[00:00.300]
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[00:06.220]You are appreciated
[00:09.630]
[00:11.400]When I was young me and my mama had beef
[00:13.440]Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets
[00:16.890]Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face
[00:19.500]Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
[00:22.260]Suspended from school; and scared to go home, I was a fool
[00:23.700]
[00:25.640]with the big boys, breakin all the rules
[00:28.000]I shed tears with my baby sister
[00:30.500]Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids
[00:33.590]And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama
[00:35.660]
[00:37.320]When things went wrong we'd blame mama
[00:39.580]I reminice on the stress I caused, it was hell
[00:43.100]Huggin on my mama from a jail cell
[00:45.260]And who'd think in elementary?
[00:48.110]Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one day
[00:49.660]
[00:51.760]And runnin from the police, that's right
[00:54.630]Mama catch me, put a whoopin to my backside
[00:57.330]And even as a crack fiend, mama
[01:00.360]You always was a black queen, mama
[01:03.130]I finally understand
[01:04.710]for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man
[01:07.790]You always was committed
[01:10.750]A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it
[01:13.980]There's no way I can pay you back
[01:15.880]But the plan is to show you that I understand
[01:18.500]You are appreciated
[01:21.040]Lady...
[01:23.090]Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady
[01:26.100]Dear mama
[01:28.760]Place no one above ya, sweet lady
[01:32.260]You are appreciated
[01:35.130]Don't cha know we love ya?
[01:37.540]Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair
[01:39.550]No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there
[01:42.040]He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger
[01:43.670]
[01:45.720]wouldn't let me feel for a stranger
[01:47.920]They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along
[01:49.980]
[01:51.350]I was lookin for a father he was gone
[01:53.500]I hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugs
[01:57.200]They showed a young brother love
[01:59.350]I moved out and started really hangin
[02:01.810]I needed money of my own so I started slangin
[02:04.470]I ain't guilty cause, even though I sell rocks
[02:07.330]It feels good puttin money in your mailbox
[02:10.090]I love payin rent when the rent's due
[02:13.170]I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you
[02:15.790]Cause when I was low you was there for me
[02:18.970]And never left me alone because you cared for me
[02:21.460]And I could see you comin home after work late
[02:24.270]You're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate
[02:27.150]Ya just workin with the scraps you was given
[02:28.840]
[02:30.420]And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin
[02:33.340]But now the road got rough, you're alone
[02:36.300]You're tryin to raise two bad kids on your own
[02:39.080]And there's no way I can pay you back
[02:41.540]But my plan is to show you that I understand
[02:45.280]You are appreciated
[02:46.500]Lady...
[02:48.750]Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady
[02:51.260]Dear mama
[02:52.680]
[02:54.530]Place no one above ya, sweet lady
[02:57.300]You are appreciated
[03:00.060]Don't cha know we love ya?
[03:03.240]Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the drama
[03:05.800]I can always depend on my mama
[03:07.760]And when it seems that I'm hopeless
[03:10.230]You say the words that can get me back in focus
[03:12.930]When I was sick as a little kid
[03:15.950]To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did
[03:18.880]And all my childhood memories
[03:21.490]Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
[03:24.360]And even though I act craaazy
[03:27.590]I gotta thank the Lord that you made me
[03:30.360]There are no words that can express how I feel
[03:33.180]You never kept a secret, always stayed real
[03:36.100]And I appreciate, how you raised me
[03:38.920]And all the extra love that you gave me
[03:41.740]I wish I could take the pain away
[03:44.590]If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day
[03:47.360]Everything will be alright if ya hold on
[03:49.810]It's a struggle everyday, gotta roll on
[03:52.790]And there's no way I can pay you back
[03:55.700]But my plan is to show you that I understand
[03:57.650]
[03:59.540]You are appreciated
[04:00.440]Lady...
[04:02.890]Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady
[04:06.050]Dear mama
[04:08.620]Place no one above ya, sweet lady
[04:11.590]You are appreciated
[04:14.250]Don't cha know we love ya?
[04:16.950]Sweet lady
[04:17.570]Dear mama
[04:21.550]
[04:24.130]lady ...
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