Dear Mom ((8-2-2016) [Live in Chicago])

Dear Mom, When I was young me and Mom had beef 17 years old kicked out on the street- I deserved that I'm ashamed of the way I used to speak to you Wish I could but I can't reverse that Especially to you Your daddy told you a woman's place Is in the house and not in the school You paid your own tuition, got your own degree Started your own business, and then you had me How can I repay the lady that looked me In the eyes when I took my first breath Held my little hand when I took my first step I can't wait to sell out that arena on my own for the first time You always told me, It's not your first try, it's how many tries after that I mean how lucky am I That I was born and you were mine? Life's crazy You know, my parents used to worry about me 'Cuz I barely talked to anybody Just made beats Now isn't it ironic I get paid by the syllable? I gotta thank them though, I know it can be difficult As I tiptoe in and out of zip codes, All on a mission to love- that's what I live for! I got big dreams Ma, I got big goals! You see my old ones now because I lived those! Whoo! You gotta admit Ma, I told you I'd get into Duke, and I did Ma I told you I would get signed, and I did Ma Look at this Ma! Look at this Ma! But as I get older, you do too Our time gets shorter, and that's just truth So I leave with three words They are not eloquent, They are cliché, And they are not clever, They are: I Love You