You are appreciated

When i was young me and mah momma had beef 17 years old

Kicked out on the streets

Tho back at the time I neva thought I'd see her face

Ain't a woman alive that could take my mommas place

Suspended from school, scared to go home I was a fool

With the big boyz breakin all the rules

I shed tears wit my baby sista,

Over the years we was poorer than utha little kids

And even tho we had different daddies

The same drama, when things went wrong we blamed mama

I reminisce on the stress i caused

It was hell

Huggin on my momma from a jail cell

And who'd think in elementary

HEY

I see the penetentury, one day

Runnin from the police thats right

Momma catch me put a whoopin 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 tryin to raise a man

Ya always was commited

A poor single mutha on welfair, tell me how u did it

Theres no way i could pay u back

But the plan is to show u that i understand

You are appreciated



CHORUS

Lady

Don't ya know we luv ya

Sweet lady (Dear Mama)

Place no one above ya (You are appreciated)

Sweet lady

Don't ya know we luv ya



Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair

No luv 4 my daddy, cuz the coward wasn't there

He passed away and i didnt cry

Cuz my anga, wouldnt let me feel for a stranga

They say im wrong and im heartless

But all along I was lookin 4 a fatha he was gone

I hung around with tha thugs, and even tho they sold drugs, they showed a yung brutha luv

I moved out started really hangin

I needed money on my own, so i started slangin, i ain't guilty cuz

Even tho i sell rocks it feels good puttin money in ya mail box

I luv payin rent when the rents due

Hope ya got the diamond necklace that i sent to ya

Cuz when i was low u was there for me, ya neva left me alone becuz ya cared 4 me

And i can see ya comin home afta work late

Ya in the kitchen tryin ta fix us a hot plate

Just workin with the scraps u was givin

And mama made miracles every thanksgivin

But now the road got rough ur alone

Ur tryin ta raise 2 bad kids on ya own

And there's no way i can pay you back

But mah plan is ta show u that i undastand

You are appreciated



Chorus

Lady

Don't ya know we luv ya

Sweet lady (And dear mama)

Place no one above ya (You are appreciated)

Sweet lady

Don't ya know we luv ya



Pour out sum liquor and I remenisce

Cuz thru tha drama, i can always depend on my mama

And when it seems that i'm hopless

Ya say tha words, that can get me back in focus

When i wuz sick as a little kid

To keep me happy there's no limit to the thangs ya did

And all my childhood memories

And for all the sweet things ya did 4 me

And even tho i act crazy

I gotta thank the Lord that ya made me

There are no words that can express how i feel

Ya neva kept a secret, always stayed real

And i appreciate, how ya raised me

And all the extra luv that ya gave me

I wish, I could take the pain away

If you can make it thru tha night, theres a brighta day

Everythang will be alright if ya hold on

It's a struggle every day, got a roll on

And there's no way i could pay ya back

But my plan is to show you that i undastand

You are appreciated



Chorus

Lady

Don't ya know we luv ya

Sweet lady (Dear mama)

Place no one above ya (You are appreciated)

Sweet lady

Don't ya know we luv ya

Sweet lady (And dear mama)

(Dear mama) Lady

Lady

Lady