It's Too Late
(Mama Knows)

It's too late to study,
It's too late to cry.
I did it to myself
So it's too late to lie.

It's too late to run,
It's too late to hide.
How do I tell my mom
I have a baby growing inside?

It's too late to stay,
It's too late to go.
If I don't tell somebody,
My stomach will begin to show.

I am scared and ashamed
Of what I did.
My clothes are too tight
And my stomach is getting big.
What was I thinking?

I know it was wrong.
Now I'm sitting here
Feeling so alone.

Mom's in the kitchen
With her head in her hand.
I've got to tell her this secret
That I can no longer stand.

Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.
Mom! I'm pregnant; please tell me what to do.

The mother reaches for her daughter's hand and pulls her in her arms.
They cry for what seems like an eternity,
And then sit down and discuss what
Hopefully her future will be.

I am glad to my mother
I was able to go.
I'm glad she helped me
Because I really didn't know.
She helped me to raise my baby girl.

I was ashamed of how she was conceived,
But she brought joy into this world for my mom and me.

I wasn't too late
And neither are you.
Just make up in your mind and do
What you know in your heart is true.


It's Too Late

It's too late to turn back
The hands of time.
I did it and I knew
The baby was mine.

It's too late; I ran away.
When she told me she was pregnant,
I didn't have a positive thing to say.
Back then I was headed to a top-notch school.
My future flashed before me,
But I treated her cruel.

Today I'm grown and successful too.
Somehow I feel like a failure
Because of what I didn't do.

Perhaps now would be a good time
For me to return home
To find the child I disowned.

I wonder will the mom
Allow me to see
My flesh and blood that's a part of me?

I don't even know whether it's a boy or a girl.
It's sad; I sought a good time
But wasn't responsible enough to take care of
What I knew was mine.

My parents never knew about their grandchild
Because their only child was loose and wild.

Lord, I did wrong—this I must admit.
If you lead me in the right path,
I promise to make it legit.

Back in my hometown at my parents house,
My dad jokingly asks,
Son, when are you going to get yourself a spouse?

The tears broke that were hidden inside.
My parents tried to console me as I cried
Until to them I could explain.
Once I was able to talk,
I told them everything.

Two years later, I'm a happy man
With my brand new family at my side.
My love is shown to them daily;
It, I will never again hide.

Both of them proudly wear my name.
It was from my youthful ways
That brought forth shame.
And for my actions,
There's no one else to blame.

Today my past is gone,
My future is promising and bright.
I thank God for giving me
A chance to get it right.
I was too late to turn back the hands of time,
But today I'm making a difference
In taking care of what is mine.


Trouble Don't Last Always

Though your problems seem difficult
And sometimes press you down,
It's not the end of the world
Try to smile instead of frown.

When your nights seems restless
And your heart aches with pain,
Give it all to Jesus;
He'll bring sunshine in the midst of rain.

Look beyond the clouds;
Help is on the way.
Jesus nailed those troubles
To the cross, my Bible says.

Come unto me, ye that are heavy laden;
I'll give you rest.
Sometime these burdens
Are merely a test.

Job had troubles to come on every hand,
But he remembered that God
Was greater than man.

What about the woman with the issue of blood?
And let's not forget Noah;
There must have been trouble through the flood.
We are all faced in life with one problem or another,
But there is consolation in sharing
The burdens of your brother.

Tackle those problems by whispering a prayer each day.
Keep the faith and keep in mind
That trouble don't last always.


It's Just Who I Am

I am who I am,
I am not afraid.
I am who I am,
Up and down the streets I'll parade.
I am stepped on and kicked around;
I'm found on every job and on the ground.
I am who I am,
Often causing a stink.
I can tell you
A lie so smooth I won't even blink.
I can and I will
Always be at my best.
Make no mistake about it
For I am known as a mess.


Where, Why, What, and Who I Am

Who am I?
I am what I am,
I cannot deny.
I am what I am;
Sometimes after I try.
I am what some confess
Their lives to be;
I am what in others
They pretend not to see.
I am what in homes
Causes a war.
I am a traveler
From near and far.
I am there in church
With a spare.
I am there to be seen;
I really don't care.
I am the one
Who shows up in
My Sunday best.
I am here so
That you will
Give my phone a rest.
I am what's put on the table
In a rush to eat.
I am what
One looks like
Without the proper amount of sleep.
I am what you look like
When you are knocked down.
I am what you walk into
When caught
Sleeping around.
I am what folks
Many times step in.
Me,
I was invited by a so-called friend.
I am always there
Upon request.
I am here to stay
'Cause
My name is Mess.


Ask

Ask and it shall be given unto you.
Confess your faults, be there many or few.
If you live right and pray,
You can ask for what you will or may.

It makes no difference what the cost;
Jesus is wealthy, there is no loss.
He is a rich and royal King
With a host of angels waiting to sing.

The woman who was sick
Asked to be healed.
The devil asked Jesus
If he could make a deal.

The blind man asked if he could see;
The soldier asked for his child to be free.
The beggar asked for a crumb;
Jesus asks for sinners to come.


Teardrops

The tears she cried
Were tears of joy.
She was thankful the Lord blessed her
With a healthy baby boy.

She gently rubbed
His little nose,
Smiled as she kissed
His fingers and toes.

While she rocked him
In her arms,
She vowed to protect him
From all harm.

She gave her son
That mother's touch,
For in her heart
He meant so much.

As the nurse came
To take him away,
She spoke softly
Please let him stay.

It was at that moment
She prayed for her child.
Lord, I can't thank you enough,
Even though society
Can be cruel and rough.

She watched as the nurse
Took him away,
And she started to weep;
He had brightened her day.
The tears she cried
Were tears of joy.
Again she thanked God
For a healthy baby boy.


No Pay, No Stay

In order to have, one must buy.
To gain success, get up and try.
When a man doesn't work,
He shouldn't be allowed to eat.
Try sitting a lazy man at your table;
Watch him grab first your meat.

We cannot make it
On our feelings alone.
A job is the answer;
Work and bring the money home.

This is the only roof you have
To cover your head,
And if you want to keep it,
For a job you'd better beg.
No pay,
No stay.


Advice for a Friend

If you want to act a monkey,
Go ahead with your show.
But the minute you finish showing your tail,
That's when I'll let you know.
You cannot and will not
With me get your own way.
And during your harsh talk, remember
You too have feelings,
So watch what you say.

What's the use of running
When no one is ever there?
You'd better wise up, my friend,
And get yourself a spare.
Friendship isn't supposed to be abuse;
However, I get the feeling
I'm just being used.
Now, let's hope this little incident
Never occurs again,
Because if it does,
You'll be minus a friend.


It's A-Coming

Yas sir! I sees a better day.
His coming afser while.
If I don't, maybe my chullens
Can run a nusher mile.

Us don board us bird don
In de heat of de day.
Kane Jesus de head Mas sir
Don head us pray.

Us started a long time
In dem cotton fields.
Sanging his be over soon and
Looking to dem hills.

Us couldn't reed,
Sho couldn't rite,
But us got a prayer thru
In da wee ours of de nite.

Yas sar, us barely made hit
On a wang and a prayer,
'Cause us nail-ver four got
Kane Jesus was dare.


Say No

Say no! to drugs, and alcohol too.
Don't bother to explain;
Just speak the words clear and plain.

Drugs do the body harm.
Remove that needle from your arm.
You don't need a joint to pull,
Nor do you need that can of Bull.
Let's get drunk off love and peace
And celebrate with a good clean feast.

Alcohol is poison too.
It effects the minds
Of me and you.
These habits cause one to steal;
If not satisfied, may even kill.

Say no! You won't be a square.
You might be saving
Your own hair.
Just say no!


Excuses

Try inviting some folks with you
To the House of the Lord.
You'll find out getting them there
May be rather hard.

We've heard excuses
We thought would never exist.
Have you heard the one
'Bout how I sprang my wrist?
I have a cold and
Cough when I'm too hot.
Just keep on with your lies and
God will know you not.

I don't have a thing to wear and
Could do nothing with my hair
Is what we women say.
The devil sits back and smiles;
You've already made his day.
Our children
We are barely raising
In an environment so strong.
When they make excuses,
We punish them and
They wonder what they've done wrong.

I would've gone to church, but
It was hot (cold) last night.
But that was you I saw
Going in the club, right?
Let whosoever will come and
I'll in no wiles castaway.
If you don't walk in freely,
The undertaker will roll you someday.


I'm Human like You

Don't drive me away
If my clothes are few.
Don't drive me away
If my car isn't new.
People shouldn't be
Chosen by what they wear.
Don't look down on them
For the the style of their hair.

Maybe you have meat
And all I have is bread.
Don't laugh at me;
I'm grateful to be fed.
If you think I'm so dirty
And you say that I smell,
Don't wait till you get in a crowd
To decide you'd like to tell.

You know I'm low on money
And my clothes are few.
Why not look in your closet
And give me one or two?

A coat, some shoes,
All those things I could really use;
And they don't have to be new.
Just don't forget the bridge
That brought you through.


The Churches

We are the churches
Doing right and wrong.
The buildings are the places
Where we pray and sing our songs.

Each day we show our love for God
By the way we treat others.
That's odd,
You say,
You love the man
But
Keep confusion on
The other hand.
Which man do you know?
If you don't stop this foolishness
To hell you will go.

We talk about the Baptist,
Find fault in what they do.
The Methodist is no better,
We talk about them too.
Those sanctified folk,
We scandalize their name.
We church folks
Ought to be ashamed.
We'll get upset
When in church
We can't get our way;
We involve the lawmen
Instead of coming together to pray.

We are the ones who need to get it right.
It's the church folks
That fuss and fight.


Food and the One-Time Request

I love ice cream; I'm crazy about cake.
I love for a good meal to be handed to me on a plate.

If I'm invited to dinner, show me first my seat;
You can pass all the vegetables you like, but don't forget that meat.

Don't give me a beverage, wait until I'm through.
Pass me the rice and gravy, and more of that chicken too.

I am a bit old-fashioned, and I do love my bread,
But if you pass those candied yams, I'll eat them instead.

If you pass me the roast, I need them cabbage too.
What's in that bowl, chile? You better turn it loose.

Once I get up in the morning for breakfast, I love bacon and eggs,
But if you're making biscuits or pancakes, I'll eat them instead.

If you are serving sausage, please let them be beef
'Cause pork upsets my stomach and gets stuck between my teeth.

Don't worry 'bout no lunch, I'll be heading back home.
Chile, you know you outdone yourself; next time I can't come alone.

Just wait till I tell everybody, you know how to treat your guests.
You waited on me hand and foot, and wouldn't let me clean up my mess
I'll take two big slices of cake, and I'll take one of them whole pies, please.

Lord knows I ought to be ashamed of myself cause while I was here
All I did was grease, greased my face to everything that you cooked.
I should've brought my camera and pictures of it all took.

Give me a big glass of tea and a hug before I go.
Lord, I ain't sharing this with nobody;
I'm hiding it in the bottom of my freezer
Where nobody but me will know.


Be Yourself

Don't pretend to be a hammer
When you really are a nail.
Each is of importance
And they both will sell.

A hammer is a strong weapon,
But when polished, the nail will shine.
Don't pretend to be something you're not;
Continue to be humble and kind.

Don't pretend to be a hero
When you know you're afraid.
It's alright to flee
When it involves a gun or a blade.

Be yourself,
Don't live a lie.
One day we all must die.
You may fool man,
But God knows the truth.


Stop

It's high time you and I
Stop pointing fingers at each other.
Don't you know, we should act
Like Christian sisters and brothers?

How can two walk together unless they agree?
Stop talking bad about each other;
Go down on bended knee.

Stop trying to be the ones
To spread bad news.
Stop acting like you are the only one to be abused.
Stop running around doing things
Because you say you're grown.
Stop being a home-wrecker
When you know that is wrong.


The Day Lie Went to Jail

Lie was arrested and hauled off to jail.
It stayed a couple of days
Until it could make bail.
Once placed in a cell alone,
From behind its bars
It began transporting bones.
Lie stated the arresting officer
Gave him a beat-down;
While he was wearing handcuffs,
His face was smashed into the ground.
It couldn't get no one to listen to its lie.

Lie decided it would spice it up
And come back for another try.
This time she served her purpose
With her carefully thought up plan,
Proudly watched from her bunk
While others incarcerated
Began to make all sorts of demands.
No one will ever forget the day
Lie went to jail.
It was a day of turmoil;
It was a day of hell.
Lie bragged about how it was released,
Set free without a fine.
Started the minute that
Satan walked in,
He blew the judge's mind.
Case dismissed.