Dear Mama

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

Suspended from school, and scared to go home

I was a fool, with the big boys breakin' all the rules

I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years

We was poorer than the other little kids

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

Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell

And who'd think in elementary, hey

I'd see the penitentiary one day?

And runnin' from the police, that's right

Mama catch me, put 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

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