VII
Can’t thank you enough.
[Verse 1]
I got a lot I been through for the record
But even growin up together always made it better
And even when the best we did ended up bein trouble
I never sweat it cuz it’s evident we’ll have each other
You used to fight for me when n***as started disrespecting...
Literally, and literally were the cause of literacy for me
You posted all my prom pics more than I did, and I wish, you never woulda ever had to leave, runnin your fastest to the classes you would miss at the end, time goin past us even faster than we wished it had been
You was protective, now I’m protective, tryna avoid a descent, but I forever will be blessed to call you sister and friend, I love you

[Chorus]
I never really got to be a kid too long
Just a kid for long, you know
And way too many people went and did me wrong
People did me wrong, you know
But as long as I’m alive I’ll be grateful
Plate full, hand to the sky like
I don’t deserve to be alive, but I
Can’t thank you enough

[Verse 2]
It felt, like the thermostat was always cranked up way too high
Every time you made them pork chops in the kitchen I would think that you was starting a fire, but you fed me well and I ain’t need much and I held my head cuz you made me tough and I loved my hood like I loved myself but you taught me love and you showed me wealth in all the money magazines saying that would be me
And teaching me all the ways that it could be, I wanna make you proud like I know that you should be
You gave me everything, just to shape up a good me
And when I’m off the mat, imma find a hundred ways to pay you back, you my mans, you the man, you a fan, all of that, you was strong, held my hand, so I stand pretty glad that a boy like me gets to call you my dad, for real

[Chorus]
Never really got to be a kid too long
Just a kid for long, you know
And way too many people went and did me wrong
People did me wrong, you know
But as long as I’m alive I’ll be grateful
Plate full, hand to the sky like
I don’t deserve to be alive, but I
Can’t thank you enough

[Verse 3]
You was so strong, I never got how you did that, but you did that and you loved us and you hugged us and we lived that then we split back
When I started chasing dreams after 13 you was in the crib kinda watchin from the fringe, let me find out
You was hurting just like me and never got to see me turn to what you might have seen but still loved from a city away, still at our place, my place, safety only came to me on Fridays, cuz
Whatever moments we could have invited childhood back
Then we got to be together longer, and it’s good that
The method worked and it ain’t have to be long
But I appreciate you holdin down the fort as my mom, I’m still here
Lovin how you better yourself, we grow together and what’s better is we’re better in health, and better from help, you offered while enduring the odds
You the first thing that ever made me surest of God
See you soon