Headley began playing the music of her native country at a young age, including calypso, reggae and soca. She moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States at the age of fifteen when her father was offered a job as pastor of McKee Street Church of God (in Anderson, Indiana).
After graduating from Northrop High School, Headley attended Northwestern University to study communications and musical theatre. In 1997, she played Nala in The Lion King, the Broadway musical. Headley's performance was well-received and she then originated the title role in the Broadway adaptation of Aida, earning the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1999.
Headley released her debut album, This Is Who I Am, in October 2002 on RCA Records. Although its first single, "He Is", was not very successful, the second single, "I Wish I Wasn't", achieved moderate success and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Headley was also nominated for Best New Artist.
On September 6, 2003, Headley married Brian Musso, formerly of the New York Jets. Her second album, In My Mind, was delayed due to the various executive shake-ups associated with RCA parent BMG's merger with Sony, and Headley joked that it should have been called Caught Up instead. Under BMG North America chairman/CEO Clive Davis for the first time, Headley released the album in January 2006. The title track was released as the first single; it was produced by India.Arie collaborator Shannon Sanders, and its music video was directed by Diane Martel. The song reached number-one on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
Hey mama
Heather Headley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have fun, girl talk, talk real loud.
Then I get approached by a man that probably didn’t know I demand respect,
All I wanna do is your offers necklace and brag about his big vet house in Texas,
So I told myself it’s time to make my exit, then he had the nerve to grab my arm and say
Hey mama, won’t you, won’t you,
Come here to bar, I won’t stop you.
Let me holla at you, got something for ya’
Hey mama, won’t you, won’t you,
Come here to bar, I won’t stop you.
Hey mama, come here, sit down,
Let me holla at you, got something for ya’
I feel like creeping myself, rolling my eyes, snapping my fingers, then I’ll be alive
He thinks I could be his extra on the side, he must be one of those guys
One of those guys that think I should be mesmerized by his car or I could be impressed so easily.
Instead of being strong and classy. You don’t know me.
Hey mama, won’t you, won’t you,
Come here to bar, I won’t stop you.
Hey mama, come here, sit down,
Let me holla at you, got something for ya’
Hey mama, won’t you, won’t you,
Come here to bar, I won’t stop you.
Hey mama, come here, sit down,
Let me holla at you, got something for ya’
I could’ve been yours so easily,
‘cause you’re the kind of guy to stay with me.
But you played yourself, try to tie that lie with someone else.
Not that kind of girl, who would come around you just because you called.
I need a man who can love me even without the little things he could get me.
Hey mama, won’t you, won’t you,
Come here to bar, I won’t stop you.
Hey mama, come here, sit down,
Let me holla at you, got something for ya’
Hey mama, won’t you, won’t you,
Come here to bar, I won’t stop you.
Hey mama, come here, sit down,
Let me holla at you, got something for ya’
If you play your cards right played,
Treat me like I wanna be treated,
Maybe one day I’ll sing you a little song
And say
Hey papa, won’t you come here to mama, I won’t stop you
Hey papa, come here, sit down, let me holla at you, got some for you.
Hey papa, won’t you, won’t you come here to mama, I won’t stop you.
Hey papa, come here, sit down, let me holla at you, got something for you.
Hey mama, hey mama,
Got something for you.
In "Hey Mama" by Heather Headley, the singer tells a story about a night out with her girlfriends that takes a turn when she is approached by a man who tries to impress her with his wealth and possessions. She makes it clear that she demands respect and is not interested in materialistic things. The chorus of the song repeats the man's attempts to get her attention with lines like "Hey mama, won't you come here to bar, I won't stop you" and "Let me holla at you, got something for ya'." Despite his efforts, the singer remains unimpressed and determined to find a man who values her for who she is, rather than what she can offer.
Through her lyrics, Headley addresses the societal pressures placed on women to accept attention from men who are willing to buy them things or show off their wealth. She emphasizes that true love and respect cannot be bought or earned through material possessions. By standing up for herself and asserting her worth, the singer sends a message that women should not feel obligated to accept the advances of men who do not respect them.
Overall, "Hey Mama" is an empowering anthem for women who value independence and self-worth. The song's catchy chorus and relatable lyrics make it a popular choice among fans of R&B and pop music.
Line by Line Meaning
What me and my girls plan to do was hang around,
My friends and I were just planning to have a good time.
Have fun, girl talk, talk real loud.
We were going to chat and enjoy each other's company.
Then I get approached by a man that probably didn’t know I demand respect,
A man came up to me without realizing that I expect to be treated with respect.
All I wanna do is your offers necklace and brag about his big vet house in Texas,
He only wanted to show off his possessions and wealth to me.
So I told myself it’s time to make my exit, then he had the nerve to grab my arm and say
I decided to leave, but he had the audacity to touch me and say
Hey mama, won’t you, won’t you,
He addressed me as 'mama' and asked me to
Come here to bar, I won’t stop you.
come to the bar and promised not to stop me
I feel like creeping myself, rolling my eyes, snapping my fingers, then I’ll be alive
I feel like responding sarcastically and dismissively to him because that's how I'll feel alive.
He thinks I could be his extra on the side, he must be one of those guys
He thought I would be his side piece and he's just one of those guys.
One of those guys that think I should be mesmerized by his car or I could be impressed so easily.
He thought his car would impress me easily, but I'm not that kind of person.
Instead of being strong and classy. You don’t know me.
Rather than respecting me and showing class, he acted inappropriately and doesn't know me at all.
I could’ve been yours so easily,
He could have had a chance with me,
‘cause you’re the kind of guy to stay with me.
because he seems like the kind of person who could be right for me.
But you played yourself, try to tie that lie with someone else.
However, he blew his opportunity by lying and trying to deceive me.
Not that kind of girl, who would come around you just because you called.
I'm not the kind of girl who would be with him just because he asked.
I need a man who can love me even without the little things he could get me.
I need a man who can love me for who I am rather than just what he can give me.
If you play your cards right played,
If he acts appropriately,
Treat me like I wanna be treated,
and treats me the way I deserve,
Maybe one day I’ll sing you a little song
maybe he could earn a chance with me,
And say
and then I might say,
Hey papa, won’t you come here to mama, I won’t stop you
'Hey papa,' won't you come to me, and I won't stop you.
Hey papa, come here, sit down, let me holla at you, got some for you.
Come sit down and talk to me, I've got something for you.
Hey mama, hey mama,
But for now, it's just,
Got something for you.
something for you to think about.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HEATHER HEADLEY, IRIC SAMUEL HEADLEY JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind