When I was young me
and my momma 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
momma's place
Suspended from school,
was scared to go home
I was a fool with the big boys
breaking all the rules
Said cheers with my baby sister,
over the years we was bored
and other little kids
And even though we had different daddies,
the same drama when things went wrong
we blamed mama
I reminisce on the stress I caused,
it was hell,
hugging on my mama from a jail cell
And who think in elementary,
hey, I see the penitentiary
One day, running from the police,
that's right
Mama cast me,
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
Tryin' 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 it,
love you sweet
Lady, place no one
above you
Sweet Lady, don't you know it,
love you
Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair
No love for my daddy
cause the coward wasn't there
You 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 hanging,
I needed money of my own
so I started slanging
I ain't guilty cause even
though I sell rocks,
it feels good putting money
in your mailbox
I love paying rent
when the rent's due,
I hope you got the diamond necklace
that I sent to you
Cause when I was low,
you was there for me
You never left me alone
because you cared for me
And I can see you coming home
after work late
You're in the kitchen
trying to fix us a hot plate
You're just working with
the scraps you was given
And mama made miracles,
everything's given
But now the road got rough,
you're alone
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
Don't you know we love you,
sweetie? dear mama
There is no one above you,
You are appreciated
Don't you know we love you?
Pour out some liquor and I'll 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 express how I feel
You never kept a secret,
always stayed real
And I appreciate how you raised me
And all the extra 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 got a roll on
There's no way I could pay you back,
but my plan is to show you that I understand you
are
Need it, don't you know
we love the street
Need it, need
it