| [00:05.19] |
You are appreciated |
| [00:10.58] |
When I was young me and my mama had beef |
| [00:13.23] |
Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets |
| [00:16.38] |
Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face |
| [00:19.30] |
Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place |
| [00:21.45] |
Suspended from school; and scared to go home, I was a fool |
| [00:25.53] |
with the big boys, breakin all the rules |
| [00:28.14] |
I shed tears with my baby sister |
| [00:30.39] |
Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids |
| [00:32.96] |
And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama |
| [00:36.89] |
When things went wrong we'd blame mama |
| [00:39.51] |
I reminice on the stress I caused, it was hell |
| [00:42.82] |
Huggin on my mama from a jail cell |
| [00:44.69] |
And who'd think in elementary? |
| [00:47.26] |
Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one day |
| [00:51.60] |
And runnin from the police, that's right |
| [00:54.51] |
Mama catch me, put a whoopin to my backside |
| [00:57.72] |
And even as a crack fiend, mama |
| [01:00.04] |
You always was a black queen, mama |
| [01:03.02] |
I finally understand |
| [01:04.32] |
for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man |
| [01:08.88] |
You always was committed |
| [01:09.94] |
A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it |
| [01:14.29] |
There's no way I can pay you back |
| [01:16.32] |
But the plan is to show you that I understand |
| [01:19.37] |
You are appreciated |
| [01:20.45] |
Lady... |
| [01:22.34] |
Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady |
| [01:26.88] |
Dear mama |
| [01:28.26] |
Place no one above ya, sweet lady |
| [01:31.33] |
You are appreciated |
| [01:33.73] |
Don't cha know we love ya? |
| [01:37.04] |
Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair |
| [01:39.11] |
No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there |
| [01:41.88] |
He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger |
| [01:45.33] |
wouldn't let me feel for a stranger |
| [01:48.09] |
They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along |
| [01:51.04] |
I was lookin for a father he was gone |
| [01:53.71] |
I hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugs |
| [01:57.34] |
They showed a young brother love |
| [01:59.67] |
I moved out and started really hangin |
| [02:01.63] |
I needed money of my own so I started slangin |
| [02:04.65] |
I ain't guilty cause, even though I sell rocks |
| [02:07.32] |
It feels good puttin money in your mailbox |
| [02:10.27] |
I love payin rent when the rent's due |
| [02:13.07] |
I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you |
| [02:16.38] |
Cause when I was low you was there for me |
| [02:18.82] |
And never left me alone because you cared for me |
| [02:21.79] |
And I could see you comin home after work late |
| [02:24.40] |
You're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate |
| [02:27.59] |
Ya just workin with the scraps you was given |
| [02:30.60] |
And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin |
| [02:33.69] |
But now the road got rough, you're alone |
| [02:36.83] |
You're tryin to raise two bad kids on your own |
| [02:39.35] |
And there's no way I can pay you back |
| [02:42.32] |
But my plan is to show you that I understand |
| [02:44.01] |
You are appreciated |
| [02:45.64] |
Lady... |
| [02:47.88] |
Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady |
| [02:51.57] |
Dear mama |
| [02:52.46] |
Place no one above ya, sweet lady |
| [02:56.92] |
You are appreciated |
| [02:57.71] |
Don't cha know we love ya? |
| [03:02.39] |
Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the drama |
| [03:05.26] |
I can always depend on my mama |
| [03:07.68] |
And when it seems that I'm hopeless |
| [03:10.13] |
You say the words that can get me back in focus |
| [03:13.51] |
When I was sick as a little kid |
| [03:15.73] |
To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did |
| [03:18.87] |
And all my childhood memories |
| [03:20.50] |
Are full of all the sweet things you did for me |
| [03:25.01] |
And even though I act craaazy |
| [03:27.56] |
I gotta thank the Lord that you made me |
| [03:30.35] |
There are no words that can express how I feel |
| [03:33.26] |
You never kept a secret, always stayed real |
| [03:36.21] |
And I appreciate, how you raised me |
| [03:38.60] |
And all the extra love that you gave me |
| [03:42.36] |
I wish I could take the pain away |
| [03:44.53] |
If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day |
| [03:47.39] |
Everything will be alright if ya hold on |
| [03:50.20] |
It's a struggle everyday, gotta roll on |
| [03:53.38] |
And there's no way I can pay you back |
| [03:55.96] |
But my plan is to show you that I understand |
| [03:58.95] |
You are appreciated |
| [04:00.06] |
Lady... |
| [04:02.10] |
Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady |
| [04:05.44] |
Dear mama |
| [04:07.77] |
Place no one above ya, sweet lady |
| [04:11.27] |
You are appreciated |
| [04:15.37] |
Don't cha know we love ya? |