Well the telephone is ringing
Is that my mother on the phone?
Telephone is ringing
Is that my mother on the phone?
The telephone is screaming
Won't she leave me alone?
The telephone is ringing
Is that my mother on the phone?

Well every girl that I go out with
Becomes my mother in the end
Every girl I go out with
Becomes my mother in the end
Well I hear my mother calling
But I don't need her as a friend
Well every girl I go out with
Becomes my mother in the end

Oh, oh mother
Oh mother dear please listen
And don't devour me
Oh mother dear please listen
Don't devour me
Oh women please have mercy
Let this poor boy be
Oh mother dear please listen
And don't devour me
Oh mother

Well the telephone is ringing
Is that my mother on the phone?
Telephone is ringing
Is that my mother on the phone?
The telephone is screaming
Won't she leave me alone?
The telephone is ringing
Is that my mother on the phone?

Oh, mother


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Mother Lyrics as written by Andy Summers

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Mother song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is actually fucking hilarious. Definitely NOT The Police's best song, though, as Synchronicity II on the same album is the greatest song they have ever composed. :)

    Rusty Diamondson January 26, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    About a frustraterd Momma's Boy.

    dcaton December 12, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The song is sung by Andy Summers and is intended to sound disturbing. I think the only other song Andy Summers does vocals on is "Be My Girl -- Sally" which is also about a sexually disturbed man. Get some help, Andy!

    rikdad101@yahoo.comon September 18, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    awww, don't hate. this song was not put on the album to lull the eardrums into musical bliss. it's about a twisted oedipus complex. pretty neat.

    ringorubyon March 09, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i actually really like this song. it feels (to me anyway) kinda intense. I dont know, maybe its just because im only a casual police fan. i will admit, it does get kinda repetitive, but i just think its a really good song. as for the meaning, it kinda reminds me of Psycho.

    BryShuon March 20, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Dismal. The worst Police song ever recorded. I guess it somehow plays into the psychological atmosphere of the "Synchronicity" album but really I think it's there to get under the skin.

    mark36on March 14, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Well, my ears are ringing Is that song "Mother" playing again? Well, my ears are bleeding This song "Mother" needs to end!

    Yeah, that's what the lyrics should have been.

    majestikmoose9on April 25, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Settle down, people. This wasn't a single; it isn't meant to be a transcendent song. Andy is certainly not a great singer, but it's not like he's trying to sound beautiful. He's just trying to evoke a (disturbed) character.

    j2f125on March 17, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    It's annoying and hilarious at the same time. I think it's about bad relationships with women. He used to feel harrassed by the mother, and now he feel the same toward the girls he go out with, so he's frustrated and exasperated. Not clear if the feeling is justified, or if it's just him that because of how suffocating was his mother now can't stand a healty relationship. Judging on how sick the singer sounds, probably the second. Sorry for my bad english.

    aaauuuon May 21, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is Andy parodying Sting and his Jung fixation by invoking Freud.

    tristram10on March 25, 2016   Link

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