🎵
[00:05.57]You are appreciated
[00:08.09]🎵
[00:11.56]When I was young, me and my mama had beef
[00:13.72]17 years old, kicked out on the streets
[00:16.71]Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face
[00:19.45]Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
[00:22.24]Suspended from school, and scared to go home, I was a fool
[00:26.08]With the big boys breakin' all the rules
[00:28.55]I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years
[00:31.69]We was poorer than the other little kids
[00:33.82]And even though we had different daddies, the same drama
[00:37.38]When things went wrong we'd blame Mama
[00:40.23]I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell
[00:43.18]Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell
[00:46.05]And who'd think in elementary, hey
[00:49.63]I'd see the penitentiary one day?
[00:52.47]And runnin' from the police, that's right
[00:55.17]Mama catch me, put a whoopin' to my backside
[00:58.25]And even as a crack fiend, Mama
[01:00.76]You always was a black queen, Mama
[01:03.96]I finally understand
[01:05.15]For a woman it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man
[01:09.06]You always was committed
[01:11.02]A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it
[01:14.49]There's no way I can pay you back
[01:16.43]But the plan is to show you that I understand
[01:19.35]You are appreciated
[01:20.54]Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)
[01:25.48]Sweet lady, place no one above you (you are appreciated)
[01:31.83]Sweet lady, don't you know we love you?
[01:37.52]Now, ain't nobody tell us it was fair
[01:39.54]No love from my daddy, 'cause the coward wasn't there
[01:42.40]He passed away and I didn't cry, 'cause my anger
[01:46.18]Wouldn't let me feel for a stranger
[01:48.27]They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along
[01:51.72]I was lookin' for a father, he was gone
[01:54.33]I hung around with the thugs
[01:55.92]And even though they sold drugs
[01:57.71]They showed a young brother love
[01:59.89]I moved out and started really hangin'
[02:01.91]I needed money of my own, so I started slangin'
[02:05.13]I ain't guilty, 'cause even though I sell rocks
[02:07.77]It feels good puttin' money in your mailbox
[02:10.85]I love payin' rent when the rent's due
[02:13.42]I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to you
[02:16.72]'Cause when I was low you was there for me
[02:19.28]And never left me alone, because you cared for me
[02:22.09]And I could see you comin' home after work late
[02:24.81]You're in the kitchen, tryin' to fix us a hot plate
[02:28.44]You just workin' with the scraps you was given
[02:31.16]And Mama made miracles every Thanksgivin'
[02:34.27]But now the road got rough, you're alone
[02:36.79]You're tryin' to raise two bad kids on your own
[02:39.82]And there's no way I can pay you back
[02:42.29]But my plan is to show you that I understand
[02:45.38]You are appreciated
[02:46.06]Lady, don't you know we love you? (And dear Mama)
[02:51.63]Sweet lady, place no one above you (you are appreciated)
[02:57.13]Sweet lady, don't you know we love you?
[03:02.94]Pour out some liquor and I reminisce
[03:04.87]'Cause through the drama I can always depend on my mama
[03:08.45]And when it seems that I'm hopeless
[03:10.59]You say the words that can get me back in focus
[03:14.38]When I was sick as a little kid
[03:16.23]To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did
[03:19.96]And all my childhood memories
[03:22.20]Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
[03:25.57]And even though I act crazy
[03:28.08]I gotta thank the Lord that you made me
[03:30.71]There are no words that can express how I feel
[03:33.77]You never kept a secret, always stayed real
[03:36.50]And I appreciate how you raised me
[03:39.35]And all the extra love that you gave me
[03:42.64]I wish I could take the pain away
[03:44.95]If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day
[03:47.97]Everything will be alright if you hold on
[03:50.87]It's a struggle every day, gotta roll on
[03:53.74]And there's no way I can pay you back
[03:56.47]But my plan is to show you that I understand
[03:59.47]You are appreciated
[04:00.28]Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)
[04:05.03]Sweet lady, place no one above you (you are appreciated)
[04:11.03]Sweet lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama)
[04:16.88]Sweet lady
[04:19.63]🎵
[04:22.86]Lady (dear Mama)
[04:28.62]Lady, lady
[04:34.22]🎵