Lovin' Mother Fo Ya
John Mellencamp Lyrics


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Riding in the park with your golden tan
You got your new tattoo, half devil, half man
Straddlin' a stallion made of chrome and steel
Spittin' out fire, this cat's for real

He'll be a lovin' mother for ya, don't you know
He'll be a lovin' mother for ya, don't you know
Everybody's got their attitudes
Some are nice and some are rude
They come up and slap your back
They say, "Hey buddy, you can't do that."
Everybody's got their opinions to protect
But after midnight they'll be sucking your neck

They'll be a sucking mother for ya, don't you know
They'll be a sucking mother for ya, don't you know

Squeeze me girl don't let me fall
I want to walk, don't want to crawl
Let me put my kickin' mule into your stall




'Cause I'm a kickin' mother for ya, don't you know
'Cause I'm a kickin' mother for ya, don't you know

Overall Meaning

In John Mellencamp’s song Lovin' Mother Fo Ya, the singer is riding in the park with a girl who has a golden tan and a new tattoo which is half devil and half man. The girl is straddling a stallion made of chrome and steel which spits out fire. The man tells the girl that he is a loving mother for her and will always be around to protect her. However, he warns her about the good and the bad attitudes that people may have towards her. Everyone has opinions to protect but after midnight they may have entirely different motives. These people who seemed nice during the day may turn into vampires who would try to suck her neck.


The song highlights the duality of people's personalities and how attitudes can change as the night progresses. The man is telling the girl to be careful of people's intentions as he is the only one who is truly there to love and protect her. The song showcases Mellencamp’s ability to blend catchy lyrics with biting social commentary.


Line by Line Meaning

Riding in the park with your golden tan
Enjoying a ride through the park on a sunny day with your beautiful tan


You got your new tattoo, half devil, half man
You recently got a tattoo that represents both good and bad qualities


Straddlin' a stallion made of chrome and steel
Riding a powerful motorcycle made of strong chrome and steel


Spittin' out fire, this cat's for real
The motorcycle is so powerful that it seems to spit out fire; it's not just for show


He'll be a lovin' mother for ya, don't you know
The motorcycle, as a beloved possession, will be a faithful companion and source of pleasure


Everybody's got their attitudes
People have their own ideas and personality traits


Some are nice and some are rude
People can either be kind or unpleasant


They come up and slap your back
Some people are quick to show physical affection


They say, "Hey buddy, you can't do that."
Others feel compelled to push back against things that they disagree with


Everybody's got their opinions to protect
People tend to hold their own beliefs in high regard


But after midnight they'll be sucking your neck
When the sun goes down, people might show interest in you in a more intimate way


They'll be a sucking mother for ya, don't you know
Reflecting the idea of intimacy, people who were initially resisting your opinion might become much more agreeable


Squeeze me girl don't let me fall
Asking for emotional and physical support in a relationship


I want to walk, don't want to crawl
Desiring to stand up tall and be fully independent


Let me put my kickin' mule into your stall
Sharing one's deepest desires and passions with their partner


'Cause I'm a kickin' mother for ya, don't you know
Explaining that the artist is strong and passionate when it comes to love and affection




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN MELLENCAMP, WILL CARY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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