JUKEBOX: “I’ll Always Love My Mama!”

Sometimes it’s so hard to find just the right thing to get mom on Mother’s Day. Flowers can be overdone, and you can only give so much macaroni art before it gets weird. But music never gets old, and what mom wouldn’t love a song dedicated to her? So whether you have a mom, are a mom, or just… like moms, this playlist will be the perfect accompaniment to your Mother’s Day.

1) “I’ll Always Love My Mama,” The Intruders (1973)

How is this not the official song of Mother’s Day? You can tell her you love her, thank her for her sacrifices, and describe how much she means to you all in one song, and backed by a funky beat to boot! And unlike a lot of songs about “mamas,” there’s none of that awkward “are we talking about his mom or his girlfriend?” confusion here.

2) “Mama Said,” The Shirelles (1961)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xue4xieJWZ0

Mom gives the best advice, right? Especially about teenage love. This Shirelles song, later a hit cover by Dusty Springfield, says what we’ve always known: Mom was right all along. Telling her that will be a better Mother’s Day gift than all the flowers in the world!

3) “For Baby (For Bobbie),” Peter, Paul and Mary (1966)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpAq8FBwWY4

Perfect for any new mom on her first Mother’s Day, this song tenderly captures the bond between mother and baby. Mary Travers was a young mother herself when she recorded it, and the depth of her emotion shines through. If you listen to this in front of your mom, expect the tears to flow.

4) “Let it Be,” The Beatles (1970)

Stressed and anxious about the growing tension within the Beatles, Paul McCartney dreamt that his mother, Mary — who died when he was 14 — came to him with the advice to “let it be.” And like Beatles tend to do, Paul took that advice and made it into one of the most enduring songs of all time. Just goes to show, Mom is always there for you when you need her.

5) “Mother,” John Lennon (1970)

Whether joyous or tragic, Mom leaves an imprint on us that will never be forgotten. While Paul was letting it be, John, as expected, was looking at the subject from a different perspective. Julia Lennon, absent for most of John’s young life, died tragically when John was 17, just as they had formed a close bond. Years later, while exploring primal scream therapy with Yoko (who, incidentally, he often called “mother”), he wrote this song to process his pain about that early abandonment.

6) “Mrs. Robinson,” Simon and Garfunkel (1968)

Not all mothers are sweet and innocent. “Mrs. Robinson” will forever be associated with the original MILF from The Graduate (even though the song itself doesn’t have much to do with MILFs at all). Mrs. Robinson is the first in a long line of cougars in pop culture that now include Stifler’s mom and, of course, Stacy’s.

7) “Mother’s Little Helper,” The Rolling Stones (1966)

Sometimes, mother’s little helper isn’t the babysitter or your big sister. Sometimes Mom needs a little something extra to get through her busy day. If this song reminds you of your mom, Mother’s Day might be just the time to give her a little extra pampering.

8) “Mama Says,” The Beach Boys (1967)

This short acapella tag at the end of the Wild Honey album might remind you of all the things mom used to tell you when you were a kid (and probably still does). “Mama Says” came out of the sessions for another unusual song, “Vega-Tables,” a track on the album released three months before, Smiley Smile. The original was spawned by Brian Wilson’s health kick and was accompanied by the sounds of Paul McCartney allegedly chewing celery.

Check out these and more in the playlist below, and have a happy Mother’s Day!

What are your favorite songs about Mom? Tell us in the comments!

Erika White

Erika White is simply obsessed with music and culture of the '60s and '70s. Her writing focuses on the Beatles and the incredible fandom that has kept their legacy growing for five decades and counting. Erika is also a graphic designer, musical theatre geek, rabid Whovian, and Anglophile who lives in the NYC metro area. Check out her Beatles website and follow her on Twitter.