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https://soundcloud.com/andyandersonmusic/mothers-day

My first submission here. I wrote it (no co-writers) about my mother who died from Alzheimer’s complications in 2014. It was horribly sad, but at some level was a relief as dementia had finally consumed her. The cover photo is her in 1936. She has a little flower in her hand that I find so sweet....

Home studio. I’m a real novice here, not formally trained in music (can’t read it, a decent guitarist), and technically challenged, most DAWs beyond my capabilities. I used MixPad. I did not track the instruments, but here’s what I came up with. The song is all mine, Copyrighted prior to this BIAB version, vocals are all mine and all instruments are BIAB. 84 bpm in G.

518 Elec Bass, 1947 Mandolin, ShakerEven8ths, 2336 Viola, 1761 Acoustic Guitar (Strumming), 1728 Acoustic Piano. You are welcome to suggest any different instruments.

Mother’s Day
Written by Andy Anderson ©

On Sunday afternoon I leave my house and take a drive
out to see my mother at the home where she resides
It’s a very pleasant journey when the weather is OK
and I rarely fail to visit on that day

I arrive just after two, check-in at the desk
where they tell me how she’s doing, as I sign in as a guest
The staff there is so friendly and they know me every time
They remark on my devotion and I tell them
I don’t mind

(Chorus)
I gather all my courage, as my hopes come crashing down
Prayers and pleas, and what-could-bes...
Shattered on the ground

I amble down the corridor and pass the large dance hall
where the residents take their meals, and the staff observes them all
I wonder if the bingo cage was spun the night before
and if anybody…. ever really danced….
on that floor

I come to room eleven, catch my sweet old mom
gazing out the window, at robins on the lawn
As lightly as I can… I rap my fingers on the jamb,
she turns and smiles, and asks me…… who I am…..

I tell her I’m her son and let the sadness fade away
I ask her how she’s doing
wish her Happy Mother’s Day

She tells me all about a choir who came last night
children singing Christmas carols…little faces…
shining bright

Though I’ve heard this many times..
I act as if it’s new
and hope she cannot hear…… my heart break in two
I nod and I envision children singing for my mom
Unaware, she’s the Ghost of Christmas
Yet To Come

(Chorus)

And next week I’ll return
To see my mother in her room
Someday I’m gonna miss these times together…
on Sunday afternoon.

Andy, My mother also had Alzheimer's and passed away a couple of years ago. No doubt that it is a devastating disease for all that come into contact with it. Anything that can draw attention to compassionate care and possible cures is a good thing. Not only does this song act as therapy for your soul but it also helps keep the conversation alive. It is exactly what happened to me. I made those same walks down the hallway. It was tough. The mix sounds good. A couple of minor production nits. The vocal sounded dry. Needs a touch of reverb. I also would have edited the mandolin around the vocal rather than letting it play on through. An excellent write and a fine first post. Welcome to the forum. See ya around, Tom

Thanks, Tom. I'll give that a try.

Hey Andy, great first submission to the forum. Thanks for dropping by and sharing with us! This is a really beautiful song about tragic event. Kudos to you for being able to handle it with such grace and strength.

Thank you, Will. I've been playing it for a couple years. I'm OK now at home, but on stage it's hard to sing without tearing up, especially if I see anyone else tearing up. I get a lot of comments about it, sometimes a few people stand in line to tell me their story. It's a real a connection.

Beautiful song. Loved the vocal and lyric. Wonderful tribute to your mother

I love this.

Thank you, Scott and David.

Beautifully measured lyrics that could only come from personal experience- I think you`ve done well to sing them with feeling (but not letting emotion get too far outfront).
I agree with Tom that the mandolin is a bit obtrusive in some places.
A great first song to post!

Robert

Good deal. Thanks for the feedback. I'm tweaking it. About a thousand times. I've gotta get away from it for a while. Can't 'hear' it right now.

Hi Andy,

Welcome to Users Showcase and congratulations on such a fine song. Dying and death are never easy topics to broach in songs. You've done it very well.

All the best,
Noel

Andy,

A truly powerful song. Well written, well performed.

"I gather all my courage, as my hopes come crashing down
Prayers and pleas, and what-could-bes...
Shattered on the ground"

Well done. Heart-wrenching.

Nice use of tracks.

(Welcome to the Showcase - heck of an entrance).

floyd

Thank you, Floyd. Greatly appreciate you taking time to say that.

Thank you, Noel, and thank you for all your previous help with the technicalities of BIAB. (*I swear I research the probs before I post asking for help, but if the answers are there, I can't find them, or a search turns up hundreds of threads; too many to read thru all them.)

Andy,

What a dreadful subject sung with love. Well done with the lyrics, must have been so hard.
I hope you don't mind but I have passed the link to 2 friends whose other halves are in various stages of this horrific illness.

I second what floyd wrote

take care

Alyn

I'm honored, Alyn. Thank you.

Andy - what a powerful first-song-post! This is a beautifully written song, and so emotional (glad I have tissues at my desk!) - the instruments you've chosen are perfect for the whole feel of the song. Thank you so much for sharing it here with us.

This is the "Hot Forum Topic" for today.

~Callie

Thank you, Callie. That is so kind of you to say.


Thank you PG Music. BIAB has really been a life changing event for me.

Very touching song! Powerfully written. It is so hard to watch your parents age and pass away. My dad passed away in Feb of this year, and my mom has cancer-extremely difficult time. Really enjoyed this beautifully crafted song. Take care. Greg

Thank you, Greg.

You are really going thru some things right now... It is hard. I think until it actually happened, I still had that kid's naivety about how my parents would die, or wouldn't ever die.

My best wishes to you, Greg, and to your mom and to your family.