You are appreciated...

When I was young, me and my mama had beef
17 years old kicked out on tha streets
Though back in tha time, I never thought Id see her face
Aint a woman alive that can take my mommas place
Suspended from school, scared ta go home
I was a fool with tha big boys breaking all tha rules
Shed tears with my baby sister
Over tha years we wuz poorer than tha other little kids
And even though we had different daddies
Tha same drama when things went wrong we blamed mama
I reminised on tha stress I caused, it wuz hell
Huggen on my mama from a jail cell
And whoed think in elementary, heeeey Id see tha penitentiary
One day
Running from tha police, thats right
Momma catch me--put a whoopen to my backside
And even as a crack fiend mama,
Ya always was a black queen mama
I finally understand for a woman
It aint easy--trying ta raise a man
Ya always wuz commited, a poor single mother on welfare,
Tell me how ya did it
Theres no way I can pay ya back
But tha plan is ta show ya that I understand.
You are appreciated......


Chorus
Laaaaady, dont cha know we luv ya
Sweeeet laaaady, place no one above ya
Sweeeet laaaady, dont cha know we luv ya

Aint nobody tell us it wuz fair
No luv for my daddy, cause tha coward wuznt 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 wuz looking for a father--he wuz gone
I hung around with tha thugs and even though they sold drugs
They showed a young brother luv
I moved out and started really hangin
I needed money of my own so I started slangin
I aint guilty cause, even though I sell rocks
It feels good, putting money in your mailbox
I love paying rent when tha rents due
I hope ya got tha diamond necklace that I sent to you
Cause when I wuz low, you was there for me
Ya never left me alone, cause ya cared for me
And I can see ya coming home after work late
Ya in tha kitchen trying ta fix us a hot plate
Just working with tha scraps you wuz given
And mama made miracles every thanksgiving
But now tha road got rough, your alone
Trying ta raise two bad kids on your own
And theres no way I can pay ya back
But my plan is ta show ya that I understand
You are appreciated.....


Chorus
Laaaaady, dont cha know we luv ya
Sweeeet laaaady, place no one above ya
Sweeeet laaaady, dont cha know we luv ya

Pour out some liquor and I remenise
Cause through tha drama, I can always depend on my mama
And when it seems that Im hopeless
You say tha words that can get me back in focus
When I wuz sick as a little kid
Ta keep me happy theres no limit to tha things ya did
And all my childhood memories
Are full of all tha sweet things ya did for me
And even though I act craaaazy
I got ta thank tha lord that ya maaaade me
There are no words that can express how I feel
Ya never kept a secret, always stayed real
And I appreciate how ya raised me
And all tha extra love that ya gave me
I wish I could take tha pain away
If you can make it through tha night, theres a brighter day
Everythingll be alright if ya hold on
Its a struggle
Everyday gotta roll on
And theres no way I can pay ya back
But my plan is ta show ya that I understand
You are appreciated.......


Chorus
Laaaaady, dont cha know we luv ya
Sweeeet laaaady, place no one above ya
Sweeeet laaaady, dont cha know we luv ya, sweeeet laaaady

Laaaady...[fades]...laaaady