Left at the door of a stranger I was left there in the middle of the night Left by someone who couldn't keep me But what she did turned out just right In a little southern town, by a river In a building called sheer croppers shack Lord, I was raised from a babe to manhood By a mama who was black To me she was my mama Though blood didn't do this She had love that was more than sufficient From a mama who was black I never knew brothers and sisters I never had a dad to call my own But as long, Lord, as I can remember Black mama, she made a good home I'm sure that most folks, it looked different When they saw me upon her old knee For as I grew up and we traveled around When they saw black mama and me To me she was my mama Though blood didn't do this She had love that was more than sufficient By a mama who was black I received a message of sadness I ran to her side right away But before I could speak with her Black mama passed away Today, for me, neighbors, is a sad one As I stand with my tears running free Her life here on earth is over God took black mama from me To me she was my mama Though blood didn't do this She had love that was more than sufficient From a mama who was black But I had love that was more than sufficient For a mama who was black
