Genesis: Mama Meaning

Song Released: 1983

Mama Lyrics

I can’t see you mama
But I can hardly wait
Ooh to touch and to feel you mama
Oh I just can’t keep away
In the heat and the steam of the city
Oh it’s got me running and I just can’t brake
So say you’ll help me mama
Cos it’s getting so hard...

1. anonymous

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   Feb 2nd report

   Who is 'Mama'? Well I think 'Mama' is God and I'll explain why with my own interpretation of the song. The main character is struggling to face their demons & hold onto their faith as they call to 'Mama' [God] for help. But the more they continue to sin and betray Mama's teachings, the further Mama ceases to exist. In the end, Mama vanishes as the main character succumbs to their demons & never learns their lesson.
   
   *The maniacal laughter heard throughout the song are the demons that surround the main character and influence them to sin and stray further from Mama.
2. anonymous

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   Dec 30th 2020 report

   It's about abortion. Gloomy and beautiful moralistic song, although the Oedipus complex is always lurking when a man says mama...lol
3. anonymous

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   Dec 26th 2019 report

   It's about tapping your feet and not giving a fuck about the words.
4. anonymous

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   Aug 22nd 2019 report

   For the person that said Phil wasn't perverted. Shut up and watch the no ticket required video (specifically the part before he sings "thru these walls"...another brilliant song). You're also probably in the group of people that thinks Phil Collins stood there and watched some guy watch another guy drown, then invited him to the concert and sang "in the air tonight" to him.
5. anonymous

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   Jun 23rd 2019 report

   This is definitely a song about a person whose mother has neglected and ignored him and his needs growing up and into adulthood... why else would you be singing about your mama in any other Context it would be perverted Phil Collins is not perverted in anyway and was way ahead of his time... way way ahead of his time some people wouldn't even get what he singing about now... look up personality disorders and what creates these people that have been abused by The Very people that are supposed to care and love them.. and people have said that Phil Collins songs have no meaning.. thank you Mr Collins for your superb contribution.
6. anonymous

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   Oct 7th 2018 report

   The deep deep need for love, and only getting pleasure. Nothing filling in the hole in his heart. Needing the human touch badly, but overall consuming the worldly things around him.almost getting getting it, but never reaches it.
7. KaJo

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   Jan 30th 2018 report

   I see a lot of opinions that are very viable, but the anonymous poster in 2004 correctly cited Phil Collins' interview and the meaning behind the song. That being said I loved this song the first time I ever heard it, when this album was released 2 years before I graduated high school in 1983 (yeah I am OLD lol) and I still love it to this very day, it was just so kick-@ss how could anyone not love it??
8. anonymous

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   Jun 28th 2017 report

   Drug addiction.
9. anonymous

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   Jan 19th 2016 report

   Phil has said many times it's about a man who falls in love with a Prostitute who won't return his affections (google it).
10. anonymous

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    Jun 1st 2012 report

    Haha, obviously I misundersdood this song completely.
    I always thought its about an spoiled boy (about 20) who is scared of the true life ("Its so hot") and wants his mother to help him.
11. anonymous

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    Jan 20th 2012 report

    As I recall hearing in an interview nearly 30 years ago now at the beginning of the 1983 tour, Phil Collins mentioned that it was about a man who as a young boy was abused, neglected, and abandoned by his mother. This destroyed his ability to have a meaningful relationship with women, and in fact creates an obsessive-compulsive drive to at once seek refuge in the arms of prostitutes, while also feeling tremendous rage towards all women and wanting to strike out violently at the women for whose services he is paying.
12. anonymous

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    Jun 25th 2011 report

    Some reports say it's a song about a man who falls in love with a prostitute who won't return his affections. This turns into an oedipus complex (sexual desire for one's own mother) and he becomes possessive and obsessive which is why he has to constantly tell her, "Now I won't hurt you mama." The reason why "it's getting so hard" not to hurt her is because she spurns him. He's battling with this ever growing passion within himself which comes out as a twisted, "Heh, heh, heh, heh...oowww." Supposedly, Collins was inspired to write the song after reading a book about the same subject by David Nivens.
13. anonymous

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    Jun 3rd 2011 report

    I agree with the other anonymous person saying the song is about a man hurting so bad he wants to die but he doesn't want to hurt his Mother, and NOTHING else. It's nice to see someone's comment with a sober mind. Thanks.
14. anonymous

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    Apr 27th 2011 report

    I just want to stick this thought out there, has anyone ever considered the man feel in love with a woman that is a Mama?
15. anonymous

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    Apr 3rd 2011 report

    The song is about a man wishing to kill himself....The pain in his life is to overwhelming but he cannot kill himself while his mother is still alive. "I won't hurt you mama but it's getting so hard..."

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