Mother Knows Best

by Alan Menken
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

(Dm)still a lit tle sap pling, (G)just a (C)sprout.

(Gm7)You know why we stay up in this (C6)tow er?

That’s (Dm)right, to (G)keep you (C)safe and sound,

(F)Guess I al ways knew this day com ing,

(Dm)knew that soon you’d want to leave the (G)nest.

(Bbm)Soon, but not yet,

(D)trust me, pet;

(C7)Moth er

knows (F6)best.

(Fmaj7)Moth er knows best,

lis ten to your Moth er, (Gm)it’s a scar y (C)world out (F)there.

(Fmaj7)Moth er knows best,

one way or an oth er, (Gm)some thing will go (C)wrong, I (F7)swear.

(Bb)Ruf fi ans, thugs,

(Bbm)poi son i vy, quick sand, (Am7)can ni bals and snakes,

(Dm)oh, the plague!

(G)Al so, large bugs,

men with poin ty teeth and (Bbm)stop, no more, you’ll (C)just up set me.

(Fmaj7)Moth er’s right here,

Moth er will pro tect you, (Gm7)dar ling, here’s what (C)I sug (F)gest:

(Bbmaj7)Skip the (Bbm)dra ma, (Am7)stay with (D)Ma ma.

(Gm)Moth er

(C)knows (F)best.

(Fmaj7)Go head, get tram pled by (F6)rhi

(Am7)Go head, get mugged and left (G)dead.

(Gm7)Me, just your moth er, what do (C)I know?

I (Dm)on ly (G)bathed and (Bb)changed and nursed

(Fmaj7)Go a head and leave me, I de serve it.

(Am7)Let die a lone here, be my (G)guest!

(Bbm)When it’s too late, you’ll (Am7)see, just (D)wait.

(Gm)Moth

er

knows

(Fmaj7)best.

Moth er knows best,

take it from your Mum sy, (Gm)on your own, (C)you won’t sur (Fmaj7)vive.

Slop py, un der dressed,

im ma ture, clum sy, (Gm)please, they’ll eat (C)you up a (F)live.

(Bbmaj7)Gul li ble, na ive,

(Bbm)pos i tive ly grub by, (Am7)dit zy and a bit, well,

(Bbm)I’m just say ing (C)’cause I wuv you.

(Fmaj7)Moth er un der stands,

Moth er’s here to help you, (Gm7)all I have is one re (Cm)quest.

(Bbmaj7)Don’t for (Bbm)get it, (Am7)you’ll re (D9)gret it.

(C)Moth er

knows

(Db)best.

Mother Knows Best — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

1 person has learned this song

Free karaoke for "Mother Knows Best" by Alan Menken: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of Bb, 96 BPM.

Tip: Break this song into sections and master each one separately. The speed control lets you drill difficult passages at any tempo.

About “Mother Knows Best”

What key is "Mother Knows Best" by Alan Menken played in?
Mother Knows Best is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Mother Knows Best"?
The arrangement plays at 96 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Mother Knows Best" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "Mother Knows Best"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Mother Knows Best"?
"Mother Knows Best" was originally performed by Alan Menken. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Alan Menken can I play here?
Try "A GUY LIKE YOU", "I SEE THE LIGHT", "ARABIAN NIGHTS". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "Mother Knows Best" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Mother Knows Best" by Alan Menken. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "Mother Knows Best" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in Bb, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "Mother Knows Best" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.