“My mama had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.” (from Forrest Gump)

My mother…what a woman! She’ll be 89 this summer, but it seems like she’s been a force of nature forever. At five years old she was the eldest daughter of a widowed mother. In her twenties she was the young bride of a dapper Navy man in World War II, and by the end of the war she was the mother of a bouncing baby boy. Then over the next 18 years she gave that little boy five brothers and sisters, all raised under the auspices of the Holy Catholic Church and her own unwavering hand. Together with her husband, Jep, she provided a safe, secure, and nurturing environment from which we were allowed to become what we would be.

In 2001 I sat down and decided to write a song about my mother, about what it was like to be raised by that remarkable woman. Although I was only one of six children, each of us felt as if we were the only one – each one the recipient of boundless love. I put the song on a CD that I gave to my brothers and sisters at a family reunion, but I felt the urge to share it today with any who might read this blog. It has sort of a bouncy-bluesy feel, and I like listening to it because it makes me smile as I think about my mom.

My Mama Taught Me

You may live in your ivory tower
You may smell good after every shower
You may think you’ve got it all figured out
But I’ll tell you, Buddy, I’ve got my doubts

Cause my mama taught me
My mama taught me
She taught me to laugh
She taught me to cry
She taught me that love is always the reason why
My mama taught me My mama taught me

You may not think that she’s all that hip
But when she puts it together it all fits
From the little bitty pieces to the great big things
When you try it out, Man, it really swings.

She taught me the tunes to many many songs
Ev’n when the words weren’t right, they were never wrong
She made me feel happy. She made me feel glad
Have to tell you, people, my mama ain’t bad
My mama taught me

Interlude

I tell you when I was of an early age
My mama taught me how to turn each page
Read everything from A to Z
Got gosh-awful smart cause
My mama taught me

My mama took me to church when I was just a child
She taught me from the good book and lived it all the while
She’s always practiced what she preached
She knows the perfect way to teach
My mama taught me.

My mama told me each day in so many ways
That she thought I was great and to let nothing stand in my way
My mama’s love it never stops
Her belief could get you to the top
My mama taught me. My mama taught me.

(Harmonica)

She taught me to laugh she taught me to sing
She taught me that love was the reason for everything

My mama taught me
She taught me to laugh She taught me to sing
She taught me that love is the answer to everything
She taught me to reach She taught me to strive
She taught me that no one was more worthy than I
She taught me to laugh She taught me to sing
She taught me that love is the answer to everything
And she still is teaching me to this very day.
My mama taught me (many times) (Words and Music: Bob Tatum)

Yep, my mom has given me so many things. But she did teach me to laugh, and she did teach me to sing. Most important, through her consistent example, she taught me that love is the answer – still is the answer to everything. I thank God for my mom every day, but especially today.

Sound Traveler will spend a busy Mother’s Day. We will be playing at the Center for Spiritual Living in Rockledge this morning, and this afternoon we will be performing aboard the Indian River Queen.

To respond, click on the title scroll down, and tell about a mom — yours or mine!

3 Comments to “SongTravelin: 05.08.11 – A Song for My Mother….”

• May 7, 2011 at 11:10 pm
  Art says:

  I would love to hear that song sung one day.
• May 8, 2011 at 7:40 pm
  Bob says:

  I’ll have to get you a copy. It is a fun song.
• May 9, 2011 at 7:19 am
  Your Sis, Terry says:

  I hope you called Mama and read this to her! A beautiful tribute a wonderful song. May God continue to bless you as you enrich us all.

  Much love,