The Temptations — Ma

Born in a log cabin in the back woods The back woods of Mississippi She drank moonshine Chewed tobacco Raised 16 children all by herself Never looked much like a lady You see mama ruined her body raising her babies Spent her evenings sitting in a rocking chair Never had much a nothing but was always willing to share Talking bout Ma Talking bout Ma, yeah yeah yeah Talking bout Ma Talking bout Ma Education, nah she didn't have none Never had a sick day in her life Stronger than any two good men Ya better believe it, oh yes she was Now look a here When papa died, mama put her love on the shelf Yes she did She swore up and down on the good book She didn't love nobody else Make sure that we were in church every Sunday Papa woulda wanted it that way, that she'd always say Talking bout Ma Talking bout Ma, yeah yeah yeah Talking bout Ma Talking bout Ma Every once in awhile when ma would get depressed She'd go to the closet and get Pa's guitar Set herself down in the rocking chair Start strumming and humming, ha ha, yeah That was Ma's way of letting off steam In plain old English you could see That ma was doing her thing Every once in awhile she'd shout Aaaah, let it all hang out Talking bout Ma Talking bout Ma, yeah yeah yeah Talking bout Ma Talking bout Ma