[ti:dear mama] [ar:2 pac] [00:05.186]You are appreciated [00:10.584]When I was young me and my mama had beef [00:13.227]Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets [00:16.380]Though back at the time,I never thought I'd see her face [00:19.296]Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place [00:21.446]Suspended from school;and scared to go home,I was a fool [00:25.530]with the big boys,breakin all the rules [00:28.140]I shed tears with my baby sister [00:30.387]Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids [00:32.961]And even though we had different daddy's,the same drama [00:36.889]When things went wrong we'd blame mama [00:39.507]I reminice on the stress I caused,it was hell [00:42.820]Huggin on my mama from a jail cell [00:44.695]And who'd think in elementary? [00:47.258]Heeey!I see the penitentiary,one day [00:51.595]And runnin from the police,that's right [00:54.507]Mama catch me,put a whoopin to my backside [00:57.717]And even as a crack fiend,mama [01:00.42]You always was a black queen,mama [01:03.23]I finally understand [01:04.315]for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man [01:08.883]You always was committed [01:09.939]A poor single mother on welfare,tell me how ya did it [01:14.287]There's no way I can pay you back [01:16.315]But the plan is to show you that I understand [01:19.366]You are appreciated [01:20.448]Lady... [01:22.338]Don't cha know we love ya?Sweet lady [01:26.875]Dear mama [01:28.260]Place no one above ya,sweet lady [01:31.328]You are appreciated [01:33.729]Don't cha know we love ya? [01:37.39]Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair [01:39.108]No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there [01:41.878]He passed away and I didn't cry,cause my anger [01:45.328]wouldn't let me feel for a stranger [01:48.92]They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless,but all along [01:51.39]I was lookin for a father he was gone [01:53.710]I hung around with the Thugs,and even though they sold drugs [01:57.340]They showed a young brother love [01:59.674]I moved out and started really hangin [02:01.630]I needed money of my own so I started slangin [02:04.654]I ain't guilty cause,even though I sell rocks [02:07.317]It feels good puttin money in your mailbox [02:10.271]I love payin rent when the rent's due [02:13.67]I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you [02:16.377]Cause when I was low you was there for me [02:18.820]And never left me alone because you cared for me [02:21.785]And I could see you comin home after work late [02:24.401]You're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate [02:27.593]Ya just workin with the scraps you was given [02:30.605]And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin [02:33.693]But now the road got rough,you're alone [02:36.833]You're tryin to raise two bad kids on your own [02:39.353]And there's no way I can pay you back [02:42.317]But my plan is to show you that I understand [02:44.09]You are appreciated [02:45.637]Lady... [02:47.880]Don't cha know we love ya?Sweet lady [02:51.566]Dear mama [02:52.465]Place no one above ya,sweet lady [02:56.919]You are appreciated [02:57.705]Don't cha know we love ya? [03:02.388]Pour out some liquor and I reminsce,cause through the drama [03:05.255]I can always depend on my mama [03:07.684]And when it seems that I'm hopeless [03:10.128]You say the words that can get me back in focus [03:13.508]When I was sick as a little kid [03:15.725]To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did [03:18.873]And all my childhood memories [03:20.500]Are full of all the sweet things you did for me [03:25.10]And even though I act craaazy [03:27.560]I gotta thank the Lord that you made me [03:30.348]There are no words that can express how I feel [03:33.256]You never kept a secret,always stayed real [03:36.212]And I appreciate,how you raised me [03:38.599]And all the extra love that you gave me [03:42.356]I wish I could take the pain away [03:44.528]If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day [03:47.386]Everything will be alright if ya hold on [03:50.204]It's a struggle everyday,gotta roll on [03:53.383]And there's no way I can pay you back [03:55.955]But my plan is to show you that I understand [03:58.945]You are appreciated [04:00.61]Lady... [04:02.96]Don't cha know we love ya?Sweet lady [04:05.439]Dear mama [04:07.771]Place no one above ya,sweet lady [04:11.275]You are appreciated [04:15.371]Don't cha know we love ya?