My mother had a brother   They say that I was born on the day that he died   Someone to cling to, she said   When all the noises and the shame came calling      My mother had a brother   I thought I knew them all, I thought I knew but she lied   I said, "Show me his face again   Tell me again why he died"      She said, he couldn't wait for the things that I've seen   She said, he wasn't strong enough   He never dared to dream a life like mine      My mother had a brother, over-sensitive and kind   Seems it all became much too much for him, it seems he took his own life   Mum, I can't imagine the joy and pain in equal measure   Tears in the dirt, and all over your newborn treasure      I guess he had to wait until my momma had me   I guess he couldn't wait another moment to be free   In endless sky      But mama will you tell him from your boy   The times they changed   I guess the world was getting warmer   And we got stronger      Mother, will you tell him about my joy   I live each day for him   The sun came out, yeah   And I'm just breathing it in, yeah      My mother had a brother   Same desire, different time   Seems the empty spaces tortured him   Until he took his own life      I don't know why I waited so long for love   I just don't know what I was thinking of   All that wasted time      But mama, will you tell him from your boy   The times they changed   I guess the world was getting warmer   While we got stronger      Mother, will you tell him about my joy   I live each day with him   Your son came out, yeah, yeah   And I'm still breathing it in      And I swear now that freedom is here   I'm gonna taste it all for you, boy   I'm bad to the bone, I'm just a little torn   I'm making so much love      So those of us who have nothing to fear   We've got to make damn sure that it was worth it   I'm bad to the bone, I'm just a little stoned   I'm making so much love, I'm making so much love      I was a prisoner, but he saved me   Broke into my dreams and said, "Who cares?   I was a prisoner, so disgrace me   I'm glad to be home and I don't believe they care