Pluckin’ roaches out the cereal box: The best songs about moms

It’s hard to find material that isn’t schlock, and even so some of the songs below embrace it, and how can they not? No fucking way was Tupac’s “Dear Mama” making it though.

Here are twenty-one nuggets:

1. Merle Haggard – Mama Tried
2. Brandi Carlile – Mother
3. Juan Gabriel – Amor Eterno
4. The Police – Mother
5. Aerosmith – Mama Kin
6. Martina McBride – Teenage Daughters
7. Ghostface Killah – All That I Got Is You
8. Nas – Dance
9. Dolly Parton – Coat of Many Colors
10. The Shirelles – Mama Said
11. Elvis Presley – Mama Liked the Roses
12. Kanye West – Hey Mama
13. Madonna – Promise to Try
14. Beyonce – Ring Off
15. The Beatles – Julia
16. Taylor Swift – The Best Day
17. Glenn Campbell and Steve Wariner – The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
18. Garth Brooks – It’s Your Song
19. Patty Loveless – How Can I Help You Say Goodbye
20. The Spinners – Sadie
21. Junior – Mama Used to Say