[Intro] From the heart… Dedicated to the ones who held the house down when the lights went out. Single moms working double shifts. Tried to keep us out the dirt, even when the dirt was right outside the screen door. Here we go..... [Verse 1] Sun-baked concrete, sirens sing a lullaby Ninety-four, Chevrolet with a busted side-view eye Mama left the house at five, clocking into county pay Scrubbing floors and filing sheets so we could eat today She walked through that front door smelling like bleach and sweat A single queen carrying a mountain of regret Trying to shield four kids from the shadows of the block Where the dope fiends wander and the Glock clips pop She said, "You ain't stepping foot where the corner boys hang, I didn't push nine months to bury sons in a gang." Strict as a warden, leather belt across the knee Because she loved us way too much to let the streets set us free. [Chorus] Roll the windows down, let the bass line thump From the bottom of the map to the highest-ranking pump She kept us honest, kept us clear of the poison cup Even when the world tried to tear our future up From a strict home hand to a grown-up plan Now I gotta get the paper, gotta pay what I can For the queen of the coast, yeah, she paved the way And I’mma look out for my mama till my dying day. [Verse 2] But kids gonna test boundaries, man, I slipped off the path Tasted cheap gin, felt the reaper's aftermath Cough syrup nights, rolling dice behind the store Sneaking out the bedroom window, dodging creaking floor Got tangled with the wrong crowd, thought I was a G Ignoring every single tear she shed over me I caught a couple charges, had a close call with a box Handcuffs cold, sitting staring at the station locks Mama didn't holler when she bailed me out that night Just looked me in the eyes with a slow, heavy sigh "I raised you better than this garbage in the street," That quiet disappointment hurt worse than any heat. [Chorus] Roll the windows down, let the bass line thump From the bottom of the map to the highest-ranking pump She kept us honest, kept us clear of the poison cup Even when the world tried to tear our future up From a strict home hand to a grown-up plan Now I gotta get the paper, gotta pay what I can For the queen of the coast, yeah, she paved the way And I’mma look out for my mama till my dying day. [Verse 3] Took a few more bumps, bruised ego, scarred pride Got a reality check looking deep inside I saw the grey in her hair, saw the crook in her spine From decades of grinding right on the poverty line She never bought a diamond, never took a luxury trip Just kept her knuckles white on that sinking ship While we complained about shoes, she went barefoot in soul Sacrificing every dream just to keep us whole I finally dropped the drink, left the corner to decay Put my focus on a check and a legitimate way Cleaned up my act, walked the narrow, straight line Turned the shadow of my youth into a golden sign. [Verse 4] Now her hands shake a little when she holds her tea And those heavy-handed lessons finally crystal clear to me She wasn’t being mean, she was keeping us alive In a concrete jungle where the ruthless only thrive Now she’s aging in the house that I bought her in the hills No more stressing over rent, no more overdue bills I look at her smile, man, it’s worth a million grand Got the globe in our palms, got the world in our hand. I love you, Mama, for the discipline and grace Seeing you smile is my favorite resting place. [Bridge] Time moves fast when you're caught in the hustle... Age slows down even the strongest muscle... Every scar, every yell, every tear she cried— Was just love disguised with armor and pride. Yeah, love disguised with armor and pride... Look at us now, Mama. We made it to the other side. [Chorus] Roll the windows down, let the bass line thump From the bottom of the map to the highest-ranking pump She kept us honest, kept us clear of the poison cup Even when the world tried to tear our future up From a strict home hand to a grown-up plan Now I gotta get the paper, gotta pay what I can For the queen of the coast, yeah, she paved the way And I’mma look out for my mama till my dying day. [Outro] Yeah. That’s for every single mother working double shifts out in California. Every hand that had to be hard so the heart could stay soft. We see you. We appreciate you. We payin' you back now. Love you Momma.........
