15 Songs That Focus on Mama | Playlist

15 Songs That Focus on Mama” features songs courtesy of Anthony Hamilton, Boyz II Men, Kacey Musgraves, Kanye West, and My Chemical Romance among many others.

Mother’s Day occurs only once per year. Bummer! Moms deserve to be honored every single day of the year for everything that they do. So, to celebrate moms (in some instances), we’ve assembled a not-so-traditional list of songs that focus on mama.  Some of these songs truly showcase incredible gratitude and love for the mother who is at the center, while others are, well, just a wee bit quirkier.  Nonetheless, 15 Songs That Focus on Mama features songs courtesy of Anthony Hamilton, Boyz II Men, Kacey Musgraves, Kanye West, and My Chemical Romance among many others.

via GIPHY

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1. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, “Hey Mama”

Tearing at the Seams • Stax / Concord • 2018

“Hey mama, answer me / Baby boy you better sit down / Can’t listen when the sun’s out / My only son this will be so hard to hear.” In addition to the mother/song dialogue, “Hey Mama” successfully fuses folk, Americana, country-rock, and soul. The vibe is excellent, accentuated by the mix of guitars and organ.  Nathaniel Rateliff delivers assertive, gritty vocals, filled with personality. In regards to production, the use of horns (sax specifically), amplifies the soulfulness of the record.  Ultimately, “Hey Mama” is well-performed, well-arranged and well-produced.

“But she said son

Let me reason with you

You think you carry such a weight

I know I never beat you boy

Better start acting like

This here’s a race…

You ain’t worked hard enough to say

Well I’ve done mine…”

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2. Kacey Musgraves, “Mother”

Golden Hour • MCA Nashville • 2018

“Wish we didn’t live so far away / I’m just sitting here thinking ‘bout the time that’s slipping / And missing my mother.” Grammy-winning country artist Kacey Musgraves outdid herself on here third studio album, Golden Hour.  Although “Mother” is the shortest song on the album (Less than one-minute-and-a-half), the piano ballad is beautiful and thoughtful, as evidenced by the aforementioned lyrics.  Musgraves continues on the chorus, “And she’s probably sitting there / Thinking ‘bout the time that’s slipping / And missing her mother, mother.”

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3. G-Eazy, “Mama Always Told Me” (Ft. Madison Love)

The Beautiful & Damned • RCA • 2017

“Mama always told me, Papa always warned me / Don’t hang around with boys like you.” Bay Area rapper G-Eazy had his fair share of moments on his third LP, double album The Beautiful & Damned.  He’s joined by Madison Love on “Mama Always Told Me,” dropping an infectious, memorable chorus (excerpted above). She ends up being a great catalyst for Eazy, who follows with sick flow and sound rhymes intact.  According to him, “Everybody’s got their own opinion / But I don’t know why cats lie / I would never let that fly / Honestly, I’m not that guy… / Don’t believe everything you hear.” “Mama” is laid-back, rhythmic, and well-rounded.

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4. Lil Yachty, “Momma” (Ft. Sonyae Elise)

Teenage Emotions • Capitol / Motown • 2017

Cutting straight to the chase, Lil Yachty had the worst album of 2017 with Teenage Emotions.  The majority of the album was poorly conceived and lacked any semblance of substance.  As bad as it was, “Momma (Outro),” managed to infuse some much-need substance into the album, albeit at the very end of the godawful affair. “Momma” is NOT an outright hit but give Lil Yachty props where they’re deserved. If nothing else, his partner in crime, Sonyae Elise shines vocally, delivering thoughtful lyrics.

“My best friend, queen of my world, my momma
More precious than diamonds and pearls, my momma

You sacrificed so much to raise a child
I wanna see you happy, see you smile
All you’ve given me, I can’t repay
I will honor you today and always.”

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5. Lady Gaga, “Come to Mama”

Joanne • Interscope • 2016

“Come to mama / Tell me who hurt ya / There’s gonna be no future / If we don’t figure this out.” “Come to Mama” is a mid-tempo, throwback soul cut, filled with retro and vintage touches. Notably, Lady Gaga gets a co-writing assist from Josh Tillman (aka Father John Misty). “Come to Mama” isn’t necessarily transcendent, but ultimately enjoyable and makes some pertinent points. Among its best attributes are the gritty lead vocals by Lady Gaga, as well as magnificent production work.

“Dude in a lab coat and a man of God…

Fought over prisms and a forty-day flood…

Well, I say rainbows did more than they’ve ever done…

So, why do we gotta fight over ideas?

We’re talkin’ the same old shit after all of these years.”

Lady Gaga seems to take on the role of a mother, who can fix any number of problems with her children, or at least encourage them.

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6. Run the Jewels, “Oh Mama”

Run the Jewels 3 • Run the Jewels • 2016

“My mama said that I’m not living right / She said, ‘I’m crying on you’ / She said, ‘I waited up for you all night’ / I said, ‘I’m trying mama.’” “Oh Mama” earns honors as one of the funkiest joints of Run the Jewels 3.  Unapologetic, El-P and Killer Mike trade some of their hardest rhymes of the album.

“I smoke the holy herb, get high as hell and meditate

Swear to God, shit’s so good, fat boy’ll levitate…

Mom’s, she recovering, tell me I over-medicate
I tell her, ‘Holy fuck, Jesus Christ, give me a fucking break’
She said, ‘Don’t curse your mama, goddammit,’ and threw a dinner plate (damn).” – Killer Mike, verse three

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7. Childish Gambino, “Me and Your Mama”

“Awaken, My Love!” • Glassnote • 2016

For Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino), “Redbone” ended up being the beloved, Grammy-winning song from “Awaken, My Love!” . Nonetheless, it was “Me and Your Mama” that arrived first.  Mysterious production work opens “Me and Your Mama,” initially sounding like a lullaby that’s very dreamy in sound. When the production stabilizes, it channels throwback, lush R&B. The intro is handled by backing vocals: “I’m in love when we are smokin’ that la-la-la-la-la…” Things grow more ambitious with a blues-rock-oriented hook:

“Do what you want!

I’ll tell you

let me into your heart!”

The ambitiousness carries over into verses. “Me and Your Mama” becomes a blend of rock and emotional, heart wrenching soul. Numerous lyrical highlights appear. How much does it actually have to do with mama… well now…

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8. Florida Georgia Line, “God, Your Mama, and Me” (Ft. Backstreet Boys)

Dig Your Roots • Big Machine • 2016

“God, Your Mama, And Me” served as the final pre-release single from Dig Your Roots, the third album by country duo, Florida Georgia Line. “God, Your Mama, and Me” features pop boyband Backstreet Boys. Despite its pop-oriented guests, “God, Your Mama, And Me” is firmly country.  It perfectly embodies southern principles, with God and family being two of life’s most important things.  The big chorus affirms the “love” spread throughout the record. The prevalence of voices on the chorus gives the record a gigantic, triumphant sound.

“Never gonna run dry, never gonna come up empty

Now until the day I die, unconditionally

You know I’m always gonna be here for ya

No one’s ever gonna love you more than

God, your mama, and me

God, your mama, and me

Unconditionally, God, your mama, and me.”

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9. Lukas Graham, “Mama Said”

Lukas Graham • Warner Bros. • 2016

Lukas Graham hit “Mama Said” is fueled by a sample of “It’s A Hard Knock Life”. While the child vocals are key, more pertinent is the content of the song itself.  On the verses, Lukas Forchhammer recollects about his humble childhood, adversity, and his dreams.  On the chorus, he sings about the positive advice he received from his mama, as well as his father.

“When mama said that it was okay
Mama said that it was quite alright
Our kind of people had a bed for the night
And it was ok
Mama told us we were good kids
And daddy told us never listen to the ones
Pointing nasty fingers and making fun
‘Cause we were good kids.”

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10. August Alsina, “Mama”

Testimony • Def Jam • 2014

“Mama” exemplifies the depth and substance that characterizes Testimony, the 2014 full-length debut album by August Alsina.  On the verses, the singer lists the teachings his mother instilled within him:

“Mama said stay out of trouble

Mama said don’t be a fool

Mama said stay in somebody’s church

Mama said boy stay in school.”

Perhaps “Mama” isn’t the most electrifying track from Testimony, it’s hard to deny how meaningful and touching it is, particular the chorus:

“Mama I made it… I ain’t gonna stop now cause Mama I made it

And I hope I made you proud.”

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11. My Chemical Romance, “Mama”

The Black Parade • Reprise • 2006

“We’re damned, after all / Through fortune and fame, we fall…” Dark stuff to say the least. Gerard Way and My Chemical Romance makes ample reference to mama on “Mama” – seems fitting. As the aforementioned lyrics suggests, “Mama” isn’t the most positive, happy mom-oriented joint on this list. The highlight from The Black Parade finds Way singing unapologetic lyrics such as “Mama, we all go to hell,” “Mama, we’re all gonna die,” “Mama, we’re all full of lies,” and “Well mother, what the war did to my legs and to my tongue / you should’ve raised a baby girl, I should’ve been a better son.” So, what was mama’s answer to her unapologetic son?  Well, she’s not exactly happy with him:

“She said, ‘You ain’t no son of mine

For what you’ve done, they’re gonna find

A place for you and just you mind your manners when you go

And when you go, don’t return to me, my love’.”

It should be noted, if you’ve never heard The Black Parade (2006) or haven’t listened to it in a decade, it is a concept album with a narrative.

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12. Kanye West, “Hey Mama”

Late Registration • Roc-A-Fella • 2005

“Hey mama / I wanna scream so loud for you, ‘cause I’m so proud of you.” Kanye West has proven time and time again that he’s a very complex, polarizing individual.  Despite his many personal flaws, he made one of the truly great hip-hop albums of the 00s with Late Registration, his second consecutive album to win Grammys. Among the highlights is “Hey Mama,”dedicated to his mom, Donda. Sadly, she passed away in 2007 following complications from plastic surgery, something that clearly has affected Kanye, as it would anyone.

“I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine

This little light of mine and I’m finna let it shine

I’m finna take y’all back to them better times

I’m finna talk about my mama if y’all don’t mind.”

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13. Scissor Sisters, “Take Your Mama”

Scissor Sisters • Polydor • 2004

“Gonna take your mama out all night / Yeah, we’ll show her what it’s all about / We’ll get her jacked up on some cheap champagne / We’ll let the good times all roll out… / Because the dancers don’t mind at the New Orleans…” Scissor Sisters’ “Take Your Mama” is quite different from the rest of the mama songs on this list – understatement. On the monumental debut single from the band, frontman Jake Shears sings about being gay, having to pretend to be straight, and the effects it has on his mother. Interestingly, Shears’ mama is being taken to a gay bathhouse/club on the hella catchy chorus.  Happy Mother’s Day indeed!

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14. Anthony Hamilton, “Mama Knew Love”

Comin’ From Where I’m From • RCA • 2003

Anthony Hamilton clearly loves his mama.  He showed it robustly on “Mama Knew Love” (Comin’ From Where I’m From, 2003), singing, “I know you love me / I can tell by the way that you kiss me tight when you hug me.”  On the chorus, he sums up her awesome love:

“Mama knew love like the back roads

Used to fall asleep daily in her work clothes

Mom swear, you never have to worry again

Mama knew love like the back streets

Used to wipe pee just to make end meet

Mom swear, you never have to worry again.”

Years later, on the gospel-infused “Take You Home” (What I’m Feelin’, 2016), Hamilton has got to introduce his woman to his mother.

“Can’t just slide on through
Let mama lay eyes on you
She ain’t lookin’ at your outer appearance
She starin’ at yo soul.”

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15. Boyz II Men, “A Song for Mama”

Evolution • Motown • 1997

“Mama, Mama you know I love you / Mama, Mama you’re the queen of my heart / Your love is like tears from the stars / Mama I just want you to know lovin’ you is like food to my soul.” Boyz II Men represent one of R&B’s truly iconic groups without question.  There was never a shortage of hits.  Among the hits is “A Song for Mama,” one of the truly great odes to mom EVER performed or written. Boyz II Men sound as ‘smooth to butter’ singing the authentic,  thoughtful, and poetic lyrics.

 

“You taught me everything

Everything you’ve given me

I’ll always keep it inside

You’re the driving force in my life…

When skies were gray

Whenever I was down

You were always there to comfort me.”

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Photo Credits: Big Machine, Capitol, Concord, Def Jam, Glassnote, Interscope, Mercury, Motown, Pixabay, Polydor, RCA, Reprise, Roc-A-Fella, Run the Jewels, Stax, Warner Bros.

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