I need a reason to get up /before I wash my face   The junkies, the Hookers, the dealers the place   kickin' off my covers / trippin' off the fact   that I haven't called my gramma in a long, long time   standin in the shower/ for almost half an hour   Tryin' to wake up/ and I'm lookin for the power   reachin' for the towel/ with soap in my eyes   dryin' off my shoulders,/ my chest, and my thighs   The next thing I know/ the telephone rings   I hear my own voice /on the answering machine   please leave a message/ I'm glad ya called   I listen for a voice /but there's nothin' at all   Man oh Man   I gotta kick the blues    and pay respect where respect is due   all praises to GOD the one I return to    the one I can turn to   when I'm feelin burned to the bone       (chorus)    Early in the morn/ before I wash my face   The bed is still warm but there's an empty space    Easrly in the morn/ before I wash my face    a hundred thousand miles is a lonely place      At six in the morning /she rolled outa bed    stared out the window/ and then she said   that I wasn't her type...   I think she's runnin outa types though...and I told her so.   She picked up her things and walked through the door    and then said that she couldn't see me no more   just as she was leaving /I asked her if she'd call   she didn't look back / said nuttin at all   I didn't change my clothes/ because they smell like you   and when I took a shower it reminded me of you   I called Gramma Brown/for advice    it happened to me once/it happened to me twice   Michael/ my son/ you sound really bugged    I wish that you were here /so I could to you give   a hug then she gave me/ a long, long talk   she said "you have the patience /of ice on a sidewalk"   when things get rough/ don't sweat it   sometimes in life you just have to let it   and sing out a song / so strong   that even a bad dream couldn't bring harm   to the mind of a young childs battles    formed from the candle light shadows   her voice is like a whispering kiss on the forehead       (chorus)    Early in the morn/ before I wash my face   The bedisstill warmbut there's an empty space    Early in the mornin/beforeIwashmy face   a hundred thousand miles is a lonely place      In the last thirty minutes/before I fall asleep   when I have said my prayers /and I have brushed my teeth   This is the time /when I am forced to think about    all of the things/ I been tryin to forget about   The Bills, the phone, cleanin up my room   the cars, the traffic, the speakers and the boom   alone I remember /the times with me and you   and I realize my heart is shakin' up the room   Gramma she would tell us /about the glory days   and gramma she would tell us/ about when we were slaves    in the livin' room/ pianos outa tune   on top of it the pictures /of every bride and groom    child/ grand child /lost child   every single tear shed / every single smile   'cause everybodies got/ alota shit to deal with   and life doesn't stop/ it just makes ya feel it   so shake the dust/ offa your feet   take a step forward/ liberate with the beat   so for you/ I wrote this song    I wanted you to hear it/ before you are gone.   the African in me/ the Seminole in me   These are some a things my grandmother gave   to me some believe there are and some believe there   ain't if ever there was one my gramma Brown she is a saint       (chorus)   Early in the morn/ before I wash my face   The bed isstill warmbut there'san empty space    Earlyin themornin/ before I wash my face   a hundred thousand miles is a lonely place