Mama's Song – English Lyrics

• By: Carrie Underwood
• Album: Play On

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the tender emotions of family and new beginnings with Carrie Underwood's 'Mama's Song.' This heartfelt ballad offers a beautiful narrative about a daughter's reassurance to her mother as she steps into married life. Its clear and earnest lyrics provide an excellent opportunity to learn everyday English phrases related to family bonds, gratitude, and future aspirations, making it a perfect song for language learners to connect with culturally relevant themes.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
taught /tɔːt/ A2	verb - past tense of teach: to give instruction
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable.
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child
fly /flaɪ/ A2	verb - to move through the air
everything /ˈevriθɪŋ/ A2	noun - all things; all the things of a group or set
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged; mad
grow /ɡroʊ/ A1	verb - to increase in size or develop
best /best/ A2	adjective - of the most excellent or desirable type or quality
prayers /preərz/ B1	noun - a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity.
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
promises /ˈprɒmɪsɪz/ B1	noun - assurances that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen. verb - assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare something
worry /ˈwʌri/ A2	verb - to feel or show anxiety and concern about actual or potential problems
lose /luːz/ A1	verb - be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something).
future /ˈfjuːtʃər/ A2	noun - the time that is to come
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - drops of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye
gentle /ˈdʒentl/ B1	adjective - having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character.

Key Grammar Structures

• Mama, you taught me to do the right things

  ➔ Infinitive as object of verb

  ➔ The verb "taught" takes an infinitive phrase "to do the right things" as its object. This structure highlights the action that was taught.

• So now you have to let your baby fly

  ➔ Modal verb + bare infinitive

  ➔ "Have to" is a modal verb expressing obligation. It's followed by the bare infinitive "let". "Let" is a causative verb here, followed by object "your baby" and bare infinitive "fly".

• You've given me everything that I will need

  ➔ Relative clause with "that"

  ➔ "That I will need" is a relative clause modifying "everything". The relative pronoun "that" introduces the clause and acts as the object of the verb "need".

• To make it through this crazy thing called life

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "To make it through" is an infinitive phrase expressing the purpose of receiving everything. It explains why the speaker was given everything.

• And I think I found the answer to your prayers

  ➔ Noun phrase as object of a verb

  ➔ The noun phrase "the answer to your prayers" functions as the direct object of the verb "found".

• He treats your little girl like a real man should

  ➔ Subjunctive mood (implied)

  ➔ The phrase "...like a real man should" implies a subjunctive mood. The full sentence could be "...like a real man should treat her." The implied "treat her" is omitted for brevity, but the expectation of how a real man *should* behave hints at the subjunctive.

• Giving me away is not goodbye

  ➔ Gerund phrase as subject

  ➔ "Giving me away" is a gerund phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun.

• As you watch me walk down to my future

  ➔ Verb of perception + bare infinitive

  ➔ "Watch" is a verb of perception. It is followed by the object "me" and the bare infinitive "walk". This structure describes witnessing an action in progress.