Ma Baker

Ma Baker" is a song by German euro disco band Boney M. It was the first single of their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in Germany and their best yet placing in the UK, peaking at #2 (only surpassed by Donna Summer's "I Feel Love") although only a minor single in the US (#96 on the Billboard Hot 100). The song fared better on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play where it reached #31. The Ma Baker Songfacts explains the background to Ma Baker. Kate Barker (note not Baker) born Arizona Clark married her husband George in 1892 and bore him four sons who became gangsters in the fashion of Bonny & Clyde, and John Dillinger. Like many of the crime figures from this era - on both sides of the law - her life has become the stuff of legend. In the song she is portrayed in similar fashion, in particular as the leader of the Barker-Karpis gang, in reality though she was more of an accessory to her sons' crimes. Along with her son Fred, she was killed by the FBI near Ocklawaha, Florida in January 1935. Some fifteen hundred rounds of ammunition were said to have been fired in what was the longest ever FBI shoot out.

[Intro] Freeze! I'm Ma Baker Put your hands in the air an' give me all your money! This is the story of Ma Baker The meanest cat from old Chicago town [Verse 1] She was the meanest cat In old Chicago town She was the meanest cat She really mowed them down She had no heart at all No, no, no heart at all She was the meanest cat Oh, she was really tough She left her husband flat He wasn't tough enough She took her boys along 'Cause they were mean and strong [Chorus] (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker She taught her four sons (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker To handle their guns (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker She never could cry (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker But she knew how to die [Verse 2] They left a trail of crime Across the U.S.A And when one boy was killed She really made them pay She had no heart at all No, no, no heart at all [Chorus] (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker She taught her four sons (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker To handle their guns (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker She never could cry (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker But she knew how to die [Verse 3] Then came a man she liked She thought she'd stay with him When he informed on them They did away with him She didn't care at all Just didn't care at all [Bridge (spoken)] Here is a special bulletin Ma Baker is the FBI's most wanted woman Her photo is hanging on every post office wall If you have any information about this woman Please contact the nearest police station Don't anybody move! The money or your lives! [Verse 4] One day they robbed a bank It was their last foray The cops appeared too soon They couldn't get away And all the loot they had It made them mighty mad And so they shot it out Ma Baker and her sons They didn't want to hang They died with blazing guns And so the story ends Of one who left no friends [Chorus] (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker She taught her four sons (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker To handle their guns (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker She never could cry (Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma) Ma Baker But she knew how to die