[2Pac]

If I could recelect before my hood dayz
I would sit in bliss and reminis on the good dayz.
i stop and stare at the younger, my heart goes to'em
they stressed and goin under.
we never really went through that
cause we was born
today things change,its a shame
they blame it on the youth cause the truth look strange
for them its worse, we come from a world thats cursed
and it hurts.
cause any day theyll push the button.
and yall condemned like malcom x and uncle bob
they died for nothin.
make the people teary, the world looks dreary
but when you wipe your eyes you see it clearley.
theres no need for you to fear me.
if you take the time to hear me, maybe you can learn to cheer me.
it aint about black or white, both doin
i hope you see the light before its ruiend
my ghetto gospel

[Chorus]
it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

[2Pac]

Tell me do you see that old lady she aint sad
living out a bag, in rags, loving the things she has
over there see that lady, the cracks got her crazy.
and shes gonna give birth to a baby?
i shouldnt let it fade me. we out of the projects
jumped into another form of slavery.
and even now i get discouraged.
i wonder if its tooken all back will i still keep the courage.
i refuse to be a role modle.
i keep control on the hoes and take out my old bottle.
i make mistakes, i learn from everyone.
and when its said and done, ill be called a better one.
if i strecth you dont stretch.
never forget, god is gonna finish with me yet.
i feel his hands on my brain.
when i write ryhmes, i go blind, and let the lord do this thing.
but am i any less holy,
i choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies
and then world peace, we tried and failed
now theres war in the streets
my ghetto gospel.

[Chorus]
it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

[2Pac]
I remember grandmas hands use to hold me
mold me, i never forget the things she told me
brothas a butt, and played the big shot
but you know grannys are the only other thing lil ghetto kids got.
moms work, and pops burried.
drop me off at grannys, left without a heart cause shes worried
and ghetto grannys are like books.
we got some many crooks, so many grannys gettin shook.
and gettin trapped in a nursing home.
times is hard, and even worse alone
and how could you be so cold,
youll get your turn, as soon as you turn old.
all they ask of every person,
is for a brotha to figure whats on his mind when hes cursin.
9 out of 10 youll find them problems.
time to take listen and see what you can do to solve them.
cause every body needs a little help
on the way of relieng on ones self.
and think about it, why 2pac hit you with a little ghetto gospel
my ghetto gospel.

[Chorus]
it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

[2Pac]
I wake up stone cold gangsta main
see ya gave me ghetto gospel, i thank you main
use to roll in the back and do drugs a lot.
now im bangin the tracks, slangin ryhmes i got.
in this world of greed tryin to succeed on my beliefs.
now i lay me down to sleep, lord can you hear me speak.
can you forgive me for my sins
if i had it all to do again, id still play to win
i hope the lord can understand me.
a mans gotta do what he can for his family.
and pay the price of being hellbound.
but i ratha see hell later than see hell now.
and the devil aint got nothin on the president.
cut back and keep us strapped in our residence.
and be like animals in cages.
we can rant and rave about slavery for ages.
or we can stop makin awful
and hitem with a lil ghetto gospel
my ghetto gospel.

[Chorus]
it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

it ok, its ok, its ok
my ghetto gospel

[Chorus]
You know, I wonder if they'll laugh when I am dead
Why am I fighting to live, if I'm just living to fight
Why am I trying to see, when there aint nothing in sight
Why am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try
Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die

[Notorious B.I.G.]
Check it, I grew up a fuckin screw up
Got introduced to the game, got a ounce and fuckin blew up
Choppin rocks overnight
The nigga Biggie Smalls tryin ta turn into the black Frank White
We had to grow dreads to change our description
Two cops is on the milk box missin
Show they toes you know they got stepped on
A fist full of bullets a chest full of Teflon
Run from the police picture that, nigga I'm too fat
I fuck around and catch a asthma attack
That's why I bust back, it don't phase me
When he drop, take his glock, and I'm Swayze
celebrate my escape, sold the glock, bought some weight
Laid back, I got some money to make, motherfucker

[Chorus]

[2Pac]
And still I'm havin memories of high speeds, when the cops crashed
As I laugh pushin the gas when my glocks blast
We was young, and we was dumb but we had heart
In the dark when we survived through the bad parts
Many dreams is what I had, and many wishes
No hesitation in extermination of these snitches
And these bitches they still continue to per sue me
A couple of movies now the whole world tryin to screw me
even the cops tried to sue me
So what can I do but stay true, sippin 22's a brewin
now the medias tryin to test me got the press askin questions, tryin to stress me
misery is all I see, thats my mind's state
My history with the police is shakin' the crime rate
Ma main man had 2 stikes, slipped, got arrested and flipped
He screamed 'Thug Life!' and emptied the clip
gots tired of runnin from the motherfuckin police

[chorus]

[Biggie]
I was shocked at everything!I wasnt more shocked at him die.I was more
shocked at him.Pac' is a strong dude..I know him..you know what I'm
sayin?...Real strong..so it was when he got shot I was more like fuck him.
You know what I'm sayin?..I mean no one gets shot or shot at again... He
gon' pull threw this one again and nigga's gon live his life again..and it
will soon be over,but when he died I was like 'Woah'..you know what I'm
sayin..I mean it happend so fast.. you know what I'm sayin , even though we
was going threw our drama I will NEVER
wished death on no one!'cause they will get back{echo}...

Perhaps I was addicted to tha dark side
Some where inside my childhood witnessed my heart die
And even though we both came from the same places
The money and the fame made us all change places
How could it be through the misery
That can't get past the hard times
Made a true friend afraid to ask, for currency
But you could run to me when you need me, I'll never leave
I just needed someone to believe in, as you can see
It's a small thang through and true
What could I do? Real homies help ya get through,
And coming new, he'd do tha same thang if he could
Cuz in the hood true homies make you feel good
And happy times we be acting up call tha cops
Bringing the cease to tha peace that was on my block
It never stop, when my mama ask me will I change
I tell her yeah, but it's clear I'll always be tha same
Until the end of time

Refrain:
So take, these broken wings
Use your hands to come and heal me once again
(Until the end of time)
So I can fly away, until the end of time
Until the end of time
Until the end of time

Please Lord forgive me for my life of sin
My hard stare seem to scare all my sister's kids
So you know I don't hang around tha house much
Diss all night money making got me outta touch, shit
Ain't flashed a smile in a long while
An unexpected birth worst of the ghetto childs
My attitude got me walking solo
Ride out alone in my low-low
Watching the whole world move in slow-mo
For quiet times disappear to the ocean
Smoking Ports think my thoughts
Then it's back to coasting
Who can I trust in this cold world
My phony homey had a baby by my own girl
But I ain't trippin I'm a player
I ain't sweating him
I sex his sister, had her mo' good like a Mexican
His next of kin
No remorse it was meant to happen
Besides rapping the only thing I did good was scrapping
Until the end of time

Refrain:
So take, these broken wings
Use your hands to come and heal me once again
(Until the end of time)
So I can fly away, until the end of time
Until the end of time
Until the end of time

Now who's to say if I was right or wrong?
To live my life as an outlaw all along
Remain strong in this planet full of playa haters
They conversate but Death Row full of demonstrators
And in tha end drinking henessy made all my enemies envy me
So cold when I flow eliminating easily
Falls to they knees, they plead for they right to breath
While beggin me to keep the peace (haha)
Well I can see close into achieve
In times of danger don't freeze time to be a g
Follow my lead I supply everything you need
An ounce of game and the trainin to make a g
Remember me, as an outcast outlaw
Another album out that's what I'm about, more
Gettin raw till the day I see my casket
Buried as a g while tha whole world remembers me
Until the end of time

Refrain:
So take, these broken wings
Use your hands to come and heal me once again
(Until the end of time)
So I can fly away, until the end of time
Until the end of time
Until the end of time

[2Pac]
I feel you {uhh} .. (baby don't)
but you can't, you can't give up
{Hey.. 2Pac what?}

[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {Outlawz}
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {Keep ya head up}

[2Pac]
Now here's a story bout a woman with dreams
So picture perfect at thirteen, an ebony queen
Beneath the surface it was more than just a crooked smile
Nobody knew about her secret so it took a while
I could see a tear fall slow down her black cheek
Sheddin quiet tears in the back seat; so when she asked me,
"What would you do if it was you?"
Couldn't answer such a horrible pain to live through
I tried to trade places in the tragedy
I couldn't picture three crazed niggaz grabbin me
For just a moment I was trapped in the pain, Lord come and take me
Four niggaz violated, they chased and they raped me
Even though it wasn't me, I could feel the grief
Thinkin with your brains blown that would make the pain go
No! You got to find a way to survive
cause they win when your soul dies

[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby please don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {never give up}
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {never give up}
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry

[Edi Amin]
Uhh
Forget him girl (forget him girl) he ain't gon' never change
I ain't no hater but that nigga lost in the game
After the bright lights and big thangs
he probably could loev you, but he in love with the struggle
Everyday, his mind on gettin mo' (gettin mo')
and never your feelings, he's chasin millions fo' sho'
Uh oh (uh oh), now you bout to have his baby? (dayamn)
Another wild-ass nigga that's gon' drive you crazy
You got too much, mo', livin to do - I'm spittin this to you,
cause you deserve more than what he givin to you (that's right)
Beautiful, black, precious, and complicated
A new millennium dime piece, so fine she
got em all stuck standin still when she come through
Baby take a little mo' time, love'll find you
And show us the sky's blue somebody other than me
gon' give you everything you need, feel me?
{Don't cry-ahhhhh..}

[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {you'll be alright}
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {you'll be alright}
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {keep your head up}
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {never give up}
Even when the road is hard, never give up {no no.. ohhhh}
Baby don't cry

[Young Noble]
I'm tryin to do all that I can, from jump
Now you losin, you was choosin the wrong man
Dealt the wrong hand, you was young and beautiful
Lost and turned out, what you let that nigga do to you? (Damn)
I knew her since elementary, she blew a kiss to me
Wrote me a note in crayon, wantin to get with me
We was kids, now she got three kids
They see their father e'ryday, and they don't know who he is
Seen him last night, homey roll a E-class
Mad cheese in the stash, still a deadbeat dad
I bring her, Pampers and food, just to stop through
But those, ain't my seeds, nuttin really I could do (nah)
I feel pity for you, you ain't even his wife
Seventeen with three kids, locked down for life
Shoulda chose me, she bout to O.D. from the pressure
Hell nah I won't let her {BABY DON'T CRY}

[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {you'll be alright}
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {baby don't cry}
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {baby baby baby}
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {no..}
Even when the road is hard, never give up {no-ohhhh}
Baby don't cry, I gotta keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {ooooh baby}
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {keep your head up}
{keep your head up, never give up}
Even when the road is hard, never give up, baby don't cry

[Young Noble]
Uhh, uhh, yeah, don't give up {you'll be alright}
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry

[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up, baby don't cry

[Edi Amin]
For all the ladies {Soulshock, Karlin}
Baby don't cry
Got to keep your head up {keep your head up}
Makaveli the Don {head up} aight?

I see no changes I wake up in the morning and I ask myself Is life worth living or should I blast myself I'm tired of being poor and even worse I'm black my stomach hurts so I'm looking for a purse to snatch Cops give a damn about a negro Pull a trigger kill a nigga he's a hero Givin' crack to the kids who the hell cares one less hungry mouth on the welfare worship dope let'em deal the brotha's give'em guns step back watch them kill each other It's time to fight back that's what Hewie said 2 shots in the dark now Hewie's dead I got love for my brotha But we could never go nowhere unless we share with each other we gotta start making changes learn to see me as a brotha instead of 2 distant strangers and that's how it's supposed to be how can anotha' take a brotha' if he's close to me I love to go back to when we played as kids but things changed-that's the way it is

(Chorus)

That's just the way it is Things will never be the same That's just the way it is Oh yeah That's just the way it is Things will never be the same That's just the way it is Oh yeah

I see no changes All I see is racist faces misplaced hate makes discrased the races we under I wonder what it takes to make this one better place let's erase the wasted take the evil out the people they'll be acting right cause both black and white are smokin' crack tonight and the only time we chill is when we kill each other it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other and I know it seems evident we aint ready to see a black president it aint a secret don't conceal the facts up penetentery back and it's filled with blacks but some things will never change try to show another way, but you're staying in the dope game now tell me what's a mother to do being real to the deal to the brotha in you you gotta operate the easy way "I made a G today" but you made it in a sleezy way selling crack to the kids "I gotta get paid" well hey well that's the way it is

(chorus)

we gotta make a change it's time for us as a people to start making some changes let's change the way we eat let's change the way we live and let's change the way we treat each other you see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do what we gotta do.....to survive

and still I see no changes can't a brotha get a little peace, it's war in the streets and the war in the middle east instead of war on the poverty, they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me and I aint never did a crime I aint had to do but now I'm back with the facts giving it back to you don't let them jack you up, back you up, crack you up, and pimp slap you up you gotta learn to hold your own they gettin' jealous when they see you with your mobile phone but tell the cops they can't touch this I don't trust this when they try to rush I bust this that's the sound of my 2 but they say it and cool and my momma didn't raise no fool and as long as I stay black I gotta stay strapped and I never get to lay back cause I always gotta worry about the payback something rough that I roughed up way back coming back after all those years ratta tat tat tat tat that's the way it is

(chorus)

some things never change

Change, shit I guess change is good for any of us Whatever it take for any ya'll Niggas ta get up outta tha hood.Shit I'm wit ya Cuz I ain't mad at cha. Got nuthin but love for ya. Do your thing boy Yeah, all tha homies that I ain't talk ta in a while I'ma send this one out ta all ya. Know what I mean ? Cuz I ain't mad at cha Heard ya'll tearin up shit out there. Kickin up dust. Givin a mutha fuck (hahaha) Yeah Niggas. Cuz I ain't mad at cha. Now we was once two Niggas of tha same kind Quick ta holla at a hoochie wit tha same line You was just a lil smalla but ya still rolled Got stressed to Y.A. and hit tha hood swole Remember when ya had a jeri curl didn't quite learn On tha block wit ya glock trippin off sherm Collect calls ta tha tip sayin how ya changed Oh you a Muslim now, no more dope game. Heard ya might be comin home just got bail Wanna go ta tha Mosque don't wanna chase tail It seems I lost my lil homie he's a changed man Hit tha Penn and now no sinnin is tha game plan When I talk about money all you see is tha struggle, When I tell ya I'm livin large, you tell me it's trouble Congradulations on tha weddin. I hope your wife know she got a playa for life And that's no bullshittin. I know we grew apart, ya probably don't remember I usta fiend for your sista, but neva went up in herAnd I can see us afta school We'd bomb on tha first mutha fucka wit tha wrong shit on And now tha whole shit's changed, and we don't even kick it Got a big money scheme and you ain't even wit it Knew in my heart you was tha same mutha fucka that Go toe to toe when It's time to roll you got a brotha's back And I can't even trip, cuz I'm just laughin at ya Ya tryin hard ta maintain and go head Cuz I ain't mad at cha

(Chorus -- Danny Boy)

Ooooooohhhhh. I ain't mad at cha (I ain't mad at cha) I ain't mad at cha

We used ta be like distant cousins. Fightin, playin dozins Whole neighborhood buzzin. Knowin that we wasn't Used to catch us on tha roof or behind tha stairs I'm gettin blitz and I'm reminicing all tha times we shared Besides bumpin and grindin wasn't nothin on our mind In time we learned ta live a life of crime. Rewind us back to a time Was much to young ta know. I caught a felony lovin tha way tha guns blow And even tho we seperated, you said that you'd wait Don't give nobody no coochie while I'll be locked up state I kiss my mama goodbye and wipe tha tears from her lonely eyes Said I'll return but I gotta fight tha bitch that ride Don't shed a tear, cuz mama I ain't happy here Blew trial, now no more smiles for a couple years. They got me goin mad I'm knocking brutha's on they backs in my cell think in hell I know one day I'll be back. As soon as I touch down, I told my girl I'll be there So prepare, to get fucked down The homies wanna kick it, but I'm just laughin at ya. Cuz you'se a down ass bitch And I ain't mad at cha

(Chorus)

But you're a down ass bitch and I ain't mad at cha Well guess who's movin up this Nigga's ballin now Bitches be callin ta get it, hookers keep fallin down He went from nothin to a lot. Ten karats tha spot. Went from a nobody Nigga Ta tha big man on tha block. He's mista local celebrity. Addicted ta move a key Most hated by enemy. Escaping tha luxury See first you was out Nigga but you made it. So tha choice is made Now we gotta slay you while you faded. In tha younger days So full of pain while tha weapons blazeG. ettin so high off tha bomb Hopin we make it ta tha betta days Cuz crime pays, and In time you'll find a rhyme That'll blaze you'll feel tha fire from tha Niggas in my younger days So many changed on me, so many tried ta plot That I keep a glock beside my haaand, when will it stop ? Til god return me ta my essence. Cuz even as an adolesence I refusee ta be a convelescent

So many question's and they ask me if I'm still down I moved up outta tha ghetto, so I ain't real now ? They got so much ta say, but I'm just laughin at ya. Ya Niggas just don't know But I ain't mad at cha

(Chorus)

Turn it up loud. Hahaha, ahahaha, hey man. You a little sucker for love, right? Word up, hahahahaha.

I shoulda seen you was trouble right from the starrrrt, taught me so many lessons How not to mess with broken hearts, so many questions When this began we was the perfect match, perhaps we had some problems but we workin at it, and now the arguments are gettin loud, I wanna say But I can't help from walkin out just a little way Just take my hand and understand, if you could see I never planned to be a man it just wasn't me But now I'm searchin for commitment, in other arms I wanna shelter you from harm, don't be alarmed Your attitude was the cause, you got me stressin Soon as I open up the door with your jealous questions Like where can I be you're killin me with your jealousy Now my ambition's to be free I can't breathe, cause soon as I leave, it's like a trap I hear you callin me to come back, I'm a sucka for love ... that's right, sucka for love.

Chorus: (repeat 2X) Just when I thought I broke away and I'm fellin happy You try to trap me say you pregnant and guess who the daddy Don't wanna fall for it, but in this case what could I do? So now I'm back to makin promises to you, tryin to keep it true What if I'm wrong, a trick to keep me on and on Tryin to be strong and in the process, keep you goin I'm bout to lose my composure, I'm gettin close To packin up and leavin notes, and gettin ghost Tell me who knows, a peaceful place where I can go To clear my head I'm feelin low, losin control My heart is sayin leave, oh what a tangle web we weave when we conspire to conceive, and now You gettin calls at the house, guess you cheatin That's all I need to hear cause I'm leavin, I'm out the do' Never no more will you see me, this is the end Cause now I know you've been cheatin, I'm a sucka for love ... damn, sucka for love... sucka for love... sucka for love. Now he left you with scars, tears on your pillow and you still stay As you sit and pray, hoping the beatings'll go away It wasn't always a hit and run relationship It use to be love, happieness and companionship. Remember when I treated you good I moved you up to hills, out the ills of the ghetto hood Me and you a happy home, when it was onI had a love to call my own I shoulda seen you was trouble but I was lost, trapped in your eyes Preoccupied with gettin tossed, no need to lie You had a man and I knew it, you told me Don't worry bout it we can do it now I'm under pressure Make a decision cause I'm waitin, when I'm alone I'm on the phone havin secret conversations, huh I wanna take your misery, replace it with happiness but I need your faith in me, I'm a sucka for love ... sucka for love, know you ain't right G but yet I'ma sucka for love.

Chorus

... I'ma sucka for love, sucka for love... Sucka for love

Chorus

Chorus

California...knows how to party. California...knows how to party In the citaaay of L.A. In the citaaay of good ol' Watts In the citaaay, city of Compton. We keep it rockin! We keep it rockin!

Verse One:

Dr. Dre

Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness The track hits ya eardrum like a slug to ya chest Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex We in that sunshine state with a bomb ass hemp beat the state where ya'll never find a dance floor empty And pimps be on a mission for them greens lean mean money-makin-machine servin fiends I been in the game for ten years makin rap tunes ever since honeys was wearin sassoon. Now it's '95 and they clock me and watch me Diamonds shinin lookin like I robbed Liberace It's all good, from Diego to tha Bay. Your city is tha bomb if your city makin pay Throw up a finger if ya feel the same way. Dre puttin it down for Californ-i-a

(Chorus)

Shake it shake it babyShake it shake it baby. Shake it shake it mama Shake it Cali Shake it shake it baby. Shake it shake it shake it shake it...

Verse Two:

2Pac

Out on bail fresh outta jail California dreamin Soon as I stepped on the scene. I'm hearin hoochies screamin Fiendin for money and alcoholthe life of a west side playa where cowards die and it's all ball. Only in Cali where we riot not rallies to live and die In L.A. we wearin Chucks not Ballies (yeah that's right) Dressed in Loques and khaki suits and ride is what we do Flossin but have caution we collide with other crews Famous cause we program worldwide. Let'em recognize from Longbeach to Rosecrans Bumpin and grindin like a slow jam, it's west side So you know the row won't bow down to no man. Say what you say But give me that bomb beat from Dre. Let me serenade the streets of L.A. From Oakland to Sacktown. The Bay Area and back down Cali is where they put they mack down. Give me love!

(Chorus)

(d re)

now make it shake...

Outro: Dre, 2Pac

Uh, yeah, uh, longbeach in tha house, uh yeah Oaktown, Oakland definately in tha house hahaha. Frisko, Frisko

(Tupac)

hey, you know LA is up in thisPasadina, where you at yeah, Ingelwood, Ingelwood always up to no good (Tupac) even Hollywood tryin to get a piece baby Sacramento, sacramento where ya at? yeah

(Tupac)

Throw it up y'all, throw it up, Throw it upI can't see ya Let's show these fools how we do this on that west side Cause you and I know it's tha best side Just come on shake shake it baby baby baby shake it mama shake it mama sake it mamarichter scale Talken about an earthquake on the richter scale

mama mama mama ...city of Compton city of Comptonwhere the girls shake their bootiesshake it mamashake it baby shake shake it babyshake shake itcomputer puter puter puter ...

You are appreciated...

When I was young,me and my mama had beef. 17 years old kicked out on tha streets. though back in tha time,never thought I'd see her face. ain't a woman alive that can take my mommas place. suspended from school,sccared ta go home. I was a fool with tha big boys breaking all tha rules. shed tears with my baby sister. over tha years we wuz poorer than tha other little kids. and eventhough we had different daddies. tha same drama when things wehnt wrong we blamed mama. I reminised on tha stress I caused,it wuz hell. hugg'en on my mama from a jail cell. and who'd think in elementry,heey I'd see the penatentry. one day. running from tha police,that's right. momma catch me---put a whopp'en to my backside. and even as a crack fiend mama, ya always was a black queen. I finally understand for a woman. it ain't easy---trying ta raise a man. ya always wuz commited,a poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it. there's no way I can pay ya back. but tha plan is ta show ya that I understand. you are appreciated....

Chorus:

Laaady,don't cha know we luv ya. Sweeeeeet Laaady,place no one about ya. Sweeeeeet Laaady,don't cha know we luv ya.

Ain't nobody tell us it wuz fair. no luv for my daddy,cause tha coward wuzn't there. he passed away and I didn't cry. cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a strnager. they say I'm wrong and I'm heartless. but all along I wuz looking for a father---he wuz gone. I hung around with tha thug's and eventhought they sold drugs. they showed a young brother luv. I moved out and started really hang'in. I needed money of my own so I started slang'in. I ain't guilty cause,eventhough I sell rocks. it feels good,putting money in your mailbox. I love paying rent when tha rents due. I hope ya got tha diamond necklace that I sent to you. cause when I wuz low,you was there for me. ya never left me alone,cause ya cared for me. and I can see ya coming home after work late. ya in tha kitchen trying ta fix us a hot plate. just working with tha scraps you wuz given. and mama made miracles every Thanksgiving. but now tha road got rough,your alone. trying ta raise two bad kids on your own. and ther's no way I can pay ya back. but my plan is ta show ya that I understand. you are appreciated...

Chorus:

Laaady,don't cha know we luv ya. Sweeeeet Laaady,place no one above ya. Sweeeeet Laaady,don't cha know we luv ya.

pour out some piquor and I remenise. cause through tha drama,I can always depend on my mama. and when it seems that I'm hopeless. you say tha words that can get me back in focus. when I wuz sick as a little kid. ta keep me happy theres no limit to tha things ya did. and all my childhood memories. are full of all tha sweet things ya did for me. I got ta thank tha Lord tha ya maaaaade me. there are no words that can express how I feel. ya never kept a secret,always satyed real. and I appreciate how ya raised me. and all tha extra love that ya gave me. I wish I could take tha pain away. if you can make it through tha night,there's a brighter day. everything'll be alright if ya hold on. it's a struggle. everyday gotta roll on. and there's no way I can pay ya back. but my plan is ta chow ya that I understand. you are appreciated...

Chorus:

Laaaady,don't cha know we luv ya. Sweeeet Laaaady,place no one above ya. Sweeeet Laaaady,don't cha know we luv ya,Sweeeet Laaaady.

Laaaaaady.......(fades)....Laaaady