Proserpina by Martha Wainwright

Proserpina is a story about the passage of Spring and the seasons. It was also the last song composed by Kate McGarrigle, Wainwright's mother. One has to wonder if the Roman goddess Cera (or Hera...in Greek mythology) plaintively calling for the return of her daughter Proserpina (or Persephone in Greek myths) doesn't create a sort of mind-blowing coincidence between the fact that as McGarrigle was dying of cancer, her daughter, Martha, was in England about to bear a child. Of course, knowing the background story of the myth helps to understand this sad, haunting and beautiful song.

The myth is that Pluto, Roman god of the underworld, was enraptured by Proserpina, the daughter of Cera, the goddess of agriculture and crops. He abducted Proserpina who then became the Queen of the Underworld.

Ceres, consumed in grief and anger, cast a curse on the earth and scorched it preventing grain from growing and producing fruit. Thus was Winter created. Jupiter (Proserpina's father) arranged for her release but that didn't work out because she had eaten a pomegranate (known as the "fruit of the dead") thus forcing her to stay in the underworld.

A compromise was reached: Proserpina could go "home to momma" for part of each year. Legend has it that when she visited her mother, Ceres poured out the blessings of Spring to welcome her daughter. Then, when she returned to the underworld, Winter returned to the eartth.

Proserprina represents both the youthful, innocent and joyous maiden aspect of a woman as well as the more womanly self who, innocence lost and famiiy attachments loosened, can begin to consciously decide for herself. Note that eventually, Proserpina chose to be where she was.

A multitude of references exists about roman and greek mythology and this one is no exception. Suffice it to say that the preceding description barely skims the surface but that it does give the viewer a sense of what the song is about.

"Proserpina" appears in Martha Wainwright's album, "Come home to momma" (2012).

LYRICS:

Proserpina, Proserpina, come home to momma, come home to momma
Proserpina, Proserpina, come home to mother, come home to momma now
I shall punish the Earth, I shall turn down the heat
I shall take away every morsel to eat
I shall turn every field into stone
Where I walk crying alone
Crying for

Proserpina, Proserpina, come home to momma, come home to momma now
Proserpina, Proserpina, go home to your mother, go home to Hera
Proserpina, Proserpina, go home to your mother, go home to Hera now
She has punished the Earth, she has turned down the heat
She has taken away every morsel to eat
Where she walks cry-crying alone
Crying for

Proserpina, Proserpina, come home to momma, come home to momma
Proserpina, Proserpina, come home to momma, come home to momma now
She has turned every field into stone
Where she walks cry-crying alone
Proserpina, Proserpina, come home to momma, come home to momma
Proserpina, Proserpina, come home to momma, come home to momma now

[mackenziegurl]

How beautiful is this? Simply wonderful - it brings me such warming light

[screwmaster]

I have played this three times so far on this wonderful spring afternoon. Once just to listen to Martha and twice more to view the stunning images. I know this will be played often. Enjoy Earth Day.
Ed

[KarmaKutie]

So you Adamfulgence for bringing this beautiful song and Martha to us. From Canada, I am sending this to my precious daughter Angela in Australia for her birthday. I shall sing it silently to her, only changing Prosperina to 'Angelina' because my love for her angelic Soul is the greatest gift of my life. No card in the world could express how much I miss her more than this <3

[loredananiculae]

Just a small detail: it is not Hera (calling her daughter) we are talking about. It is Demetra -  the goddess of agriculture, grain, growing... :) 

[Adamfulgence]

Winter is holding on here as well. But, Spring will prevail!! Thanks for watching and for your kind words, Blue. Always the best to you too!

[Adamfulgence]

And....in addition to a big thank you for your comment, let's not forget that you're the one who introduced me to this wonderful singer!! Merci beaucoup!

[Adamfulgence]

Gosh, Carma, your comment gives me goosebumps. But, I hasten to say that McGarrigle (songwriter) and her daughter (Wainwright) are the creators of this masterful piece of music. Thank you so much!

[ArtsKris]

Merci Eileen pour cette grande découverte. Les explications sont bienvenues pour bien comprendre. Merci pour ce délicieux échange culturel. J'aime beaucoup la chanson. Mon amitié. Christian

[Adamfulgence]

Thanks Z! I had never heard it either until a friend told me about it. Glad you like it! Thanks for always giving your personal thoughts. :-))

[carmsfavtoo]

This is absolutely breathtaking. Sorrow envelopes me. You have created a masterpiece my dear, Eileen.

[Adamfulgence]

C'est bien toi, Christian, qui m'a convaincue de l'importance des explications!! Très contente de voir que tu as aimé cette chanson!!

[buyakga]

Very beautiful. Great transitions and compilation of images. Thumbs up! - Sandy

[longlivekingkong]

You did a great job with the explanation. If you assembled the pictures in the video, a great job with that too. Thanks!

[sidDkid]

*"I shall punish the earth* /
*I shall turn down the heat"* 🎶

[heraclesunchained]

It's Demeter (Ceres) who is calling Persephone (Proserpina). The Greek myths get confusing—lots of incest, wife-swapping, etc. The reason P. becomes the queen of the Underworld is that she eats something while in the Underworld (just a few pomegranate seeds!), so then becomes part of it (for 1/3 of the year)—Pluto's wife. And, yes, Hera is NOT P.'s mother, but the wife of Zeus, and the mother of Heracles (Hercules in Rome). You'd think that the writer would have gotten those important details right. Beautiful song, though.

[revelrot]

C'est, pour moi, toujours un grand plaisir, Eileen ! :) ♥

[KatiKosta]

"Go home to Hera"???? Hera wasn't her mother, it was Demeter...

[Adamfulgence]

Thanks...but, I seriously believe you are the master of cool!

[rmonified]

TrashFire brought me here.. weird movie.