Pink Floyd - Mother Lyrics Meaning
"Mother" by Pink Floyd in their album "The Wall" (and the movie) is about the main character Pink's difficulties in life due to his up bringing. His father died in WWII and he was raised by his mother who was very loving but sometimes overbearing and domineering. She protected him from everything and therefore built a "wall" of protection around him as a boy. He grew up without any male influence (reference: scene from the movie where he walks up to another father on a play-ground and holds his hand as to say "You'll be my new father"--the man pushes him away). In a sense, Pink is a mommas-boy who is very dependent on her for life decisions and he has been stunted in his ability to face troubles in life.
Throughout the album, it makes heavy references to a distrust of the government, schools (teachers, principals), the military--any big authoritarian organization. Now, as an adult, Pink is without his mother (is she dead? We dont know) and he has been able to experience life outside the wall, to a degree. He has become very famous, and people go crazy over him. Because he was so sheltered by the wall, he doesn't know how to deal with his adult life, and he begins to deteriorate. So, he isolates himself and rebuilds the wall. He refuses to become a part of big society or a figure for others to follow. He realizes that this "world" of isolation only exists in his head, and he realizes the wall is not going to solve his problems. He goes deeper and deeper into depression and ultimately everything falls apart.
The album and movie go on to explain why Pink felt this way as an adult. "The Show Must Go On" is a climactic example of how he feels about society, government, etc. He believes that big organizations make people puppets who are unable to think for themselves and live their lives in an automated dictated fashion (reference: scene where the kids are shuffling into the meat-grinder like zombies). The irony is, Pink has done the same thing via his mother and his own wall. This is one reason that being famous clashes with his beliefs--he just wants to be himself and others be themselves.
If you were to ask Pink if people are good or are they naturally evil, he would say they are naturally evil. He fears the institutionalization of thoughts and independence that take place in society "Reference: "Place them up against the wall!"). Ultimately, he wants nothing to do with it, but is torn by the irony of his situation. He comes to the realization that the wall will hold him back, and he struggles to learn how to cope with life outside the wall. Even though it is difficult for him, he knows it is the right thing to do.
I do not think the "Wall" is about the soviet union, cold war, bombs, or anything like that in particular. But, keep in mind that this was written at the height of the cold war and these notions undoubtedly helped mold the sentiment and thought process involved with this production. Roger Waters has never spelled out what this album is saying. Personally, I think he refuses to do that because he does not want to be an "institution" that tells others how to think. If he did, he would become all the things he was/is against. "The Wall" is a metaphor, and it can mean a lot of different things. It ultimately represents the isolationism that comes from fear of others (persons, militaries, governments, etc.). That isolationism will tear you apart and destroy you. You must learn to deal with it without becoming a part of it.
