Shi used to seh
Children should be seen
And never heard;
And pickeney fi min’ dem business.
And wi used to shut wi mout
And listen.
Mama did love wi!
Shi taught us wisdom and patience
Shi used to seh
Come tan up inna di kitchen
And watch what mi doin
One day it aggo come een handy.
And wi used to push up wi mout
And watch and learn.
Mama did love wi!
Shi taught us how to be independent.
Shi used to seh
Wi fi listen to wi teacha,
And if wi get beaten
Shi aggo beat wi two time
pon top a it.
And we used to behave
And show respect.
Mama did love wi!
Shi taught us discipline
Shi used to seh
Wi fi study wi school work
And read til it kill wi,
And if wi neva dweet
She used to cuff wi inna wi head.
And wi used to read and read
til wi yeye dem sore.
Mama did love wi!
Shi taught us the value of an education
Shi used to seh
Wi fi lef grown people tings alone
And if wi come inna har house
Wid any young baby,
Shi woulda beat wi til wi sof’.
And wi used to fraid
Fi even look pon a bwoy too hard.
Mama did love wi!
Shi taught us to respect ourselves.
Some ah wi madda come and gone
Some ah wi madda dem still here
Noh matta how much beatin’
Noh matta how wi did poor
Noh matta how shi hard wi childhood was
Wi still deh love wi mama more
And moreMama wi love yuh!
