I love you I love you You are appreciated 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 Id see her face Aint a woman alive that could take my mamas place Suspended from school, and scared to go home, I was a fool With the big boys, breaking 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 daddys, the same drama When things went wrong wed blame mama I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell Hugging on my mama from a jail cell And whod think in elementary? Hey! I see the penitentiary, one day And running from the police, thats right Mama catch me, put a whooping to my backside And even as a crack fiend, mama You always was a black queen, mama I finally understand For a woman it aint easy trying to raise a man (I know it aint easy) You always was committed A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it Theres no way I can pay you back But the plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated Dear mama Dont you know I love you? Dear mama Place no one above you (Dear mama) Oh mama, I appreciate you Although my shadows gone I will never leave you Now aint nobody tell us it was fair No love from my daddy cause the coward wasnt there He passed away and I didnt cry, cause my anger Wouldnt let me feel for a stranger They say Im wrong and Im 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 aint guilty cause, even though I sell rocks It feels good putting money in your mailbox I love paying rent when the rents due I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you Cause when I was low you was there for me And never left me alone because you cared for me And I could see you coming home after work late Youre in the kitchen trying to fix us a hot plate Ya just working with the scraps you was given And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving But now the road got rough, youre alone Youre trying to raise two bad kids on your own And theres no way I can pay you back But my plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated Dear mama Dont you know I love you? Dear mama Place no one above you (Dear mama) Oh mama, I appreciate you Although my shadows gone I will never leave you Pour out some liquor and I reminisce, cause through the drama I can always depend on my mama And when it seems that Im hopeless You say the words that can get me back in focus When I was sick as a little kid To keep me happy theres 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 theres a brighter day Everything will be alright if ya hold on Its a struggle everyday, gotta roll on And theres no way I can pay you back But my plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated Dear mama Dont you know I love you? Dear mama Place no one above you Oh mama, I appreciate you Although my shadows gone I will never leave you I appreciate you I love you I need you Oh mama I love you Appreciate you I need you Oh mama I appreciate you I love you I need you Oh mama I love you Appreciate you I need you Oh mama