Written by: David Bowie
Recorded: early 1968
Released: 5 April 2019
Available on:
Spying Through A Keyhole
Conversation Piece
Personnel
David Bowie: vocals, guitar, harmonica
‘Mother Grey’ is a song written by David Bowie.
It was registered with Bowie’s publishing company Essex Music in December 1967, and recorded as a solo demo early the following year. At the time Bowie was preparing songs for a second Deram album which never happened, and it is possible that ‘Mother Grey’ was a contender.
‘Mother Grey’ became the subject of a copyright dispute in May 1973, when Essex Music International claimed that they owned the song, along with ‘Ching-A-Ling’ and ‘April’s Tooth Of Gold’, following a 1967 agreement. In the early 1970s Bowie signed them over to Chrysalis, and Essex claimed that he was in breach of contract.
The recording was briefly made available online at the end of 2018, on sites including Apple Music, Deezer, and Akazoo, presumably to retain copyright on the recordings. The streams were credited to JRD, and the album was temporarily titled Grey Angel Joe.
It was given a wider release in April 2019 in the box set Spying Through A Keyhole, and again later that year in Conversation Piece.
Lyrics
Mother, mother makes the bed, Mother Grey
Mother, mother makes the bed, broom broom
Mother, mother makes the bed, Mother Grey
Mother, mother makes the bed, broom broom
Ooh, ooh
Silver kitchen full of pots and pans
Me oh my, that’s the way for mother Grey
Starry sky looks down on mother’s hands
Goodness oh my
Mother Grey’s on the outside
Harry’s home, it’s time for Harry’s dream
Me oh my
What makes you hungry?
Tries to kiss but she ain’t in the mood
What can be done?
Mother Grey’s tossed the inside
Mother, mother cleans the floor, Mother Grey
Mother, mother cleans the floor, broom broom
Mother, mother cleans the floor, Mother Grey
Mother, mother cleans the floor, broom broom
Mother used to laugh, but there again
Two years been gone
We’re gonna have some she don’t laugh
He’s on the road, with the box on his bag
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Come make a bomb on the outside
She cleans some shoes and wipes a picture frame
Me oh my
Schoolboy eyes accounting her
How will breakfast ever be the same?
Write her a line
Tell her what he’s like on the outside
Mother, mother goes to sleep, Mother Grey
Mother, mother goes to sleep, down down
Mother, mother so alone, Mother Grey
Mother, mother so long, now now
