☝️ Key Points
- Ma Baker is described as a tough and relentless woman who prepares her sons for a life of crime.
- She leaves a trail of crimes in the USA and seeks revenge for the death of one of her sons.
- Despite her personal relationship with a man, she turns against him with her sons and shows no emotions upon his death.
- Her story ends with a failed bank robbery, where she and her sons are surrounded by the police and die in a shootout instead of surrendering.
- The song emphasizes her emotional toughness and awareness of death, highlighting her character as an unfeeling criminal.
Interpretation
"Ma Baker" by
Boney M tells the story of a fictional character named Ma Baker, who was known as the 'toughest cat' in the city of Chicago. She is portrayed as heartless and ruthless, teaching her sons how to handle weapons and preparing them for their criminal career.
The song narrates that she left a trail of crimes across the United States. When one of her sons was killed, she sought revenge. She is depicted as someone who couldn't cry but knew how to die, indicating her toughness and willingness to take extreme measures.
The narrative continues as she meets a man she likes but eventually turns against him with her sons. She is portrayed as insensitive to the death of this man.
Finally, Ma Baker's story ends with a failed bank robbery, where she and her sons are surrounded by the police. Instead of surrendering, they choose to engage in a shootout, dying in the process. They didn't want to be hanged, so they died with 'guns blazing'.
The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing Ma Baker's inability to cry but her knowledge of death, highlighting her character as a tough and heartless criminal."