Dear Momma

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 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

Huggin' 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

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

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 aboveya

(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 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 mailbo

I love paying rent when the rent is 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 coming

home after work late

You're in the kitchen,

trying to fi us a hot plate

You just working with

the scraps you was given

And Mama made miracles

every Thanksgivin'

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 welove ya?

(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 e press how I feel

You never kept a secret,

always stayed real

And I appreciate how you raised me

And all the e tra 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