Dear Mama

[00:06.01] You are appreciated

[00:12.29] When I was young, me and my mama had beef

[00:14.52] Seventeen years old, kicked out on the streets

[00:17.51] Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face

[00:20.03] Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place

[00:23.01] Suspended from school, and scared to go home, I was a fool

[00:25.77] With the big boys breakin' all the rules

[00:29.27] I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years

[00:32.26] We was poorer than the other little kids

[00:34.98] And even though we had different daddies, the same drama

[00:38.01] When things went wrong we'd blame Mama

[00:40.76] I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell

[00:43.76] Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell

[00:47.01] And who'd think in elementary, hey

[00:50.04] I'd see the penitentiary one day?

[00:53.26] And runnin' from the police, that's right

[00:55.78] Mama catch me, put a whoopin' to my backside

[00:59.01] And even as a crack fiend, Mama

[01:01.26] You always was a black queen, Mama

[01:04.51] I finally understand

[01:05.76] For a woman it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man

[01:10.01] You always was committed

[01:11.54] A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it

[01:14.98] There's no way I can pay you back

[01:17.26] But the plan is to show you that I understand

[01:20.04] You are appreciated

[01:21.01] Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)

[01:26.53] Sweet lady, place no one above you (You are appreciated)

[01:32.50] Sweet lady, don't you know we love you?

[01:38.00] Now, ain't nobody tell us it was fair

[01:40.24] No love from my daddy, 'cause the coward wasn't there

[01:42.98] He passed away and I didn't cry, 'cause my anger

[01:46.73] Wouldn't let me feel for a stranger

[01:49.23] They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along

[01:51.99] I was lookin' for a father, he was gone

[01:55.01] I hung around with the thugs

[01:56.76] And even though they sold drugs

[01:58.27] They showed a young brother love

[02:00.77] I moved out and started really hangin'

[02:02.76] I needed money of my own, so I started slangin'

[02:05.51] I ain't guilty, 'cause even though I sell rocks

[02:08.28] It feels good puttin' money in your mailbox

[02:11.52] I love payin' rent when the rent's due

[02:14.01] I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to you

[02:17.76] 'Cause when I was low you was there for me

[02:19.76] And never left me alone, because you cared for me

[02:22.78] And I could see you comin' home after work late

[02:25.51] You're in the kitchen, tryin' to fix us a hot plate

[02:29.26] You just workin' with the scraps you was given

[02:31.50] And Mama made miracles every Thanksgivin'

[02:35.01] But now the road got rough, you're alone

[02:37.26] You're tryin' to raise two bad kids on your own

[02:40.54] And there's no way I can pay you back

[02:42.76] But my plan is to show you that I understand

[02:45.78] You are appreciated

[02:47.01] Lady, don't you know we love you? (And dear Mama)

[02:52.26] Sweet lady, place no one above you (You are appreciated)

[02:58.01] Sweet lady, don't you know we love you?

[03:03.52] Pour out some liquor and I reminisce

[03:05.54] 'Cause through the drama I can always depend on my mama

[03:08.99] And when it seems that I'm hopeless

[03:11.30] You say the words that can get me back in focus

[03:14.76] When I was sick as a little kid

[03:16.76] To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did

[03:20.28] And all my childhood memories

[03:23.02] Are full of all the sweet things you did for me

[03:26.01] And even though I act crazy

[03:28.51] I gotta thank the Lord that you made me

[03:31.54] There are no words that can express how I feel

[03:34.26] You never kept a secret, always stayed real

[03:37.28] And I appreciate how you raised me

[03:40.02] And all the extra love that you gave me

[03:43.29] I wish I could take the pain away

[03:45.55] If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day

[03:48.55] Everything will be alright if you hold on

[03:51.28] It's a struggle every day, gotta roll on

[03:54.26] And there's no way I can pay you back

[03:57.01] But my plan is to show you that I understand

[04:00.01] You are appreciated

[04:01.01] Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)

[04:06.51] Sweet lady, place no one above you? (You are appreciated)

[04:12.26] Sweet lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)

[04:18.01] Sweet lady

[04:23.73] Lady (Dear Mama)