Mother Earth (Within Temptation song) explained

Mother Earth
Cover:	Mother Earth SIngle.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Within Temptation
Album:	Mother Earth
Released:	2002, 1 October 2003 (Germany)
Recorded:	2000
Length:	5.29
Prev Title:	Ice Queen
Prev Year:	2001
Next Title:	Running Up that Hill
Next Year:	2003

"Mother Earth" is the third single by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation from their second studio album, Mother Earth.

Along with the singles "Ice Queen" and "Stand My Ground", "Mother Earth" has become one of the band's 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) (4:02)
2. "Bittersweet" (non-album track) (3:21)

CD single (2002 Dutch release)

1. "Mother Earth" (single version) (4:02)
2. "Bittersweet" (non-album track) (3:21)
3. "Ice Queen" (radio edit) (3:48)
4. "Mother Earth" (Live at 013, Tilburg 2002) (6:12)
5. "Our Farewell" (Live at 013, Tilburg 2002) (5:26)
6. "Mother Earth" (Live 2002 at Lowlands, Biddinghuizen) (5:31)

CD maxi-single (2002 Dutch release)

1. "Mother Earth" (single version) (3:59)
2. "Bittersweet" (non-album track) (3:21)
3. "Ice Queen" (acoustic version 2002 - Isabelle 3FM) (3:50)
4. "Mother Earth" (live at 013, Tilburg 2002 - Week Van De Ned. Popmuziek 3FM) (6:12)
5. "Our Farewell" (live at 013, Tilburg 2002 - Week Van De Ned. Popmuziek 3FM) (5:26)
6. "Mother Earth" (video) (live Paris, 2002) (5:38)

CD single (2003 German release)

1. "Mother Earth" (single version) (4:02)
2. "Mother Earth" (Live 2002 at Lowlands, Biddinghuizen) (5:31)

CD single (2003 German release)

1. "Mother Earth" (single version) (4:02)
2. "Dark Wings" (album version) (4:16)
3. "Our Farewell" (radio edit) (3:56)

CD maxi-single (2003 German release) and U.S. iTunes Store EP

1. "Mother Earth" (single version) (4:02)
2. "Jane Doe" (non-album track) (4:30)
3. "Ice Queen" (live acoustic version) (3:47)
4. "Never-ending Story" (live acoustic version) (4:16)
5. "Mother Earth" (Live 2002 at Lowlands, Biddinghuizen) (5:31)

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

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[1]	152
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[2]	91

References

1. Web site: Dutch Top 40 Year End Chart - 2002 . . 1 April 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200928155801/https://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr2002.html . 28 September 2020 .
2. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002. dutchcharts.nl. 9 April 2021.