Clip description
Buddy Williams sings a sad song about a man missing his dead mother. This clip is from the start of the song.
Curator’s notes
It is surely no accident that Buddy Williams, raised in an orphanage and a foster home, should choose to sing three songs about parents in his first recording session. This song was recorded on 7 September 1939, four days after war was declared in Europe. Williams recorded only six tracks, three of which were about separation from parents (see clip one for a song about fathers). ‘Mother dear’ has the mournful tone of a country blues song – a simple melodic line in which the voice carries enormous emotion and pain. Williams’s vocal technique here is interesting – he elongates his words to accentuate the song’s strong rhythm on the guitar. It’s a very haunting recording, especially as it was probably listened to in the next few years by many men going off to war, thinking of their own mothers. Buddy Williams enlisted soon after these songs were recorded and was wounded at Balikpapan in Borneo.
Oh mother dear, I’m lonely,
I’m feeling sad and blue.
I’m longing for the moment dear
To be again with you.
It’s been years since we parted…
Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer Lonesome for you, mother dear from the music Give a Little Credit to your Dad; Lonesome for You, Mother Dear as a download.
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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.
All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. All rights are reserved.
When you access australianscreen you agree that:
- You may retrieve materials for information only.
- You may save, copy, print, distribute or download materials for your own personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes. Commercial exploitation of materials on this website is prohibited.
- The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.
ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.
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