I love you, I love you People appreciate When I was young me and my mama had beef, 17 years old, kicked out on the streets Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face, ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place Spending through school, I'm 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 other little kids And even though we had different daddies, the same drama when things went wrong we blamed my mama I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell, hugging on my mama from a jail cell And who'd think in elementary, hey, I'd see the penitentiary One day, running from the police, that's right, mama cast me, put a whoopin' to my backside And even as a crack fiend, mama, you always was a black queen, mama I finally understand, for a woman it ain't easy, trying to raise a man, I know it ain't easy You always was committed, a poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it There's no way I can pay you back, but the plan is to show you that I understand, you all appreciate Dear mama, don't you know I love you? Dear mama, please don't worry about me Dear mama, I appreciate you Although my shadow's gone, I will never leave you Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair, no love for my daddy cause the coward wasn't there He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger They say I'm wrong and I'm 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 up, started really hanging, I needed money of my own so I started slinging I ain't guilty cause even though I sell rocks, it feels good putting money in your mailbox I love paying rent when the rent's due, I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent you Cause when I was low, you was there for me, you never left me alone because you cared for me And I can see you coming home after work late, you're in the kitchen trying to fix us a hot plate You're just working with the scraps you was given, and mama made miracles every Thanksgiving But now the road got rough, you're alone, you're trying to raise two bad kids on your own And there's no way I could pay you back, but my plan is to show you that I understand And dear mama, don't you know that I love you? Dear mama, there ain't no one above you And dear mama, I appreciate you Although my child is gone, I will never leave you Pour some liquor and I reminisce, cause through the drama I can always depend on my mama And when it seems that I'm hopeless, you say the words that can get me back in focus When I was sick as a little kid, to keep me happy there's 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 could make it through the night, there's a brighter day Everything will be alright if you hold on, it's a struggle everyday you gotta roll on And there's no way I could pay you back, but my plan is to show you that I understand And dear mama, don't you know that I love you? And dear mama, please don't let this be over I appreciate you, although my shadow's gone, I would never leave you I appreciate you, I love you, I need you Oh mama, I love you, I appreciate you, I need you Oh mama, I appreciate you, I love you, I need you Oh mama, I love you, I appreciate you, I need you