“My Mother The War” by 10,000 Maniacs

"My Mother the War" comes from Secrets of the I Ching, the first full album by 10,000 Maniacs, a 1983 release on Mark Records that followed their 1982 EP Human Conflict Number Five; the record also bore the band's own Christian Burial Music imprint, a label that existed in name only. John Lombardo wrote the music, and Natalie Merchant, who sings it, wrote the words with Michael Walsh.

The song outlived its first home. The band recut it for The Wishing Chair in 1985, alongside new takes on "Grey Victory", "Daktari" and "Tension", and the original, like everything else on the LP, came back remixed and remastered on the 1990 compilation Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983.

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