Sorry Mom – English Lyrics

• By: Kelsea Ballerini
• Album: PATTERNS (DELUXE)

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the intimate story behind Kelsea Ballerini's "Sorry Mom," a song that beautifully captures the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship. Explore how Ballerini blends personal regrets with heartfelt appreciation, offering listeners a glimpse into her journey of growth and understanding. Learn about family relationships through music.

[English]

Sorry, Mom, I smelled like cigarettes

And my eyes were casa red

With a pounding in my head

Showing up again on Sunday morning

You just made the eggs and turned your head

Sorry, Mom, you know that I had sex

'Fore I bought the white dress

I know you're not impressed

With my lack of sticking to the Bible

Yeah, I got regrets, but you did your best

I turned out alright

So you can sleep good at night

Maybe I ran all the red lights

Maybe we got into a few fights

It's a different cloth we cut

But underneath, we're the same blood

So I know it took a little tough love

To become the woman that you're proud of

Sorry, Mom, I didn't graduate

After two years and some change

And that money went to waste

I know it wasn't cheap tuition

There were dreams to chase

And songs to play

Sorry, Mom, I missed your 58th

I was on another plane

Going to another stage

My priorities were out of balance

You told me to go

But wished I was home

Now I turned out alright (alright)

So you can sleep good at night (sleep good at night)

Maybe I ran all the red lights

And maybe we got into a few fights

It's a different cloth we cut

But underneath, we're the same blood

So I know it took a little tough love

To become the woman that you're proud of

Sorry, Mom, ah

La-la

La-la

La-la

Now I turned out alright

And we both sleep good at night

I met a guy that we both like

And I got a house with a porch light

It's a different cloth we cut

But underneath, we're the same blood

So I know it took a little tough love

To become the woman that you're proud of

Sorry, Mom, ah

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da

La-la

La-la

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Mom /mɒm/ A1	noun - a female parent
cigarettes /ˌsɪɡəˈrets/ B1	noun - thin cylinders of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper for smoking
smelled /smeld/ A2	verb - past tense of smell; to perceive a scent
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of sight
pounding /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/ B2	adjective - beating heavily or loudly
sex /seks/ B1	noun - sexual activity, especially sexual intercourse
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - of the color of milk or fresh snow
dress /dres/ A1	noun - a one-piece garment for a woman or girl
Bible /ˈbaɪbəl/ B1	noun - the Christian scriptures, consisting of the Old and New Testaments
regrets /rɪˈɡrets/ B2	noun - feelings of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - to rest in a state of reduced consciousness
ran /ræn/ A1	verb - past tense of run; to move quickly on foot
fights /faɪts/ A2	noun - physical confrontations or arguments
different /ˈdɪfərənt/ A1	adjective - not the same as another or each other
blood /blʌd/ A2	noun - the red liquid that circulates in the body
tough /tʌf/ A2	adjective - strong enough to withstand adverse conditions
proud /praʊd/ B1	adjective - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements
graduate /ˈɡrædʒueɪt/ B1	verb - to successfully complete an academic degree

Key Grammar Structures

• Sorry, Mom, I smelled like cigarettes

  ➔ Past tense verb (smelled)

  ➔ The verb 'smelled' is in the past tense, indicating an action that occurred in the past.

• And my eyes were casa red

  ➔ Past tense verb (were) + Adjective

  ➔ 'Were' is the past tense of 'to be' and describes a state of being in the past. Followed by an adjective.

• Showing up again on Sunday morning

  ➔ Present continuous tense (showing up)

  ➔ The phrase 'showing up' uses the present continuous tense to describe an action happening repeatedly.

• You just made the eggs and turned your head

  ➔ Past simple tense (made, turned)

  ➔ 'Made' and 'turned' are in the past simple tense, describing completed actions in the past.

• I know you're not impressed

  ➔ Present simple tense (know) + Present simple passive (are not impressed)

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple tense in the main clause and a present passive verb in the subordinate clause.

• Yeah, I got regrets, but you did your best

  ➔ Past simple (got, did) + contrast conjunction (but)

  ➔ Uses the past simple tense to describe past actions and the conjunction 'but' to show contrast between two clauses.

• It's a different cloth we cut

  ➔ Present simple (It's) + simple verb (cut)

  ➔ Uses 'It's' which is the present form of to be and 'cut' which can be present form depending on context.

• So I know it took a little tough love

  ➔ Past simple (took) + noun phrase (tough love)

  ➔ Uses the past simple tense for the verb 'took' and includes the noun phrase 'tough love'.

• And that money went to waste

  ➔ Past simple (went)

  ➔ The verb 'went' is in the past simple tense, indicating a completed action in the past.

• Maybe I ran all the red lights

  ➔ Past simple (ran)

  ➔ The verb 'ran' is in the past simple tense, depicting a past action.