Dear Mama

You are appreciated... When I was young, me and my mama had beef 17 years old kicked out on tha streets though back in tha time, I never thought I'd see her face ain't a woman alive that can take my mommas place suspended from school, scared ta go home I was a fool with tha big boys breaking all tha rules shed tears with my baby sister over tha years we wuz poorer than tha other little kids and even though we had different daddies tha same drama when things went wrong we blamed mama I reminisced on tha stress I caused, it wuz hell hugg'en on my mama from jail cell and who'ed think in elementary school, heeeey I'd see tha penitentiary one day running from the police, that's right momma catch me- put a whoop'en to my backside and even as a crack fiend mama, ya always was a black queen mama I finally understand for a woman it ain't easy- trying ta raise a man ya always wuz commited, a poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it there's no way I can pay ya back but tha plan is ta show ya that I understand you are appreciated... (Laaaaady,) don't cha know we luv ya Sweeeet laaaaaady, place no one above ya Sweeeet laaaaaady, don't cha know we luv ya Ain't nobody tell us it wuz fair no luv for my daddy, cause tha coward wuzn'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 wuz looking for a father-he wuz gone I hung around with tha thug's and even though they sold drugs they showed a young brother luv 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, putting money in your mailbox I love paying rent when tha rents due I hope ya got tha diamind necklace that I sent to you cause when I wuz low, you was there for me ya never left me alone, cause ya cared for me and I can see ya coming home after work late ya in tha kitchen trying ta fix us a hot plate just working with tha scraps you wuz given and mama made miracles every Thanksgiving but now tha road got rough, your alone trying ta raise two bad kids on your own and there's no way I can pay ya back but my plan is ta show ya that I understand you are appreciated... (Laaaaady,) don't cha know we luv ya Sweeeet Laaaaady, place no one above ya Sweeeet Laaaaady, don't cha know we luv ya Pour out some liquor and I reminisce cause through tha drama, I can always depend on my mama and when it seems that I'm hopeless you say tha words tha can get me back in focus when I wuz sick as a little kid ta keep me happy there's no limit to tha things ya did and all my childhood memories are full of all tha sweet things ya did for me and even though I act craaaaaazy I got ta thank tha Lord that ya maaaaade me There are no words that can express how I feel Ya never kept a secret, always stayed real and I appreciate how ya raised me and all tha extra love that ya gave me I wish I could take tha pain away If you can make it through tha night, there's a brighter day everything'll be alright if ya hold on it's a struggle everyday gotta roll on and thereEUs no way I can pay ya back but my plan is ta show ya that I understand you are appreciated... (Laaaaady,) don't cha know we luv ya Sweeeet Laaaaady, place no one above ya Sweeeet Laaaaady, don't cha know we luv ya, Sweeeet Laaaaady, Laaaaady... Laaaaady... ...laaaaady