We were growing up on welfare you hustled for survival
none can touch your love for this there is no rival
A smiling mother’s heart as you gave that warm embrace
surviving through the struggles none could ever take your place
the one who steered my youth with a love that was so true
Poverty, madness, the suffering that we knew
Mama held strong pushing forward for the kids
You kept us from those gangs and the drugs in the street
Constant sacrifice, working hard everyday
For the fancy sneakers and to keep food on the plate
My father, yeah he always came around
But dear mama, you’re the one who held it down
for you I write these words expressing all my gratitude
I survived those nasty streets and I owe it all to you
Dear mama, like you there is no other
Dear mama, I swear I’ll always love ya
(2x)
(Dear mama) all the things that you did
(Dear mama) all the pain that you hid
(Dear mama) like you there is no other
Raised into a man you’re like a father & my mother
12 in the evening out looking for your boy
I was playing round you know those streets they were my toy
nowhere to be found misbehaving with my click
Mama searched & searched worried herself sick
2 in the a.m still looking for your son
I’m in the back of pancho’s house talking trash and shooting guns
clack clack clack went the pistol in my hand
smack smack smack went my mother’s striking hand
I hung with People’s Party, Zulu, Kings & Nietas too
but mama knew what’s up and she forbid me from that crew
guided everyday you are the sun to my earth
and I ended up ok mama thanks to your concern
for you I write these words expressing all my gratitude
I survived those nasty streets and I owe it all to you
Dear mama, like you there is no other
Dear mama, I swear I’ll always love ya
(4x)
(Dear mama) all the things that you did
(Dear mama) all the pain that you hid
(Dear mama) like you there is no other
Raised into a man you’re like a father & my mother
Just a life long New Yorker sharing the journey through my lens. Please take note of a post’s date. The views I express here are subject to change and evolving as I grow and learn.
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