[00:19.586]You are appreciated [00:24.984]When I was young me and my mama had beef [00:27.627]Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets [00:30.780]Though back at the time,I never thought I'd see her face [00:33.996]Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place [00:36.446]Suspended from school;and scared to go home,I was a fool [00:40.530]with the big boys,breakin all the rules [00:43.140]I shed tears with my baby sister [00:45.387]Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids [00:47.961]And even though we had different daddy's,the same drama [00:51.889]When things went wrong we'd blame mama [00:54.507]I reminice on the stress I caused,it was hell [00:57.820]Huggin on my mama from a jail cell [00:59.395]And who'd think in elementary? [01:02.252]Heeey!I see the penitentiary,one day [01:06.581]And runnin from the police,that's right [01:08.888]Mama catch me,put a whoopin to my backside [01:12.093]And even as a crack fiend,mama [01:14.793]You always was a black queen,mama [01:17.608]I finally understand [01:18.691]for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man [01:23.263]You always was committed [01:24.316]A poor single mother on welfare,tell me how ya did it [01:28.367]There's no way I can pay you back [01:30.391]But the plan is to show you that I understand [01:33.447]You are appreciated [01:34.528]Lady... [01:36.418]Don't cha know we love ya?Sweet lady [01:42.159]Dear mama [01:43.843]Place no one above ya,sweet lady [01:46.908]You are appreciated [01:49.310]Don't cha know we love ya? [01:55.971]Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair [01:57.988]No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there [02:00.757]He passed away and I didn't cry,cause my anger [02:03.903]wouldn't let me feel for a stranger [02:07.492]They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless,but all along [02:09.962]I was lookin for a father he was gone [02:12.282]I hung around with the Thugs,and even though they sold drugs [02:15.607]They showed a young brother love [02:17.941]I moved out and started really hangin [02:19.598]I needed money of my own so I started slangin [02:22.617]I ain't guilty cause,even though I sell rocks [02:25.283]It feels good puttin money in your mailbox [02:28.235]I love payin rent when the rent's due [02:31.634]I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you [02:34.343]Cause when I was low you was there for me [02:36.491]And never left me alone because you cared for me [02:39.454]And I could see you comin home after work late [02:41.769]You're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate [02:44.962]Ya just workin with the scraps you was given [02:47.973]And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin [02:50.765]But now the road got rough,you're alone [02:53.899]You're tryin to raise two bad kids on your own [02:56.122]And there's no way I can pay you back [02:59.089]But my plan is to show you that I understand [03:00.854]You are appreciated [03:02.403]Lady... [03:04.644]Don't cha know we love ya?Sweet lady [03:08.328]Dear mama [03:09.227]Place no one above ya,sweet lady [03:13.677]You are appreciated [03:14.762]Don't cha know we love ya? [03:23.342]Pour out some liquor and I reminsce,cause through the drama [03:27.706]I can always depend on my mama [03:29.534]And when it seems that I'm hopeless [03:31.979]You say the words that can get me back in focus [03:35.361]When I was sick as a little kid [03:37.580]To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did [03:40.729]And all my childhood memories [03:42.354]Are full of all the sweet things you did for me [03:46.959]And even though I act craaazy [03:49.419]I gotta thank the Lord that you made me [03:52.209]There are no words that can express how I feel [03:55.116]You never kept a secret,always stayed real [03:58.072]And I appreciate,how you raised me [04:00.459]And all the extra love that you gave me [04:04.210]I wish I could take the pain away [04:06.382]If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day [04:09.239]Everything will be alright if ya hold on [04:12.052]It's a struggle everyday,gotta roll on [04:15.233]And there's no way I can pay you back [04:17.805]But my plan is to show you that I understand [04:20.795]You are appreciated [04:22.461]Lady... [04:24.812]Don't cha know we love ya?Sweet lady [04:27.295]Dear mama [04:29.627]Place no one above ya,sweet lady [04:33.134]You are appreciated [04:37.228]Don't cha know we love ya?