Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh, hear my mother call   Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh, hear my mother call      I was one of five born to my mother   An older sister and three young brothers   We've seen it hard, we've seen it kind of rough   But always with a smile, she was sure to try to hide   The fact from us that life was really tough      I can hear my mother call   I can hear my mother call (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   Late at night I hear her call   Oh lord, lord I hear her call   She said, "Father, father it's for the kids (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   Any and every thing I did.   Please, please don't judge me too strong.   Lord knows I meant no wrong.   Lord knows I meant no wrong."      Then the devil sang      "Would you like to dance with me? (Ooh-ahh-ooh)   We're doin' the cosmic slop." (Ooh-ahh-ooh)   (x3)      She was well known through the ghetto   Tricks would come and then they'd go   The neighbors would talk and call her Jezebel   But always with a smile, she was sure to try to hide   The fact from us that she was catching hell, hey!      Hear my mother call   I can hear my mother call (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   Late at night I hear her call   Oh lord, lord I hear her call   She says, "Father, father it's for the kids (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   Any and every thing I did.   Please, please don't judge me too strong.   Lord knows I meant no wrong.   Lord knows I meant no wrong."   Lord!      (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   Hear my mother call   (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   Hear my mother call   She says, "Father, father it's for the kids (ooh-ah-ooh)   Any and every thing I did. (ooh-ah-ooh)   Please, please don't judge me too strong.   Hear my mother call (ooh-ah-ooh)   Hear my mother call (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   I can hear my mother call (Ahhh, ahh-ah-ahhhhh)   Heyyyyyyy! Heyyyy!   Mother!   I can hear my mother call (ooh-ah-ooh)   I can hear my mother call (ooh-ah-ooh)   Mother, mother      Late at night   Late at night   Calling me   Mother   I can hear my   I can hear my mother calling me   Late at night I hear my mother   Late at night I hear my mother   Heyyyyyyy!   Heyyyyyy-ayyy!