Mother and Child Reunion

Paul Simon released the song Mother and Child Reunion as the lead single on his self-titled album in 1972.  This was Simon’s first single as a solo artist.  The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Top 100 Chart.  The song is simple but beautiful.  The lyrics are somewhat haunting.

No, I would not give you false hope

On this strange and mournful day

But the mother and child reunion

Is only a motion away, oh, little darling of mine

I can’t for the life of me

Remember a sadder day

I know they say let it be,

But it just don’t work out that way

And the course of a lifetime runs

Over and over again

And now the inspiration for the song in Paul Simon’s own words: “I was eating in a Chinese restaurant downtown.  There was a dish called Mother and Child Reunion.  It’s chicken and eggs.  And I said, I gotta use that one.”

--Mitchell Hegman