This recording was totally improvised by guitarist Eddie Hazel on the spot and recorded in one take. George Clinton told him right before recording, to play as if your mother has just died.

There are also some conflicting sources that say halfway through the recording he told him to imagine she is still alive. I assume this is due to the tone shift around the 7 minute mark. Personally I always felt like that part was a transition from the grieving phase to acceptance.

Also, for those who enjoyed this, check out Buddy Guy's Remembering Stevie. He recorded this in one take as well. It was shortly after Stevie Ray Vaughan's untimely death. To add a little more emotion to it Buddy Guy was supposed to be on the helicopter with Stevie, but got stuck talking with someone (I believe it was Clapton but not 100%). Either way he told him he'd catch the next one, then never saw his friend again. To help himself overcome the grief he just sat down and started to play.