This song speaks very simply and beautifully, about a woman flight to freedom, breaking through chains, and giving up her past for her future.But the way the story is told is marvellously indirect. The characters in the story never express their emotions directly to you. It is always through someone else's point of view that you imagine the story.
It is obviously narrated by the daughter of son of the main character. the woman's actual emotions are never revealed from her point of view. In terms of language and words used there is no overdose of emotion or melodrama, but a quiet understated gently poignant tone tells the story. The use of this sort of third person narrative is wonderfully effective in making the listener think about what the protagonist must actually be going through. It doesn't forcefeed the story to the listener, but encourages the listener to find thier own ways to the meaning, eventually making the song a more personal experience for each on of us. The restrained tone of the language, is complemented beautifully by emmylou's voice, which provides the soulfulness, brings out the nuances and leaves me always, with a lump in my throat.
Mama, of course manages to say goodbye...what leaves me pondering the most is the voice of the child. Is the child glad for mama...or is the child grieving the loss of her mama? It sort of mixed, the way I see it. That is why, though i'm cheering Mama's departure and women lib all the way...this nostalgic song leaves me a touch sad for the kids...who describe these events with naivete. The children's emotions are never expressed throughout the song. and it leaves you wondering.
now...for an interesting comparison...check out shawn colvin's Sunny Came Home link on this site.Its another song about a woman liberating herself...self discovery plays an important role there too. But she's had a harder/ more traumatic past...and the resolution is violent.
This song speaks very simply and beautifully, about a woman flight to freedom, breaking through chains, and giving up her past for her future.But the way the story is told is marvellously indirect. The characters in the story never express their emotions directly to you. It is always through someone else's point of view that you imagine the story.
It is obviously narrated by the daughter of son of the main character. the woman's actual emotions are never revealed from her point of view. In terms of language and words used there is no overdose of emotion or melodrama, but a quiet understated gently poignant tone tells the story. The use of this sort of third person narrative is wonderfully effective in making the listener think about what the protagonist must actually be going through. It doesn't forcefeed the story to the listener, but encourages the listener to find thier own ways to the meaning, eventually making the song a more personal experience for each on of us. The restrained tone of the language, is complemented beautifully by emmylou's voice, which provides the soulfulness, brings out the nuances and leaves me always, with a lump in my throat.
Mama, of course manages to say goodbye...what leaves me pondering the most is the voice of the child. Is the child glad for mama...or is the child grieving the loss of her mama? It sort of mixed, the way I see it. That is why, though i'm cheering Mama's departure and women lib all the way...this nostalgic song leaves me a touch sad for the kids...who describe these events with naivete. The children's emotions are never expressed throughout the song. and it leaves you wondering.
now...for an interesting comparison...check out shawn colvin's Sunny Came Home link on this site.Its another song about a woman liberating herself...self discovery plays an important role there too. But she's had a harder/ more traumatic past...and the resolution is violent.