I RAISED YOU TO STAND [Verse 1] I never told you life would treat you fair, Or promised someone else would always care. I taught you, earn your way and know your worth, Plant your own roots deep into this earth. I couldn't stop your hearts from breaking down, But taught you how to rise up from the ground. I couldn't move each mountain from your way, So I raised you strong enough to face the day. [Pre-Chorus] Maybe I was hard when you needed kind, Maybe you couldn't see what was on my mind. But everything I did, and everything I planned, Was trying to raise my girls to firmly stand. [Chorus] I raised you to stand when you're standing alone, To build your own life, make your own home. To work for your dreams, to earn what you own, To never need someone just to stand on your own. I raised you to fight for the woman inside, To never sell your worth or swallow your pride. You don't have to thank me or take my hand, But look at you now... I raised you to stand. [Verse 2] I taught you ain't a damn thing truly free, There's always more than what your eyes can see. So earn your own money, make your own way, Don't sell tomorrow just to live for today. Your body is yours, and your worth has no price, Don't trade who you are for an easier life. Work for your living, let your own hands provide, So nobody can own you or purchase your pride. [Pre-Chorus] I wanted you to learn what I learned too late, To hold your own keys and decide your own fate. You might've thought Mama didn't understand, But I was busy teaching you how to stand. [Chorus] I raised you to stand when you're standing alone, To build your own life, make your own home. To work for your dreams, to earn what you own, To never need someone just to stand on your own. I raised you to fight for the woman inside, To never sell your worth or swallow your pride. You don't have to thank me or take my hand, But look at you now... I raised you to stand. [Bridge] Maybe you don't talk to me right now, Maybe someday we'll work it all out. Maybe there's hurt that I couldn't see, Maybe you needed something different from me. I won't say I was perfect, I won't say I was right. But I got up every morning And I fought the damn fight. I worked. I worried. I carried the load. I walked beside you Till you found your own road. You can be angry. You can stay away. You can have your truth, And I'll have mine anyway. But nobody can tell me When I look at you today, That I didn't raise some strong-ass women Who can stand up and make their own way. [Breakdown] I wasn't trying to make you need me, I was trying to teach you to be free. 'Cause one day Mama wouldn't be around, And you'd need your own two feet on the ground. Maybe what felt hard was love underneath, A mother scared of what this world could be. So I gave you every lesson in my hands, Because someday you'd have to stand. [Final Chorus] I raised you to stand when the whole world shakes, To fall down hard, then rise from your mistakes. To earn what is yours, speak truth when you can, And never make yourself less for the love of a man. I raised you to love without losing your name, To walk from a love that brings nothing but pain. And wherever you go, whatever life has planned, I'll still be your Mama... And I raised you to stand. [Final Breakdown] You may not understand me. You may still blame me. You may need your distance. You may never thank me. But look in that mirror. Look who you've become. Strong enough to walk When there's nowhere left to run. You work. You survive. You don't wait to be saved. You're strong, beautiful women Who can make your own way. And God, I'm proud of you. Yeah, I'm proud of me too. Because whatever I got wrong, There's one thing I know I got through. [Outro] My beautiful daughters, Go make your own way. Build what you want. Say what you need to say. Love who you love, But don't lose who you are. Don't hand anybody The keys to your heart. If you're beside me, Or we're miles apart, You're still my daughters With your Mama in your heart. You can be mad at me. You can let go of my hand. But baby, look at you... You're still standing. And that's how I know... I did my job. I raised you to stand.
