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