Left at the door of a stranger   I was left there in the middle of the night   left by someone who couldnt keep me   but what she did turned out just right      in a little southern town by a river   in a building called sheer croppers shack   lord i was raised from a babe to manhood   by a mama who was black      to me she was my mama   though blood didnt do this   she had love that was more than sufficient    from a mama who was black      I never knew brothers and sisters   I never had a dad to call my own   but as long lord as i can remember   black mama she made a good home      Im sure that most folks it looked different   when they saw me upon her old knee   for as I grew up and we traveled around   when they saw black mama and me      to me she's still my mama   I know blood I could never do that   but I had love that was more than sufficient    by a mama who was black      I recieved a message of sadness   I ran to her side right away   but before I could speak with her    black mama passed away      today for me neighbors is a sad one   as I stand with my tears running free   her life here on earth is over   god took black mama from mama      to me she was my mama   though blood didnt do that   she had love that was more than sufficient    from a mama who was black      but I had love that was more than sufficient    for a mama who was black