Hey Mama – English Lyrics

• By: David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, Afrojack

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant sounds of David Guetta's "Hey Mama," a global hit featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack. This track offers a unique blend of EDM and Caribbean influences, sampling a traditional work song to create an energetic and catchy tune. Explore themes of love, partnership, and the power dynamics within relationships, all while enjoying a rhythm that makes you want to dance.

[English]

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

...

Yes, I be your woman

Yes, I be your baby

Yes, I be whatever that you tell me when you ready

Yes, I be your girl, forever your lady

You ain't never gotta worry

I'm down for you, baby

Best believe that when you need that

I'll provide that, you will always have it

I'll be on deck, keep it in check

When you need that, I'ma let you have it

Beating my drum like dum di-di-day

I like the dirty rhythm you play

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like, hey mama, mama, hey mama, ma

Banging the drum like dum di-di-day

I know you want it in the worst way

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like, hey mama, mama, hey mama, ma

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

Yes, I do the cooking

Yes, I do the cleaning

Plus, I keep the na-na real sweet for your eating

Yes, you be the boss, and yes, I be respecting

Whatever that you tell me

'Cause it's game you be spitting, oh

Best believe that when you need that

I'll provide that, you will always have it

I'll be on deck, keep it in check

When you need that, I'ma let you have it

Beating my drum like dum di-di-day

I like the dirty rhythm you play

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like, hey mama, mama, hey mama, ma

Banging the drum like dum di-di-day

I know you want it in the worst way

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like, hey mama, mama, hey mama, ma

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

Whole crew got the juice yo' game the truth

My screams is the proof them other dudes get the deuce

So when I speed in the coupe, leaving this interview

It ain't nothin' new I been f---in' with you

None of them b----s ain't taking you

Just tell 'em to make a U, huh

That's how it be, I come first like debut, huh

So, baby, when you need that

Give me the word, I'm no good

I'll be bad for my baby

So I make sure that he's getting his share

So I make sure that his baby take care

So I make sure I'm on my toes, on my knees

Keep him pleased, rub him down

Be a lady and a freak, oh

Beating my drum like dum di-di-day

I like the dirty rhythm you play

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like, hey mama, mama, hey mama, ma

Banging the drum like dum di-di-day

I know you want it in the worst way

I wanna hear you calling my name

Like, hey mama, mama, hey mama, ma

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A1	noun - an adult female human being
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child
tell /tel/ A1	verb - to communicate information to someone
worry /ˈwʌri/ A2	verb - to feel or show anxiety and concern about actual or potential problems
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important noun - a thing that is essential or very important
provide /prəˈvaɪd/ B1	verb - to supply something needed or wanted
rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/ B1	noun - a strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to take part in games or other recreational activities verb - to perform (music)
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known
cook /kʊk/ A1	verb - prepare (food) by heating it
clean /kliːn/ A1	verb - to make something free from dirt, marks, or mess
boss /bɒs/ A2	noun - a person who is in charge of a worker or organization
sweet /swiːt/ A1	adjective - having a pleasant taste like that of sugar
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of

Key Grammar Structures

• Be my woman, girl, and I'll be your man

  ➔ Imperative + Future Simple (I'll = I will)

  ➔ The sentence uses the imperative form "Be" to express a request or command. "I'll be" uses the future simple to indicate a promise or intention.

• Yes, I be your woman

  ➔ Use of "be" instead of "am" (Non-standard English, AAVE influence)

  ➔ This is an example of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). The verb "be" is used to indicate a habitual or continuous state.

• Best believe that when you need that I'll provide that, you will always have it

  ➔ Imperative + Conditional Clause (with future tense in both clauses)

  ➔ "Best believe" is an imperative. The following clause indicates a condition and the resulting promise. The use of 'will' implies certainty.

• I wanna hear you calling my name Like, hey mama, mama, hey mama, ma

  ➔ "Wanna" (want to) + Gerund ("calling") / Interjection

  ➔ "Wanna" is a contraction of "want to." The verb "hear" is followed by a gerund phrase "you calling my name". "Hey mama" functions as an interjection.

• Yes, I do the cooking Yes, I do the cleaning

  ➔ Emphatic "do"

  ➔ The auxiliary verb "do" is used for emphasis. It stresses the fact that the speaker actually does the cooking and cleaning.

• Plus, I keep the na-na real sweet for your eating

  ➔ Adjective + "real" (informal usage as an adverb) + Gerund ("eating")

  ➔ "Real" is used informally as an adverb, modifying the adjective "sweet". "Eating" is a gerund functioning as a noun.

• Whatever that you tell me 'Cause it's game you be spitting, oh

  ➔ Relative pronoun "whatever" + "be" (Non-standard English, AAVE influence) + present participle "spitting"

  ➔ "Whatever" refers to anything the person says. "You be spitting" is another example of AAVE, indicating a habitual action. 'Spitting game' is an idiom.

• My screams is the proof them other dudes get the deuce

  ➔ Subject-verb disagreement ("screams is") + Use of "them" as demonstrative pronoun + slang

  ➔ "Screams is" is grammatically incorrect (should be "screams are"), showing informal speech. "Them other dudes" uses "them" as a demonstrative, typical of informal speech. "Get the deuce" is slang for being dismissed or rejected.