You are appreciated...
Verse 1
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 though I'd see her face, ain't a woman alive that can take my mommas place. Suspended from school, scared to 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 huggin' on my mama from a jail cell. And who'd think in elementary, heeeey I'd see tha penitentiary. One day, running from tha 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 waz committed, 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....
Chorus
Laaaady, don't cha know we luv ya, sweeeet Laaaady (Dear mama), place no one above ya (You are appreciated), sweeeet Laaaaady, don't cha know we luv ya.
Verse 2
Now ain't nobody tell us it wuz fair, no luv for my daddy cause tha 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 wuz gone. I hung around with tha thugs and even though they sold drugs they showed a young brother luv. I moved out and they 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 diamond 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 tying ta fix us a hot plate. Just working with tha scraps you wuz given and mama made miracles every Thanks-giving. 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....
Chorus
Laaaady, don't cha know we luv ya, sweeeet Laaaady (Dear mama), place no one above ya, sweeeet Laaaaady (You are appreciated), don't cha know we luv ya.
Verse 3
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 that 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 craaaazy, I got ta thank tha Lord that ya maaaade 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 the 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 there's no way I can pay ya back, but my plan is ta show ya that I understand. You are appreciated.....
Chorus
Laaaady, don't cha know we luv ya, sweeeet Laaaady (Dear mama), place no one above ya, sweeeet Laaaaady (You are appreciated), don't cha know we luv ya, sweeeet Laaaady (Dear mama)
Laaaady... (Dear mama), (Fades)... Laaaady...
