Mama Said – English Lyrics

• By: Metallica
• Album: Load

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the English language through the raw emotion of Metallica's "Mama Said." This song offers a unique opportunity to learn vocabulary related to family, regret, and personal growth. Its narrative style and heartfelt lyrics make it a powerful and unconventional tool for language learners to connect with authentic emotional expression in music.

[English]

Mama, she has taught me well

Told me when I was young

"Son, your life's an open book"

"Don't close it 'fore it's done"

"The brightest flame burns quickest"

That's what I heard her say

A son's heart's owed to mother

But I must find my way

...

Let my heart go

Let your son grow

Mama, let my heart go

Or, let this heart be still

...

"Rebel," my new last name

Wild blood in my veins

Apron strings around my neck

The mark that still remains

I left home at an early age

Of what I heard was wrong

I never asked forgiveness

But what is said is done

...

Let my heart go

Let your son grow

Mama, let my heart go

Or let this heart be still

Never I ask of you, but never I gave

But you gave me your emptiness

I now take to my grave

Never I ask of you, but never I gave

But you gave me your emptiness

I now take to my grave

So let this heart be still

Mama, now I'm coming home

I'm not all you wished of me

But a mother's love for her son

Unspoken, help me be

Yeah, I took your love for granted

And all the things you said to me, yeah

I need your arms to welcome me

But a cold stone's all I see

...

Let my heart go

Let your son grow

Mama, let my heart go

Or let this heart be still

Let my heart go

Mama, let my heart go

You never let my heart go

So let this heart be still, whoa

...

Never I ask of you, but never I gave

But you gave me your emptiness

I now take to my grave

Never I ask of you, but never I gave

But you gave me your emptiness

I now take to my grave

So let this heart be still

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
taught /tɔːt/ B1	verb - to have given instruction or knowledge to someone
remember /rɪˈmɛm.bər/ B1	verb - to keep in mind or to recall from memory
flame /fleɪm/ B2	noun - the hot glowing visible part of a fire
blood /blʌd/ A2	noun - the red liquid that circulates in the veins and arteries of humans and animals
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body
remember /rɪˈmɛm.bər/ B1	verb - to keep in mind or to recall from memory
mother /ˈmʌð.ər/ A2	noun - a female parent
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection towards someone or something verb - to feel deep affection or attachment
empty /ˈɛmpti/ B2	adjective - containing nothing; not occupied
grave /ɡreɪv/ B2	noun - a structure for burying a dead body
welcome /ˈwɛl.kəm/ A2	verb - to receive someone politely or hospitably