I was just nineteen, tryna hold it down,
Sister fifteen, tears on the ground,
My babes within my arms,
Dey never make a sound,
Mama took her last breath, I was lost, I was drowned.
I keep reaching for a hand that ain’t there,
Echoes of your voice still hang in the air,
Eight years later, but it still ain’t fair,
Still ain’t fair…
Like the leaves in the fall, you were gone too soon,
One by one, they all fade like the moon,
Tried to save you, tried to stay strong,
But the pain’s been singing the same old song.
I met a boy I thought I loved, just to turn around,
Made the same mistakes as you, let myself fall down,
Thought he was the one, thought his love was home,
But instead of flowers, he sent stones,
That left me scarred and alone,
Where are you, Mama? I needed you then,
Fell into the darkness, thought it wouldn’t end,
Three years later, now I’m sober, I’m free,
Left that boy alone, found the love meant for me.
Met a friend, she felt like home,
Picked me up when I felt alone,
But dope took her, just like you,
I prayed and prayed, but I still lost two.
Like the leaves in the fall, you were gone too soon,
One by one, they all fade like the moon,
Tried to save you, tried to stay strong,
But the pain’s been singing the same old song.
Put my sister through high school, are you proud now?
And I’m ‘bout to be an auntie, you’re not here—wow,
Got a man who loves me, I ain’t scared no more,
Can you see me, Mama? I’m not broken like before.
I’ve got two babies now, Mason and Gracelynn,
Wish you could hold them, wish you could see them,
Tell me, Mama, do they have your smile?
Do you see them laughing from up there in the clouds?