[00:21.53]When I was young me and my mama had beef
[00:23.55]Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets 17
[00:26.52]Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face
[00:28.92]Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
[00:31.96]Suspended from school and scared to go home
[00:34.26]I was a fool with the big boys
[00:35.82]Breaking all the rules
[00:37.64]I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years
[00:39.48]We was poorer than the other little kids
[00:42.61]And even though we had different daddy's
[00:44.84]The same drama
[00:45.78]When things went wrong we'd blame mama.
[00:47.68]I reminisce on the stress I caused
[00:50.29]It was hell, hugging on my mama from a jail cell
[00:53.52]And who'd think in elementary
[00:55.85]Hey! I see the penitentiary!
[00:58.64]One day, running from the police
[01:01.34]That's right mama catched me,
[01:03.00]Put a whoop in to my backside
[01:04.76]And even as a crack fiend, mama
[01:07.56]You always was a black queen, mama.
[01:10.22]I finally understand, for a woman it ain't easy
[01:13.24]Trying to raise a man
[01:15.58]You always was committed
[01:17.13]A poor single mother on welfare
[01:19.05]tell me how you did it
[01:20.12]There's no way I can pay you back,
[01:21.72]But the plan is to show you that I understand
[01:25.22]You are appreciated
[01:30.67]Dear mama
[01:31.69]Pour out some liquor and I reminisce
[01:34.19]Cause through the drama
[01:35.06]I can always depend on my Mama
[01:37.17]And when it seems that I'm hopeless
[01:39.31]You say the words that can get me back in focus
[01:42.80]When I was sick as a little kid
[01:44.87]To keep me happy there's no limit to the things
[01:46.58]You did
[01:48.24]And all my childhood memories
[01:50.54]Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
[01:53.12]And even though I act crazy
[01:55.47]I gotta thank the Lord that you made me
[01:58.35]There are no words that can express how I feel
[02:01.12]You never kept a secret, always stayed real
[02:03.86]And I appreciate how you raised me
[02:06.02]And all the extra love that you gave me
[02:08.09]Cause when I was low you was there for me
[02:10.58]You never left alone cause you cared for me
[02:13.23]And I could see you come in home after work in late
[02:15.80]You in the kitchen trying to fix us a hot plate
[02:18.59]You just work in with the scraps you was given
[02:20.78]And Mama made miracles every Thanksgiving
[02:23.79]But now the road got rough, you're alone
[02:25.99]Trying to raise two bad kids on your own
[02:29.11]There's no way I can pay you back
[02:31.21]But the plan is to show you that I understand
[02:34.35]Pour out some liquor and I reminisce
[02:36.44]Cause through the drama
[02:37.62]I can always depend on my Mama
[02:39.82]And when it seems that I'm hopeless
[02:42.10]You say the words that can get me back in focus
[02:45.57]When I was sick as a little kid
[02:47.48]To keep me happy there's no limit to the things
[02:49.29]You did
[02:49.99]You are appreciated
[02:55.92]Dear mama
[03:01.05]You are appreciated