Day 332 | Mother

John Lennon was assassinated on this day in 1980. Bowie was obviously a fan- he has performed or recorded several Lennon songs and collaborated with him on “Fame” (although I think Lennon’s contribution has been exaggerated). Bowie recorded this Lennon song for a tribute album being put together by Yoko Ono, which, to my knowledge has never been released. It is an odd song for a tribute- it seems to be awfully personal – like it’s about Lennon’s tortured relationship with his own parents. Bowie is inviting a parallel, suggesting that the same words apply to his own family situation, but he also could be embracing the idea that art transcends its inspirations.

Note from 2021: The Bowie estate released this song as a limited edition vinyl record in 2021.