Mother Earth (Within Temptation song)

"Mother Earth"
Single by Within Temptation
from the album Mother Earth
Released	2003
Recorded	2000
Genre	Gothic metal Symphonic metal[1] Folk metal[2]
Length	5.29
Label	DSFA Records, GUN Records (re-releases)
Writer(s)	Robert Westerholt Sharon den Adel Eikens Augustinus[3]
Within Temptation singles chronology
"Ice Queen" (2001) "Mother Earth" (2003) "Running Up that Hill" (2003)
Music video "Mother Earth" on YouTube

"Mother Earth" is the third single of Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation from their second studio album, Mother Earth. The song peaked at #14 on the Germany Singles Top 100.

Along with the singles Ice Queen and Stand My Ground, Mother Earth has become one of the bands signature songs and is present on the setlist at almost every concert. It was also used as the theme for the German translation of the anime X.

Track listing

CD single (2002 Dutch release)

1. "Mother Earth (Single Version)"
2. "Bittersweet"

CD single (2002 Dutch release)

1. "Mother Earth"
2. "Bittersweet"
3. "Ice Queen"
4. "Mother Earth (Live at 013, Tilburg 2002)"
5. "Our Farewell (Live at 013, Tilburg 2002)"
6. "Mother Earth (Live at Paris, 2002)"

CD single (2003 German release)

1. "Mother Earth
2. "Mother Earth (Live at Lowlands)"

CD single (2003 German release)

1. "Mother Earth"
2. "Dark Wings"
3. "Our Farewell"

CD Maxi (2003 German release)

1. "Mother Earth (Single Version)"
2. "Jane Doe (Non-Album-Track)"
3. "Ice Queen (Live Acoustic Version)"
4. "Never Ending Story (Live Acoustic Version)"
5. "Mother Earth (Live at Lowlands)"

Video

Although it's their third music video, the video for Mother Earth is the first professional one. It was directed by Patric Ullaeus. Filming location was by lake Delsjön near Gothenburg, Sweden. The video has a strong nature/pagan theme, with several aerial shots of lakes and forests as well as different animals. Sharon den Adel is first shown as a woman (presumably "Mother Earth") transforming into an owl that flies around rivers and mountains. She is then depicted as walking around in the forest as a sort of magical spirit, interacting with nature, and performing in a forest glade with the rest of the band.

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Germany Singles Top 100[4]	14
Dutch Top 40[5]	25
Swiss Singles Top 100[4]	81

References

1. ^ http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/within_temptation/mother_earth_f5/
2. ^ http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/within_temptation/mother_earth_f5/
3. ^ Ascap entry for song ASCAP, accessed September 6, 2010
4. ^ ^{a b} "Within Temptation - Mother Earth"
5. ^ Top 40 - 2002 Week 26"