Mama Kin – English Lyrics

• By: Aerosmith

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy of Aerosmith's "Mama Kin" – a quintessential hard rock track from their debut album. Learning English through this song offers a unique glimpse into the idiomatic expressions and rebellious spirit of early American rock. Its straightforward yet impactful lyrics and driving rhythm make it an engaging way to grasp common phrases and the distinctive vocal stylings that defined a generation. Discover how rock legends use language to convey passion, confidence, and a touch of the 'gypsy' life, making "Mama Kin" not just a song, but a cultural lesson in rock and roll storytelling.

[English]

It ain't easy living like a gypsy

Tell your honey how I feel

I've been dreaming, floating down the stream and

Losing touch with all that's real

Whole earth lover, keeping undercover

Never know where you've been

You've been fading, always out parading

Keep in touch with Mama Kin

Well you've always got your tail on the wag

Shooting fire from your mouth just like a dragon

You act like a perpetual drag

You better check it out 'cause someday soon

You'll have to climb back on the wagon

It isn't easy living like you wanna

It's so hard to find peace of mind, yes, it is

The way I see it, you've got to say shit

But don't forget to drop me a line

Said, you're bald as an egg when you're 18

And working for your dad is just a drag, yeah

You still stuff your mouth with your dreams

You better check it out or someday soon

You'll have to climb back on the wagon

Keep in touch with Mama Kin

Tell her where you've gone and been

Living out your fantasy

Sleeping late and smoking tea

Keep in touch with Mama Kin

Tell her where you've gone and been

Living out your fantasy

Sleeping late and smoking tea

...

It isn't easy living like you wanna

It's so hard to find peace of mind, yes, it is

The way I see it, you've got to say shit

But don't forget to drop me a line

Said, you're bald as an egg when you're 18

Working for your dad is just a drag

You still stuff your mouth with your dreams

You better check it out 'cause someday soon

You'll have to climb back on the wagon

Keeping up Mama Kin

Tell her where you've gone and been

Living out your fantasy

Sleeping late and smoking tea

Keep in touch with Mama Kin

I said, I'll tell her where you've gone and been

Living out your fantasy

Sleeping late and smoking tea

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. verb - to experience images, feelings, and sensations during sleep.
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation.
living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ A2	noun - the condition of being alive or existing. verb - the act of being alive.
mind /maɪnd/ B1	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experience.
peace /piːs/ B1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
drag /dræɡ/ B1	noun - something tedious or boring. verb - to pull or trail along the ground.
climb /klaɪm/ A2	verb - to go up or ascend.
wagon /ˈwæɡən/ B1	noun - a four-wheeled vehicle pulled by a horse or other animal.
fantasy /fænˈtæzi/ B2	noun - the faculty or activity of imagining things.
smoke /sməʊk/ A2	verb - to exhale a visible vapor from burning tobacco. noun - the visible vapor emitted by burning substances.
fire /faɪər/ A1	noun - the process of combustion.
mouth /maʊθ/ A1	noun - the opening in the lower part of the human face.
tail /teɪl/ A1	noun - the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body.
bald /bɔːld/ B1	adjective - having little or no hair on the head.
check /tʃek/ A2	verb - to examine something in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition.

Key Grammar Structures

• It ain't easy living like a gypsy

  ➔ Contracted form with a gerund phrase

  ➔ The contraction "ain't" replaces "is not." The phrase "living like a gypsy" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as the subject of the sentence.

• Tell your honey how I feel

  ➔ Imperative verb with indirect question

  ➔ The sentence starts with an imperative verb, "Tell." The indirect question is "how I feel", embedded within the sentence.

• I've been dreaming, floating down the stream and

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase "I've been dreaming" uses the present perfect continuous tense to describe an action that started in the past and is continuing until the present.

• You've been fading, always out parading

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous with adverbial phrase

  ➔ Similar to the previous example, the use of the present perfect continuous describes a continuous action. The adverb "always" modifies the verb. "out parading" is an adverbial phrase.

• Keep in touch with Mama Kin

  ➔ Imperative Verb and Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The sentence begins with the imperative verb "Keep." The prepositional phrase "in touch with Mama Kin" provides more information.

• Well you've always got your tail on the wag

  ➔ Present Perfect and Phrasal Verb

  ➔ The sentence uses the present perfect tense "you've got". The phrase "on the wag" acts as a phrasal verb or idiom, meaning to be lively and moving (referring to a dog's tail).

• You better check it out 'cause someday soon

  ➔ Modal verb "better" and contracted form

  ➔ "You better" is a shortened form of "You had better", functioning as advice or a mild threat. The contraction "'cause" replaces "because".

• It isn't easy living like you wanna

  ➔ Contracted form and elliptical construction

  ➔ "It isn't" is a contracted form. "like you wanna" is an elliptical construction, omitting the repeated verb (e.g., "like you *want to*" - meaning to live).