[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?