Chords for Dear Mama

_ _ [B] _ _ _ [Gb] _ [Db] You are [Bbm] appreciated
_ [Ebm] _ _ _ _ [Gb] When [Bb] I was young me and my mama [B] had beef 17 [Abm] years old [Eb] kicked out on the streets [Bbm] go back at the time
I never thought [B] I'd see a face ain't a woman [Ab] alive [Eb] that could take my mama's place
[Bbm] Suspended from school.
He said to [B] go home.
I was a fool [Abm] with the big [Ebm] boys breaking all the rules
[Bbm] Said cheers with my baby [Gb] sister over the years
[Abm] We was bored [Ebm] and love the little kids and [Bbm] even though we had different [B] daddies the same [Abm] drama when things [Ebm] went wrong
We blame mama.
I [Bbm] reminisce on the stress.
[B] I caused it was hell [Abm] hugging [Gb] on my mama from a jail cell
[Bbm] And who think [B] in elementary?
[Abm] Hey, [Ebm] I see the penitentiary one [Bbm] day
Running [Gb] from the police.
That's [Abm] right.
[Ebm] Mama catch me put a weapon [Bbm] to my backside
And even [B] as a crack fiend [Abm] mama, [Ebm] you're always was a black queen [Bbm] mama
I finally [B] understand for a woman.
[Abm] It ain't [Ebm] easy trying to raise a man _
[Bbm] You always [Ebm] was committed a poor [Abm] single mother [Ebm] on welfare.
Tell me how you did [Bbm] it
There's no way I can pay you [B] back.
But the plan [Abm] is to show you [Ebm] that I understand
You are [Bbm] appreciated
[Gb] _ [Abm] You're more [Ebm] to know than [Gb] love
You're sweet than a [B] baby
You're [Abm] the place [Db] no one above you sees
You are [Bbm] appreciated
[B] _ You're more [Gb] to know than love
[Bbm] You're sweet than a baby
Ain't nobody tell [B] us it was fair
No love [Abm] for my daddy [Ebm] cause the coward wasn't there
[Bb] Passed away and I didn't [B] cry
Cause my [Abm] anger wouldn't [Eb] let me feel for a stranger
They [Bbm] say I'm wrong and I'm right
I'm hard [B] list but all along [Abm] I was looking [Gb] for a father he was gone
I [Bbm] hung around with the [B] thugs
And even though they sold [Abm] drugs
They [Ebm] showed a young brother [Bbm] love
I moved out started really [B] hanging
I needed money [Abm] of my own [Ebm] so I started slanging
I ain't guilty [Bbm] cause even though I sell [B] rocks
It feels good [Abm] putting money [Ebm] in your mailbox
I love [Bbm] paying rent when the [Gb] rent's due
I hope you got the [Abm] diamond necklace [Ebm] that I sent to you
Cause when [Bbm] I was low you was there [B] for me
And never let me go
Mama left [Abm] me alone [Ebm] because you cared for me
And I can see you [Bbm] coming home after work [B] late
You're in the kitchen [Abm] trying to fix [Ebm] us a hot plate
[Bbm] You're just working with the scraps [B] you was given
And mama [Abm] made [Ebm] miracles every Thanksgiving
[Bbm] But now the road got rough [B] you're alone
You're trying [Abm] to raise two [Ebm] bad kids on your own
[Bbm] And there's no way I can pay [B] you back
But my plan is to show [Gb] you that I understand
You are [Bbm] appreciated
You're more [B] _ _ [Abm] [Ebm] to know [B] than love
[Gb] And dear mama
[B] _ _ [Abm] _ [Ebm] _ You are [Bbm] appreciated
[B] _ _ [Ab] _ [Ebm] _ _
[Bbm] Boy I'll submit that and I'll [Ebm] reminisce
Cause through the trauma [Abm] I can [Ebm] always depend on my mama
[Bbm] And when it seems that I'm [B] hopeless
You say the [Abm] words that can get me [Ebm] back in focus _
[Bbm] When I was sick as a little [B] kid
To keep me happy [Abm] there's no limit [Ebm] to the things you did
[Bbm] And all my childhood memories
[Ebm] Are full [Abm] of all the sweet [Ebm] things you did for me
[Bbm] And even though I act [B] crazy
I gotta [Abm] thank the lord [Ebm] that you made me
There are [Bbm] no words that can express [B] how I feel
You never [Abm] kept a [Ebm] secret always stayed real
And I [Bbm] appreciate how you [B] raised me
And all [Abm] the extra [Gb] love that you gave me
[Bbm] I wish I could take the pain [B] away
If you can make [Abm] it through the night [Ebm] there's a brighter day
Everything [Bbm] will be alright if you [B] hold on
It's a [Abm] struggle everyday [Ebm] God will go along
And there's [Bbm] no way I can pay [B] you back
But my plan is to show [Ebm] you that I understand
[Bbm] You are appreciated
[Ebm] _ [Abm] You're [Ebm] more to know than love
And [Bbm] dear mama
[B] _ _ [Abm] _ _ [B] You [Bbm] are appreciated
_ [B] _ [Ebm] You're more to know than [Bbm] love
And dear mama
[B] _ [Abm] Dear [Ebm] _ _ _
[Bbm] mama
[B] _ _ [Abm] _ [Ebm] _ _ _ [Bbm] _ _ [B] _ _ [Abm] _ [Ebm] _ _ _