“Mama” by Third Day
Well hey Mama, take a look at me now
Things are going fine here in the big town
Hey Mama, if you could only see
All of my friends and how they love me
And I know, you said “I need Jesus”
But mama can’t you see I’m doing fine
Oh yes I know, you said “I need Jesus”
But mama I ain’t got the time, no I ain’t got the time, well no, no
And hey mama, well it’s been two long years
Since I have seen you, how are things you hear?
Hey mama, things they aren’t the same
Since I last wrote you, well things have changed
Yes I know, you say “I need Jesus”
But mama can’t you see I’m doing fine
Oh yes I know, you say “I need Jesus”
But mama I ain’t got the time, well I ain’t got the time, no, no
No, mama, no, no, no mama, mama no
Well, every thing’s going wrong
Yes, every thing’s going wrong
No, I can’t take it no more
Well, every thing’s going wrong
Yes, every thing’s going wrong
No, I can’t take it no more
Well, I need Jesus
I guess, I need Jesus, well forgive me
Come into my life, come into my heart
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus
And I know, you said “I need Jesus”
But mama can’t you see I’m doing, can’t you see I’m doing
Oh yes, I know I’m doing, you said “I need Jesus”
Well mama He is in my life, yes He is in my life, yeah, yeah
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, yeah, yes
Yeah mama, Jesus save me
Yeah mama, mama, yeah
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Johnny Mac Powell / Samuel Tai Anderson / Bradley B. C. Avery / David Carr / Mark D. Lee
Dear God, there’s so much her, but I’ll start with this. According to the credits, this song was written by five guys. Isn’t it interesting how kids have different relationships with their parents. Boys have unique relationships with their moms. Girls do too, but it’s different still. I’m curious to know how these guys wrote this song and what their conversations were like. This obviously has echoes of the prodigal son story, but he’s talking to his mama and not his father.
In thinking about this song, I’m reminded of the song “The Hard Way” by DC Talk. The beginning of the chorus says, “Some people gotta learn the hard way. I guess I’m the kind of guy who has to find out for myself.” As a parent, one of the challenges is to give that child the leash they need to learn the hard way.
In this song, the mother had to give two years of silence. Sometimes it’s longer. The double-edged sword of stubbornness is that, on the one hand, it can be very hard to break that person’s will and get them to surrender to you, but, on the other hand, when they do come to the end of themselves they are able to apply that stubbornness into serving you. I think of Paul and his zeal for you. When he was killing and persecuting Christians he was doing it out of his zeal for you. But after his conversion, you used that zeal to reach the world.
Father, keep my children close to you. Direct their paths. Don’t let my wife or me get in your way. Give them the lives you have for them to lead. Give them the lives you need them to have for your glory’s sake and the sake of their peace and joy.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 