Annotate the Lyrics for the Song “Tupac Dear Mama”, Essay Example

Dear Mama”

You are appreciated

Mr. Shakur makes clear the intent of his verse at the outset: a statement of appreciation for his mother.

[Verse One: 2Pac]

When I was young me and my mama had beef – beef, utilization of slang, hostility

Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets – autobiographical account, the verse is mainly an autobiography

Though back at the time, I never thought I’d see her face – a moment in their relationship that was perhaps the end of the relationship

Ain’t a woman alive that could take my mama’s place

Suspended from school; and scared to go home, I was a fool

with the big boys, breakin all the rules – regret of his past behavior,

I shed tears with my baby sister

Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids

And even though we had different daddy’s, the same drama

When things went wrong we’d blame mama – recognition of a lack of personal responsibility and the usage of his mother as a scapegoat

I reminice on the stress I caused, it was hell

Huggin on my mama from a jail cell

And who’d think in elementary?

Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one day – the rhyme of elementary and penitentiary connects the two in a manner that suggests Shakur’s resistance to all authority

And runnin from the police, that’s right

Mama catch me, put a whoopin to my backside  – acknowledgement of his mother as an authority figure

And even as a crack fiend, mama

You always was a black queen, mama    for the first time, Shakur says something critical about his mother, in his acknowledgment of her crack cocaine addiction. This, however, is immediately muted by the assertion that she still remains his queen.

I finally understand  – a moment of profound recogntion

for a woman it ain’t easy tryin to raise a man

You always was committed

A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it – distance in time from the events, let Shakur understand everything in a different perspective

There’s no way I can pay you back

But the plan is to show you that I understand – these three lines together: the past lies beyond retribution, so the only thing that can be done is to make clear his admiration

You are appreciated

[Chorus: Reggie Green & “Sweet Franklin” w/ 2Pac]

Lady…

Don’t cha know we love ya? Sweet lady

Dear mama

Place no one above ya, sweet lady

You are appreciated

Don’t cha know we love ya?

Chorus: Mr. Shakur is stating his main intent of the song, which is an apology to his mother for the troubles he has caused her. It is an affirmation of both his love and his respect for his mother, a love which his actions throughout his life, has perhaps obfuscated.

[second and third chorus, “And dear mama” instead of “Dear mama”]

[Verse Two: 2Pac]

Now ain’t nobody tell us it was fair

No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn’t there

He passed away and I didn’t cry, cause my anger

wouldn’t let me feel for a stranger  – absence of a patriarchal figure disrupts the home life, the family unit as a place of struggle

They say I’m wrong and I’m heartless, but all along

I was lookin for a father he was gone

I hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugs  – an attempt to substitute the absent family life with friendship. Love is given a higher value than moral, relative law.

They showed a young brother love

I moved out and started really hangin

I needed money of my own so I started slangin

I ain’t guilty cause, even though I sell rocks

It feels good puttin money in your mailbox – self-preservation and autonomy are more important once again than the law of the Other.

I love payin rent when the rent’s due

I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you – an attempt to affirm love for his mother through material means.

Cause when I was low you was there for me

And never left me alone because you cared for me

And I could see you comin home after work late

You’re in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate – a recognition of the efforts of his mother

Ya just workin with the scraps you was given

And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin

But now the road got rough, you’re alone

You’re tryin to raise two bad kids on your own And there’s no way I can pay you back  – once again retribution is impossible

But my plan is to show you that I understand  – the “plan” makes clear the intent of the song

You are appreciated

[Chorus]

[Verse Three: 2Pac]

Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the drama – a chance for reflection at a later stage in life

I can always depend on my mama

And when it seems that I’m hopeless – despair is alleviated by the matriarchal figure

You say the words that can get me back in focus

When I was sick as a little kid

To keep me happy there’s no limit to the things you did

And all my childhood memories

Are full of all the sweet things you did for me

And even though I act craaazy

I gotta thank the Lord that you made me a self-admission that he has not made the best decisions in life, but is nevertheless grateful for the gift of life

There are no words that can express how I feel

You never kept a secret, always stayed real

And I appreciate, how you raised me

And all the extra love that you gave me

I wish I could take the pain away – once again a recognition that retribution in a true sense is not possible

If you can make it through the night there’s a brighter day

Everything will be alright if ya hold on

It’s a struggle everyday, gotta roll on

And there’s no way I can pay you back

But my plan is to show you that I understand

You are appreciated – closing the text with the same opening re-emphasizes Mr. Shakur’s intent and makes the piece a coherent whole