Dear Mama

You are appreciated

When I was young, me and my mama had beef

Seventeen 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 breaking 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, the same drama

When things went wrong, we'd blame mama

I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell

Hugging on my mama from a jail cell

And who'd think in elementary

Hey, I'd see the penitentiary one day?

And running from the police, that's right

Mama catch me, put a whooping 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

Trying to raise a man

You always was committed

A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it

There's no way I can pay you back

But the plan is to show you that I understand

You are appreciated

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

(Sweet lady, place no one above ya) you are appreciated

(Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya?)

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 looking 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 hanging

I needed money of my own, so I started slanging

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

It feels good putting money in your mailbox

I love paying rent when the rent is due

I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to ya

'Cause when I was low, you was there for me

You never left me alone because you cared for me

And I could see you coming home after work late

You're in the kitchen trying to fix us a hotplate

You just working with the scraps you was given

And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving

But now the road got rough, you're alone

You're trying 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

You are appreciated

(Lady, don't you know we love ya?) And dear mama

(Sweet lady, place no one above ya) you are appreciated

(Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya?)

Pour out some liquor and I reminisce

'Cause through the drama, 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

You are appreciated

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

(Sweet lady, place no one above ya) you are appreciated

(Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya?) And dear mama

(Sweet lady) dear mama

(Lady)

(Lady)

(Lady)