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 the time, I never thought I'd see her face
ain't a woman alive tyyhat can take my mama's 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 were poorer than tha other little kids
even though we had diffrent daddies
the same drama when things went wrong we blamed mama
I reminised on tha stress I caused, it was hell
hugg'en on my mama from a jail cell
and who'd think in elementary
hey I'd see the penetentry, one day
runnin' from tha police, that's right
mama catch me--put a whoop'en on 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 commited, a poor single mather on welfare,
tell me how you did it
there's no way I can pay you back
put my plan is ta show you that I understand
You are appreciated...

Lady, don't ya know we love ya
Sweet Lady, place no one above ya
Sweet Lady, don't ya know we love ya

Ain't nobody tell us it wuz fair
no love for 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 wuz looking for a father--he was gone
I hung around with tha thugs and even though they sold drugs
they showed a young brother love
I moved out started really hangin'
I needed money on my own so I started slang'in
I ain't guilty, cause even though I sell rocks
it feels good, putting money in your mail box
I love paying rent when the rents due
I hope you got that diamond necklace I sent to you
cause when I was low, you was there for me
you never left me alone, cause you cared for me
and I can see ya coming home after work latez
you in tha kitchen tryin' ta fix uz a hot plate
just working with tha scraps you was given
and mama made miracles every Thanksgiving
but now tha road got rough, you're alone
tryin' ta raise to bad kids on your own
there's no way Ican pay you back
but my plan is ta show you that I understand
You are appreciated...

Lady, don't ya know......

Pour out some liquor and I reminise
cause through the drama, I can always depend on my mama
and when it seems that I'm hopeless
you say tha words that can get me back in focus
when I was sick as a little kid
ta keep me happy, ther's no limit to tha things you did
and all my childhood memories
are full of all tha sweet things ya did for me
and even though I act crazy,
I got ta thank tha Lord that ya made me
there are no words that can express how I feel
you 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 will be alright if ya hold on
it's a struggle, everyday gotta roll on
and there's no way I can pay ya back
but my plan is ta show ya that I understand
You are appreciated...

Lady, don't ya know

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 Interscope Records. All rights reserved.