I have a mother, I have a pa

We look pretty in that picture on the wall

I love my brothers and my sisters too

Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do

My mama never taught me 'bout the world

'Cause the world turned her inside out

My pa was the right arm of the law

Kept us all locked in the house

My brothers and my sisters needed love

So I grew and they clung to me

Till I became the roots and the fruits

And the branches on my family tree

Pain carved its name

And my heart froze like winter

And the splinter kindled embers

Lay forgotten till they blossomed

And they were hangin' out on a limb

All those hopes and dreams just blowing in the wind

All my aunties and my uncles too

Said "she'll be back and pregnant on her own in a month or two"

My mama kicked me out of the house

On the day I turned 17

My daddy called me up and told me

Boxes of my stuff was sittin' on the street

Felt like I had the world on my shoulders

But really, it was at my feet

Till I became the roots and the fruits

And the branches on my family tree

Pain carved its name

And my heart froze like winter

And the splinter kindled embers

Lay forgotten till they blossomed

My family tree, I have watered

Till it's outgrown my garden

All these years bleeding tears

I'm at peace underneath

My family tree

My family tree

My family tree