| When I was young me and my mama had beef
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| Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets
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| Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face
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| Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
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| Suspended from school and scared to go home, I was a fool
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| With the big boys, breakin all the rules
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| I shed tears with my baby sister
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| Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids
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| And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama
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| When things went wrong we'd blame mama
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| I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell
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| Huggin on my mama from a jail cell
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| And who'd think in elementary?
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| Hey! | 
| I see the penitentiary, one day
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| And runnin from the police, that's right
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| Mama catch me, put a whoopin to my backside
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| And even as a crack fiend, mama
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| You always was a black queen, mama
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| I finally understand
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| For a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man
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| You always was committed
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| A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it
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| There's no way I can pay you back
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| But the plan is to show you that I understand
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| You are appreciated
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| Dear mama
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| Don't you know I love you?
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| Dear mama
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| Place no one above you
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| (Dear mama)
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| Oh mama, I appreciate you
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| Although my shadow's gone
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| I will never leave you
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| Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair
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| No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there
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| He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger
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| Wouldn't let me feel for a stranger
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| They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along
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| I was lookin for a father he was gone
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| I hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugs
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| They showed a young brother love
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| I moved out and started really hangin
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| I needed money of my own so I started slangin
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| I ain't guilty cause, even though I sell rocks
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| It feels good puttin money in your mailbox
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| I love payin rent when the rent's due
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| I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you
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| Cause when I was low you was there for me
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| And never left me alone because you cared for me
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| And I could see you comin home after work late
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| You're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate
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| Ya just workin with the scraps you was given
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| And mama made miracles every Thanksgiving
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| But now the road got rough, you're alone
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| You're tryin to raise two bad kids on your own
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| And there's no way I can pay you back
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| But my plan is to show you that I understand
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| You are appreciated
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| Dear mama
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| Don't you know I love you?
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| Dear mama
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| Place no one above you
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| (And dear mama)
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| Oh mama, I appreciate you
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| Although my shadow's gone
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| I will never leave you
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| Pour out some liquor and I reminisce, cause through the drama
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| I can always depend on my mama
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| And when it seems that I'm hopeless
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| You say the words that can get me back in focus
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| When I was sick as a little kid
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| To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did
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| And all my childhood memories
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| Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
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| And even though I act crazy
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| I gotta thank the Lord that you made me
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| There are no words that can express how I feel
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| You never kept a secret, always stayed real
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| And I appreciate, how you raised me
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| And all the extra love that you gave me
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| I wish I could take the pain away
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| If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day
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| Everything will be alright if you hold on
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| It's a struggle everyday, gotta roll on
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| And there's no way I can pay you back
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| But my plan is to show you that I understand
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| You are appreciated
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| Dear mama
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| Don't you know I love you?
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| Dear mama
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| Place no one above you
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| (Dear mama)
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| Oh mama, I appreciate you
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| Although my shadow's gone
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| I will never leave you
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| I appreciate you
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| I love you
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| I need you
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| Oh mama
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| I love you
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| Appreciate you
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| I need you
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| Oh mama |