That’s what God made mothers for

AKA
First Published1918

Writer/composerLeo WoodRoudRN10665

Music Hall PerformersThe Two Rascals
Folk performancesCollected from the singing of:
Keeping family; England : London; 1930s-50s
Mills, Bob; England : Hampshire; 1978
I dream'd that I saw my dear old mother kissing me goodbye, 
And though her heart was breaking and a tear shone in her eye, 
She whisper'd "Boy, don't let our parting grieve you any more, 
But just remember this is God this is what God made all mothers for

To watch over you when a baby, to sing you to sleep with her song,
To try to be near you to comfort and cheer you
To teach you the right from the wrong.
To do all she can to make you a man
And over a million things more
To sigh for you, cry for you, yes, even die for you
That's what God made mothers for.

I've watch'd you from the time I rock'd you in your cradle dear; 
I've dream'd for you and plann'd for you and long'd to keep you near; 
Now the time comes and you're going to some distance sore
Tis only one of many cares God made all mothers for

A sentimental song written by American composer and songwriter Leo Wood (1882 – 1929), which seems to have been popular throughout the English-speaking world. It was performed on the British Music Hall stage by The Two Rascals, a pair of “entertainers at the piano” active on stage and radio in the 1920s. The song was recorded by several performers in the 1920s and is still regularly performed by Barbershop quartets. The chorus seems to have lived on as a lullaby. A recording collected from the singing of Bob Mills by Paul Marsh in 1975 is given below.

Bob Mills sings it, downloaded from VWML

A commercial recording made in the 1920s:

Sources:

  • VWML entry
  • Kilgarrif Sing Us
  • Lyrics and Sheet Music: Francis and Day’s 39th Annual, p6
  • Sheet Music and cover: TROVE

Last Updated on April 30, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: April 30, 2023

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