Dear Mama, tell me why's it gotta be so hard   I'm just trying to find my place and I'm still so far   I don't wanna live the rest of my life like this   somebody help, this hell has disguised my gifts   and Dear Son, I will do better 'cause I owe you that much   I must push on, be strong and never give up   Now bring it back, bring it back, bring it back      One boy with three sisters   two perfect parents and a brand new home completes the picture   oh yeah, you had a dog   we used to visit on Thanksgiving but were treated rather odd sometimes   like we was misfits   me and my brothers would fart & cuss but that was some regular kid shit   Aunty Terri didn't like that   I know she sheltered ya'll a bit, I used to think that was the right track   you ate proper, watched your bed times and such   went to church every Sunday, and we would rough you up when we saw you   but you was tough though on the under   not tough enough to deal with the lightning and thunder   a mama's boy felt when his mama boned out   left you high and dry so that she could zone out   I know it hurt, for that she dirt but maybe we could forgive her   and she don't cry you no river, just get her life together.      Dear Mama, tell me why's it gotta be so hard   I'm just trying to find my place and I'm still so far   I don't wanna live the rest of my life like this   somebody help, this hell has disguised my gifts   and Dear Son, I will do better 'cause I owe you that much   I must push on, be strong and never give up   Now bring it back, bring it back, bring it back.      Somebody did you wrong, my cousin   it wasn't your fault, your mama wasn't strong, keep lovin   I see you fallin down while I'm rubbing elbows 'round the town   I'm feeling your pain, though   You try and ease it but the drugs make your head hang low   search for a reason from above, it just ain't so   you're dyin slow, folks around you crying, trying everything   but it feels like there ain't no hope   and so I wrote this song before you die   'cause music cannot bring you back no matter how we try   and you know you ain't right   your son's mother's already gone now your fucking up this life, Matthew   I say that 'cause it's true, I wanna wake you   human, I wanna shake you so you can make a break through and fix it   I don't understand what the risk is   I love you man, handle your business...      Dear Mama, tell me why's it gotta be so hard   I'm just trying to find my place and I'm still so far   I don't wanna live the rest of my life like this   somebody help, this hell has disguised my gifts   and Dear Son, I will do better 'cause I owe you that much   I must push on, be strong and never give up   Now bring it back, bring it back, bring it back.