I love you
I love you
You are appreciated (yeah, yeah)
When I was young, me and my mama had beef
Seventeen 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 (nobody)
Suspended from school, and scared to go home, I was a fool
With the big boys, breaking all the rules
Shed tears with my baby sister
Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids (didn't have nothing)
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
Hugging on my mama from a jail cell
And who'd think in elementary
Hey! I see the penitentiary one day
And running from the police? That's right
Mama catch me, put a whooping to my backside (she put it on me, yeah)
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
(I know it ain't easy)
You always was committed
A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it
There's no way I can pay you back
But the plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
Dear mama
Don't you know I love you? (Yeah)
Dear mama
Place no one above you
(Dear mama) oh, mama, I appreciate you
Although my shadow's gone (you are appreciated)
I will never leave you
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 (wouldn't let me feel the pain, no)
They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along
I was looking for a father, he was gone (hey)
I hung around with the thugs and even though they sold drugs
They showed a young brother love (they showed me love, yeah)
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 (it feels so good)
I love paying rent when the rent's due
I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you (yeah)
'Cause when I was low you was there for me
And never left me alone because you cared for me (I know you love me)
And I could see you coming home after work late
You're in the kitchen trna fix us a hot plate
Ya just working with the scraps you was given
And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving (showed me love, yeah, whoa)
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
Dear mama
Don't you know I love you? (Don't you know that I love you?)
Dear mama
Place no one above you (no)
(And dear mama) oh, mama, I appreciate you
Although my shadow's gone (you are appreciated)
I will never leave you (no)
Pour out some liquor and I reminisce
'Cause through the drama (hey)
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 (I remember everything)
And even though I act crazy
I gotta thank the Lord that you made me (thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord)
There are no words that can express how I feel
You never kept a secret, always stayed real (you were there for me)
And I appreciate how you raised me (yeah)
And all the extra love that you gave me
I wish I could take the pain away (all the love)
If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day
Everything will be alright if ya hold on
It's a struggle every day, gotta roll on (it gets hard)
And there's no way I can pay you back (there's no way)
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated (I love you)
Dear mama
Don't you know I love you? (Don't you know I love you?)
Dear mama
Place no one above you (I could never place no one above you, no)
Oh, mama, I appreciate you (you are appreciated)
Although my shadow's gone (I would never leave you, no)
I will never leave you (dear mama)
I appreciate you (said, dear mama)
I love you (I)
I need you (I ain't too proud to tell you I love you)
Oh, mama (dear mama)
I love you (I love you)
Appreciate you (yeah)
I need you (I love you)
Oh, mama (dear mama)
I appreciate you
I love you
I need you (yeah)
Oh, mama (said, dear mama)
I love you
Appreciate you (I appreciate you)
I need you
Oh, mama
