Mother and Child Reunion
Paul Simon
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I'm gonna make a chicken gumbo Toss some sausage in the pot I'm gonna flavor it with okra Cheyenne pepper to make it hot You know life is what we make of it So beautiful or so what I'm gonna tell my kids a bedtime story A play without a plot Will it have a happy ending? Maybe yeah, maybe not I tell them life is what you make of it So beautiful or so what So beautiful, so beautiful So what I'm just a raindrop in a bucket A coin dropped in a slot I am an empty house on Weed Street Across the road from a vacant lot You know life is what you make of it So beautiful, or so what Ain't it strange the way we're ignorant How we seek out bad advice How we jigger it and figure it Mistaking value for the price And play a game with time and love Like a pair of rolling dice So beautiful, so beautiful So what Four men on the balcony Overlooking the parking lot Pointing at a figure in the distance Dr. King has just been shot And the sirens long melody Singing savior pass me not Ain't it strange the way we're ignorant How we seek out bad advice How we jigger it and figure it Mistaking value for the price And play a game with time and love Like a pair of rolling dice So beautiful, so beautiful So beautiful
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Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Composition"Mother and Child Reunion" is a song by Paul Simon that was originally released on his 1972 album, "Paul Simon." This was his second solo studio album following his split with Art Garfunkel.
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Genre ClassificationIt is regarded as one of the earliest examples of reggae music being used by a mainstream white artist. The song features a distinctive reggae rhythm and instrumentation, which helped introduce the genre to a wider audience in the U.S.
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Recording LocationThe song was recorded at Dynamic Sounds Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, with backing from seminal reggae group Jimmy Cliff's backing band, The Oneness.
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Charts PerformanceThe song was a significant hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart in 1972.
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Title OriginThe title of the song was inspired by a dish Simon saw on a Chinese restaurant's menu, called "Mother and Child Reunion," which was made with chicken and eggs. According to Simon, this got him thinking about the cycle of life and death, which he then incorporated into the song lyrics.
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Theme & InfluenceThe song is generally interpreted as being about the death of a loved one. Bob Marley later revealed in an interview that the song had a profound influence on him, affecting the way he wrote about his own experiences.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by a varied array of artists including The Intruders, Johnny Rivers, The Wailers, and Boy George.
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In Popular Culture"Mother and Child Reunion" has been featured in numerous movie and TV soundtracks like "The Simpsons", "The Waterboy," "Forces of Nature," and "Zookeeper", attesting its enduring appeal.
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AccoladesThe song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021, solidifying its place as one of the most iconic songs in popular music.
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Live PerformancesSimon has frequently performed the song in his live shows over the years; it was part of the setlist in his famous Concert in Central Park with Art Garfunkel in September 1981.
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Citation
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"Mother and Child Reunion Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/31758963/Paul+Simon/Mother+and+Child+Reunion>.
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