Momma Song – English Lyrics

• By: Benson Boone
• Album: American Heart

Lyrics & Translation

Thinking about your own family and the passage of time can be a powerful language learning motivator. In Benson Boone's "Momma Song," you can explore the vocabulary of love, memory, and gratitude. This emotional ballad is special because of its raw honesty and universal themes that will resonate with anyone who has a deep connection with their parents. Listening to this song is a beautiful way to connect with these heartfelt emotions through music.

[English]

Momma, I'm missing home

And California's getting colder

And colder, and colder

I miss you

Momma, I'm getting old

Does that mean you're getting older?

And older, and older

I miss you

Momma, don't you know

There's nothing to be sorry about?

I'm so proud of all you've done

Take me down your old street

Tell me your memories of when you were young

And when you fell in love

Drive me through the country

Tell me your story

And you can play all of your favorite songs

'Cause I'm gonna need this

When I'm holding pictures of you and that's all that I've got left

All that I've got left

All that I've got left

Lately, it's getting hard

I've started looking like my father

And it makes me cry a little bit

'Cause he really should've made it big

'Cause, damn, he's good at everything

And everything I am is because of you

I'm a man because of you

Take me down your old street

Tell me your memories of when you were young

And when you fell in love

Drive me through the country

Tell me your story

And you can play all of your favorite songs

'Cause I'm gonna need this

When I'm holding pictures of you and that's all that I've got left

All that I've got left

All that I've got left

All that I've got left

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
miss /mɪs/ A2	verb - to feel sad because someone is not present or because something is not there
getting /ˈɡɛtɪŋ/ A2	verb (gerund of 'get') - to become or come to be something
colder /ˈkoʊldər/ B1	adjective (comparative of 'cold') - more cold
old /oʊld/ A2	adjective - having lived an extensive amount of time; not new
proud /praʊd/ B1	adjective - feeling deep satisfaction from one's own achievements or qualities
remember /rɪˈmɛm.bər/ A2	verb - to keep in mind or recall
story /ˈstɔː.ri/ A2	noun - a description of past events, or a narrative story
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for only a short time
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection and care verb - to feel deep affection or liking for someone or something
drive /draɪv/ B1	verb - to operate a vehicle; to control the movement of a vehicle
story /ˈstɔː.ri/ A2	noun - a description of past events, or a narrative story
favorite /ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪt/ B2	adjective - preferred or liked above all others
pictures /ˈpɪk.tʃərz/ A2	noun - visual representations or images
leave /liːv/ A2	verb - to go away from or depart from a place
cry /kraɪ/ A2	verb - to produce tears as a result of emotion or pain

Key Grammar Structures

• Momma, I'm missing home

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ "I'm missing" indicates an action happening right now, expressing the singer’s current feeling.

• And California's getting colder

  ➔ Present continuous tense with 'getting'

  ➔ 'Getting' indicates a gradual change happening over time.

• Does that mean you're getting older?

  ➔ Present simple tense with 'does' for questions

  ➔ 'Does' is used to form questions in the present simple tense.

• I'm holding pictures of you

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ "I'm holding" expresses an action happening right now, showing the singer's current state.

• All that I've got left

  ➔ Present perfect tense

  ➔ 'I've got' is contraction of 'I have got', used to indicate possession or what remains.

• And everything I am is because of you

  ➔ Simple present tense for general truth

  ➔ 'Is' is the third person singular of 'to be', used here to state a fact.

• Tell me your memories of when you were young

  ➔ Imperative form for giving a command or request

  ➔ The verb 'Tell' is in the imperative form, requesting someone to share their memories.

• And when you fell in love

  ➔ Past simple tense with 'fell'

  ➔ 'Fell' is the past tense of 'fall', indicating an action completed in the past.