Dear Mama

You are appreciated

When I was young, me and my mama had beef

17 years old, kicked out on the streets

Though back at the time

I never thought I'd see her face

Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place

Suspended from school,

and scared to go home, I was a fool

With the big boys breakin' all the rules

I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years

We was poorer than the other little kids

And even though we had different daddies,

When things went wrong we'd blame Mama

I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell

Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell

And who'd think in elementary, hey

I'd see the penitentiary one day?

And runnin' from the police, that's right

Mama catch me, put a whoopin' to my backside

And even as a crack fiend, Mama

You always was a black queen, Mama

I finally understand

For a woman it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man

You always was committed

A poor single mother on welfare,

There's no way I can pay you back

But the plan is to show you that I understand

Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)

Sweet lady,

place no one above you (you are appreciated)

Sweet lady, don't you know we love you?

Now, ain't nobody tell us it was fair

No love from my daddy,

'cause the coward wasn't there

He passed away and I didn't cry, 'cause my anger

Wouldn't let me feel for a stranger

They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along

I was lookin' for a father, he was gone

I hung around with the thugs

And even though they sold drugs

They showed a young brother love

I moved out and started really hangin'

I needed money of my own, so I started slangin'

I ain't guilty, 'cause even though I sell rocks

It feels good puttin' money in your mailbox

I love payin' rent when the rent's due

I hope you got the diamond necklace

that I sent to you

'Cause when I was low you was there for me

And never left me alone, because you cared for me

And I could see you comin' home after work late

You're in the kitchen, tryin' to fix us a hot plate

You just workin' with the scraps you was given

And Mama made miracles every Thanksgivin'

But now the road got rough, you're alone

You're tryin' to raise two bad kids on your own

And there's no way I can pay you back

But my plan is to show you that I understand

Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)

Sweet lady,

place no one above you (you are appreciated)

Sweet lady, don't you know we love you?

Pour out some liquor and I reminisce

I can always depend on my mama

And when it seems that I'm hopeless

You say the words that can get me back in focus

When I was sick as a little kid

To keep me happy there's no limit

to the things you did

And all my childhood memories

Are full of all the sweet things you did for me

And even though I act crazy

I gotta thank the Lord that you made me

There are no words that can express how I feel

You never kept a secret, always stayed real

And I appreciate how you raised me

And all the extra love that you gave me

I wish I could take the pain away

If you can make it through the night,

there's a brighter day

Everything will be alright if you hold on

It's a struggle every day, gotta roll on

And there's no way I can pay you back

But my plan is to show you that I understand

Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)

Sweet lady,

place no one above you (you are appreciated)

Sweet lady, don't you know we love you?

Sweet lady...

Lady...