Hey Mama

"Hey Mama"Song by Kanye West
General information
Featured artist(s)	John Legend (uncredited)
Released	August 30, 2005
Recorded	2000-2005
Studio	The Record Plant (Hollywood, CA) Sony Music Studios (NYC) Grandmaster Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA)
Genre	Hip-hop R&B
Length	5:05
Album	Late Registration
Label(s)	Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings
Writer(s)	Kanye West, Donal Leace
Producer(s)	Jon Brion, Kanye West
Track list
Previous	"Skit #3"
Next	"Celebration"

"Hey Mama" is a song by Kanye West that was released as the sixteenth track from his second studio album, Late Registration, on August 30, 2005. The song features uncredited vocals from John Legend.

The song is a heartfelt ballad to Kanye's mother, Donda West.

Production

The song heavily samples Donal Leace's 1972 song, "Today Won't Come Again".

Background

In an interview in June 2003, Kanye revealed that he had recorded the song back in 2000 and was already planning to save it for Late Registration. Despite this, though, the song was seen on several early tracklists for The College Dropout. An early version of the song was also featured on Ye's 2001 Demo Tape. According to Kanye, Donda cried upon hearing the song for the first time.

Live performances

Ye first performed the song on May 5, 2004 during a homecoming show with Dilated Peoples at the House of Blues. He also performed the song live on The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 9, 2005, while Donda sat at the front row. The song was included in Ye's Touch The Sky Tour.

Ye made his first live performance after Donda's death at Le Zenith in Paris on November 17, 2007, one week after her death. During the performance, Ye attempted to perform "Hey Mama", but he reportedly broke down in tears as band members consoled him. On November 24, Ye performed the song at Brighton Centre as a projection of Donda was shown behind him. The song was also included in the Glow in the Dark Tour, and it was segued into a cover of Journey's song, "Don't Stop Believin'".

During the opening show of The Yeezus Tour in Seattle, Ye attempted to perform the song, but he fell to his knees and broke down as he held onto the microphone. On May 12, 2019, Ye performed a gospel rendition of the song during a Sunday Service event. Before the performance, he also walked onto stage as 2Pac's song, "Dear Mama", played.

Lyrics

[Chorus]
(Hey, Mama, ah, ow)
I wanna scream so loud for you, 'cause I'm so proud of you, and uh
Let me tell you what I'm about to do
(Hey, Mama)
I know I act a fool, but I promise you, I'm goin' back to school, and
I appreciate what you allowed for me, and I
I just want you to be proud of me
(Hey, Mama)

[Verse 1]
I wanna tell the whole world about a friend of mine
This little light of mine, I'm finna let it shine
I'm finna take y'all back to them better times
I'm finna talk about my mama if y'all don't mind
I was three years old when you and I moved to the Chi'
Late December, harsh winter gave me a cold
You fixed me up something that was good for my soul
Famous homemade chicken soup, can I have another bowl?
You work late nights just to keep on the lights
Mommy got me training wheels so I could keep on my bike
And you would give anything in this world
Michael Jackson leather and a glove, but didn't give me a curl
And you never put no man over me
And I love you for that, mommy, can't you see?
Seven years old, caught you with tears in your eyes
'Cause a n*gga cheatin', telling you lies, then I started to cry
As we knelt on the kitchen floor
I said, "Mommy, I'ma love you 'til you don't hurt no more
And when I'm older, you ain't gotta work no more
And I'ma get you that mansion that we couldn't afford"
See, you're unbreakable, unmistakable
Highly capable lady that's makin' loot
A livin' legend too, just look at what Heaven do
Sent us an angel, and I thank you, Mama

[Chorus]
(Hey, Mama, ah, ow)
I wanna scream so loud for you, 'cause I'm so proud of you, and uh
Let me tell you what I'm about to do
(Hey, Mama)
I know I act a fool, but I promise you, I'm goin' back to school, and
I appreciate what you allowed for me, and I
I just want you to be proud of me
(Hey, Mama)

[Verse 2]
Forrest Gump mama said, "Life is like a box of chocolates"
My mama told me, "Go to school, get your doctorate
Something to fall back on, you could profit with"
But still supported me when I did the opposite
Now I feel like it's things I gotta get
Things I gotta do, just to prove to you
You was getting through, can the choir please
Give me a verse of "You Are So Beautiful To Me"?
Can't you see, you're like a book of poetry
Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni
Turn one page and there's my mommy
Come on, Mommy, just dance wit' me
Let the whole world see your dancing feet
Now when I say "Hey," y'all say, "Mama"
Now everybody answer me, come on

[Chorus]
(Hey, Mama, ah, ow)
I wanna scream so loud for you, 'cause I'm so proud of you
Let me tell you what I'm about to do
(Hey, Mama)
I know I act a fool, but I promise you, I'm goin' back to school
I appreciate what you allowed for me
I just want you to be proud of me
(Hey, Mama)

[Break]
I guess it also depends though if my ends low
Second they get up, you gon' get that Benzo
Tint the windows, ride around the city and let your friends know (Hey, Mama)
Tell your job you gotta fake 'em out
Since you brought me in this world, let me take you out
To a restaurant, upper echelon
I'ma get you a Jag', whatever else you want
Just tell me what kind of S-Type Donda West like?
Tell me the perfect color so I make it just right
It don't gotta be Mother's Day or your birthday
For me to just call and say

[Outro]
(Hey, Mama, ah, ow)
I wanna scream so loud for you, 'cause I'm so proud of you, and uh
Let me tell you what I'm about to do
(Hey, Mama)
You know I love you so, and
I never let you go
Wrote this song just so you know
No matter where you go, our love is true
(Hey, Mama)