Oh Mother – English Lyrics

• By: Christina Aguilera

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the emotional depth of Christina Aguilera's "Oh Mother," a poignant ballad dedicated to her mother's strength in the face of domestic violence. Explore the song's powerful lyrics, musical composition, and the personal story behind it, offering a moving lesson in resilience and family bonds.

[English]

(audience cheering)

(gentle piano intro music)

(piano and drum music)

♪ Whoa oh oh ♪

♪ Ay ay ay ay ay ♪

♪ She was so young with such innocent eyes ♪

♪ She always dreamt of a fairytale life ♪

♪ And all the things that your money can't buy ♪

♪ She thought that he was a wonderful guy ♪

♪ Then suddenly things seemed to change ♪

♪ It was the moment she took on his name ♪

♪ He took his anger out on her face ♪

♪ And she kept all of her pain locked away ♪

♪ Oh mother we're stronger ♪

♪ From all of the tears you have shed ♪

♪ Oh mother don't look back ♪

♪ 'Cause he'll never hurt us again ♪

♪ So mother, I thank you, oh I thank you ♪

♪ For all you've done and still do ♪

♪ For all you do ♪

♪ You got me, I got you ♪

♪ Together, we always pull through ♪

♪ We always pull through ♪

♪ We always pull through ♪

♪ Oh mother, oh mother, oh mother ♪

♪ It was the day that he turned on the kids ♪

♪ That she knew she just had to leave him ♪

♪ So many voices inside of her head, oh whoa ♪

♪ Saying over and over and over ♪

♪ Said, you deserve much more than this ♪

♪ She was so sick of believing the lies, and trying to hide ♪

♪ Covering the cuts and bruises, cuts and bruises ♪

♪ So tired of defending her life, she could have died ♪

♪ Fighting for the lives of her children ♪

♪ Oh mother, we're stronger ♪

♪ From all of the tears, for all of the tears you have shed ♪

♪ Oh mother, don't look back, oh mama ♪

♪ 'Cause he'll never hurt us again ♪

♪ He'll never hurt us again ♪

♪ So mother, I thank you, oh I thank you ♪

♪ For all that you've done and still do ♪

♪ For all you still do ♪

♪ You got me, I got you, 'cause you got me and I got you ♪

♪ Together, we always pull through ♪

♪ Oh mother, oh mother, oh mother ♪

♪ All of your life you have spent ♪

♪ Burying hurt and regret ♪

♪ But mama, he'll never, never touch us again, no, no ♪

♪ For every time he tried to break you down ♪

♪ Just remember who's still around ♪

♪ It's over and we're stronger ♪

♪ We'll never go back again ♪

♪ Oh mother, we're stronger ♪

♪ From all of the tears you have shed, whoa ♪

♪ Oh mother, don't look back ♪

♪ 'Cause he'll never hurt us again ♪

♪ I said I thank you mother ♪

♪ So mother, for all that you've done and still do ♪

♪ You got me, I got you ♪

♪ Together, we always pull through ♪

♪ We always pull through, yeah ♪

♪ We always pull through ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I love you, mom ♪

(gentle piano music)

♪ Oh mother, oh mother, oh mother ♪

(audience cheering)

♪ Oh mother, oh mother, oh mother ♪

♪ Oh mother, oh mother, oh mother ♪

♪ Oh mother, oh, mother, oh mother ♪

♪ Oh mother, oh, mother, oh mother ♪

(audience cheering)

♪ Oh mother, oh, mother, oh mother ♪

♪ Oh mother, oh, mother, oh mother ♪

♪ Oh mother, oh, mother, oh mother ♪

(percussion music fades)

(audience cheering and screaming)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mother /ˈmʌðər/ A1	noun - a female parent
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of vision
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
things /θɪŋz/ A1	noun - objects; matters; affairs
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
guy /ɡaɪ/ A2	noun - a man; fellow
anger /ˈæŋɡər/ B1	noun - a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - drops of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye
voices /ˈvɔɪsɪz/ B1	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth
lies /laɪz/ B1	noun - false statements
cuts /kʌts/ B1	noun - an opening, incision, or wound made with a sharp-edged tool or object
bruises /ˈbruːzɪz/ B2	noun - an injury appearing as an area of discolored skin on the body, caused by a blow or impact rupturing underlying blood vessels
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty or the legal age of majority
stronger /ˈstrɒŋɡər/ A2	adjective - having more physical power or resilience than someone or something else

Key Grammar Structures

• She was so young with such innocent eyes

  ➔ Use of "so... with such..." to express intensity.

  ➔ The structure "so + adjective" emphasizes the degree of her youth. "Such + adjective + noun" emphasizes the innocence of her eyes.

• And all the things that your money can't buy

  ➔ Relative clause with "that" as a relative pronoun.

  ➔ "That your money can't buy" modifies "all the things." "That" replaces the object of the verb "buy."

• It was the moment she took on his name

  ➔ Past tense and the phrasal verb "take on" (to assume).

  ➔ "Took on" indicates that she assumed his name, usually through marriage. Past tense sets the action in the past.

• Oh mother we're stronger From all of the tears you have shed

  ➔ Present perfect tense ("have shed") showing a past action with present relevance.

  ➔ The tears she shed in the past have made them stronger now. The result of the past action is still felt in the present.

• Cause he'll never hurt us again

  ➔ Future tense with "will" and the adverb "never."

  ➔ "Will never hurt" indicates a future certainty that he won't cause them harm anymore. "Never" negates the action of hurting.

• So mother, I thank you, oh I thank you For all you've done and still do

  ➔ Present perfect "have done" and present simple "still do" indicating actions completed and continuing.

  ➔ "Have done" refers to all her past actions, while "still do" indicates her continuing efforts and actions.

• It was the day that he turned on the kids

  ➔ Cleft sentence using "It was... that" for emphasis.

  ➔ The structure "It was + X + that + Y" emphasizes X. Here, it emphasizes the specific day when he turned on the kids as the turning point.

• Saying over and over and over

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis.

  ➔ The repetition of "over and over and over" emphasizes the continuous and insistent nature of the voices in her head.