners, Danzig was a brand new band looking to make its name with songs like “Mother” or “Twist of Cain.” But while these melodic hard-rock tunes were enough to make t-shirts depicting the ghoulish logo a staple, singer Glenn Danzig had seen it all before.
It had never gotten this big terms of sales. But Glenn Danzig, by 1988, had already been a member of two highly influential, soon-to-be legendary bands, Misfits and Samhain. The first band, especially, carved its name into punk-rock low with its fiery performances, memorable songs, and horror-related themes.
Misfits had a million bands copying their style, just like Sex Pistols had their imitators. And, while it could’ve been easy for Glenn Danzig to merely go out and play Misfits songs for the rest of his career, there was more ambition to the New Jersey native.
Rick Rubin Signs Danzig
It was also a full decade since he’d started gigging, and Danzig had accumulated some serious business acumen. This was one of the things that Rick Rubin, producer and new record label owner, admired about him. Rubin signed him to Def American Recordings.
Glenn wanted to be part of a band. Rubin thought this was a good idea, but the band should carry his name. This way, whenever one member departed, the brand could be safe.
For their self-titled debut album, Danzig brought in their love of the blues and Black Sabbath riffs. But they married it to the melodies that had made Misfits songs so popular.
Danzig had songs like “She Rides,” “Her Black Wings,” “Twist of Cain,” and, especially, “Mother” right off the bat. These were songs designed to be chanted by crowds of thousands, and the band’s image and lyrics were meant to turn them into outcasts. As I said, Glenn Danzig’s business acumen was extraordinary.
Danzig also had a remarkable guitarist in John Christ, as well as a strong rhythm section comprised of bassist Eerie Von and legendary drummer Chuck Biscuits.
The Meaning of the Lyrics of “Mother” by Danzig
There aren’t many songs that make as great of an immediate impact as “Mother.” This is why it continues to be played on the radio, covered by bands, and played to rapturous reactions by Danzig.
And, while the lyrics are certainly mean-sounding and quotable, some fans may be oblivious to their meaning.
“Mother” is something of a hard-rock protest song against censorship. By the late 1980s, The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) had been created at the initiative of Tipper Gore, wife to the senator and future presidential hopeful Al Gore.
The PRMC quickly staked its claim as a great influence on popular culture when it published a list of fifteen songs that it deemed obscene and called for action to be taken against them.
Various options were suggested, such as adding an age rating system similar to that used by movies. The most realistic was to simply place a parental advisory sticker on the cover of the albums that contained these songs. Artists as diverse as Prince, Motley Crue, Madonna, Mercyful Fate, and Black Sabbath were included on the list. None of Glenn Danzig’s bands, though.
Danzig vs. The PMRC
Glenn Danzig objected to PRMC’s obscenity trials and proposed stickers on principle. He believed that this was tantamount to censorship.
As a songwriter who mostly relied on his passion for horror movies and comic books to fuel his lyrics, he also felt that rock n’ roll needed a bit of danger to it.
Now, that you know this, the lyrics to the song may suddenly make a lot more sense: “Mother/Tell your children not to walk my way/Tell your children not to hear my words/What they mean, what they say, mother.”
Danzig also alludes to darker powers holding his allegiance. He sings, “Not about to see your light/And if you wanna find hell with me/I can show you what it’s like.” This wasn’t novel territory for the man who had penned songs such as “Devillock,” “Die Die My Darling,” or “Black Dream.”
In fact, while several songs were written about the PRMC Senate Hearing, Danzig’s “Mother” is by far the biggest hit. It charted in the Top 50 and remains immensely famous.
Danzig’s Career Soars After the Debut Album
Danzig became one of the better-known hard-rock bands of the 1980s. In many ways, they were bigger than Misfits had ever been. And, thanks to “Mother,” many of the fans were brand new, some unaware of Glenn Danzig’s legacy.
The songs were simple and powerful. The imagery had the same qualities. “Mother” reached number 43 on the U.S. charts. It also charted in Germany, Finland, and the U.K. This allowed the band to release other video singles for “Twist of Cain,” “Am I Demon,” and “She Rides.”
The album would later go gold, selling 500.000 copies. But the band’s shows were even larger, with Danzig routinely playing to crowds of thousands. That popularity is captured on “Thrall: Demon Sweat Live.” The live album features “Mother ’93.” This was an even bigger hit on MTV and made it the band’s best-seller in their entire catalog.
Danzig largely maintained its popularity across a three-album run until 1994. The group, and particularly its singer, have experimented with different musical directions since then. Many of the band’s core fans have stuck around.
The Legacy of “Mother”
“Mother” by Danzig features only six simple chords and a very recognizable melody, which is why it has been covered by other artists so often. Coheed and Cambria, Anberlin, Sleater-Kinney, and Ryan Adams all have performed their own cover versions of the song.
Glenn Danzig knew just how good the song was as soon as he wrote it. He later told an interviewer that he called Rick Rubin as soon as he’d completed it, telling him that he’d finally written the song he always dreamed of creating.
Fans agree. “Mother” continues to be a big money maker for Danzig. It’s routinely included on rock compilations, as well as movie and game soundtracks. It’s appeared on everything from “Grand Theft Auto” to “The Hangover: Part III.”
Glenn Danzig never disowned his legacy or changed his public persona. As a consequence, he never received the wide appeal that his hero, Ozzy Osbourne, and other hard-rock and heavy metal heroes received.
For the most part, Glenn Danzig presented himself as a horror-obsessed tough guy. And while he could show a sense of humor, as when he played himself on an episode of “Portlandia,” he stayed on brand making horror-themed music, horror-themed comic books and directing a horror movie.
