When I dey cry, my mother go carry me--she go say,  
my pikin wetin you dey cry ye, ye,  
stop stop, stop stop make you no cry again oh.

When I wan sleep, my mother go pet me,  
she go lie me well well for bed,  
she cover me cloth, sing me to sleep,  
sleep sleep my pikin oh.

When I dey hungry, my mother go run up and down.  
she go find me something wey I go chop oh. 

Sweet mother I no go forget you for the suffer wey you suffer for me 

When I dey sick, my mother go cry, cry, cry,  
she go say instead when I go die make she die. 

O, she go beg God,  
"God help me, God help, my pikin oh." 

-- Prince Nico Mbarga, 1976