[Intro – soft finger-picked acoustic, warm and reflective] Mmm… Mama… [Verse 1] Black and white snapshot, tiny hand in yours First cry in the night on them old hardwood floors Rocking chair creakin’ under that dim lamp glow You sang me through the shadows till the morning glow From a baby wrapped in faded calico You gave me roots before I ever knowed [Verse 2] Polaroid pictures, scraped knees and dirty jeans You kissed the hurt and showed me what a man means Little league fields and Sunday dinner grace You mended broken toys and the tears on my face Every mile down this dirt road we have roamed You painted color where there wasn’t none [Pre-Chorus] Through the years you never asked for praise Just loved me deeper with every passing day [Chorus] Mama, I see it now… in color Every sacrifice, every prayer you covered From baby cries to the man standin’ here You made the whole damn picture crystal clear Mama, thank you for the life you gave For every storm you weathered, every road you paved For all the mamas, blood or chosen kin On this Mother’s Day… we sing this back again [Verse 3] Faded album pages, teenage storms and broken dreams You stood right there when I pushed against the seams Late-night porch lights and coffee in the kitchen You held my pieces when the world left me missin’ Taught me how to stand, showed me how to forgive Your quiet strength is the reason that I live [Bridge – softer, almost spoken over gentle guitar and pedal steel] And when those papers said you weren’t blood of mine You smiled and said, “Love don’t need no bloodline” Chosen or born, it never changed a thing You gave this lost boy a family and wings [Final Chorus – fuller arrangement, emotional swell with harmonies] Mama, I see it now… in color Raised a baby, a child, a wild young man, a son From first breath to these gray hairs comin’ on You made the difference — you were my dawn For every mother who loved through joy and pain Who gave their heart so we could break the chains On this Mother’s Day we raise our voice and say Mama… thank you… we’re here because you stayed [Outro – acoustic and pedal steel fade with soft ad-libs] In color… Yeah, I see it now… in color… Mama… thank you… I’m home…
