Though I have previously revealed a distaste for most Boomer era music, I do like some Beatles songs and one of my favourites is ‘Let It Be’ which was written by Paul McCartney. This is the official story of course and there is certainly a question of how organic the Beatles were. I haven’t looked into any of this enough to offer an opinion though I suspect there is truth to it. I mention this only because, McCartney’s authorship is assumed for what follows, regardless of the truth.
I had assumed (like I expect most), that the ‘Mother Mary’ mentioned is the Holy Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ but McCartney has stated it is his own mother and was inspired by a dream. I find this implausible given the title of the song is a clear reference to Luke 1:38, ‘Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.‘ The verses also have some connection with the ‘Memorare’ prayer which I will quote in full below:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
To show the connection I have included the three verses of the song below but omitted the chorus which mostly repeats the title over and over:
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it beAnd when the broken-hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer
Let it be
For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer
Let it beAnd when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow
Let it be
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be, yeah
The gist of both the song and the prayer is that Mother Mary is there when you need her, that she listens to your requests and that she intercedes on your behalf. I’m sure McCartney’s mother was a lovely woman but the lyrics clearly go a little deeper than this. I do believe that those who create receive inspiration and I think it is the most likely source of the writer’s inspiration whether or not they acknowledge it; it is a pop music adaptation of a Marian prayer.
Eric Clapton also has a similar song called, ‘Holy Mother’ from his 1986 ‘August’ album. This one is a clearer cry for help and I don’t think Clapton has denied the religious overtones. I have included the full lyrics just below.
Holy Mother, where are you?
Tonight I feel broken in two
I’ve seen the stars fall from the sky
Holy Mother, can’t keep from cryingOh, I need your help this time
Get me through this lonely night
Tell me, please, which way to turn
To find myself againHoly Mother, hear my prayer
Somehow I know you’re still there
Send me please some peace of mind
Take away this painI can’t wait, I can’t wait, I can’t wait any longer
I can’t wait, I can’t wait, I can’t wait for youHoly Mother, hear my cry
I’ve cursed your name a thousand times
I’ve felt the anger running through my soul
All I need is a hand to holdOh, I feel the end has come
No longer my legs will run
You know I would rather be
In your arms tonightWhen my hands no longer play
My voice is still, I fade away
Holy mother, then I’ll be
Lying in, safe within your arms
I don’t think Clapton is conventionally religious but he has stated that the inspiration draws from his efforts to overcome drug addiction and alcoholism. It was written with Stephen Bishop but the idea for the song was Clapton’s. As with ‘Let It Be‘, it is hard not to see higher inspiration at work here.
Even without the artists being open about it, I suppose I could just use ‘The Death of the Author’ literary theory to impose my own interpretations but I don’t really agree with the theory as I understand it. Not that it matters much for the theory, but the authors are still also alive as I write anyway.
As I indicated above, I don’t think authors in any medium have total control over what they write and that the creative process can result in deeper levels of meaning the author wasn’t necessarily conscious of. This is why despite Hollywood being the source of so much evil, it can’t but churn out a positive film from time to time. It is also true of many artists historically who might have had messy (or worse), personal lives but still produced beautiful art.
I don’t have anywhere to take this from here, it is just something I wanted to write about, however briefly.