Buried Dreams

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Mama, I remember that old kitchen chair You’d count every dollar like a whispered prayer James had a book, Shawn needed shoes I was chasing trouble, Curtis watched the news Four little storms underneath one roof You held us together when the days got loose Daddy tried to help after love broke apart But you kept our names stitched into your heart [Pre-Chorus] You had a classroom waiting, a dream with your name But you traded that horizon for our growing pains [Chorus] Mama, I love you for the life you gave For every tired morning, every night you stayed You buried your own dreams so ours could breathe Put four boys ahead of everything you needed James, Shawn, me, Curtis—we were your whole world You made a way when the road unfurled If I could give you back one thing you lost I’d hand you every dream, no matter what it costs Mama, I love you, and I hope you know You’re the reason any good in me could grow [Verse 2] James went first, carrying weight too young Shawn learned silence when the arguments begun I was the third one, hard-headed and wild Curtis was the youngest, still your little child You patched up the elbows, stretched out the stew Found a little more strength when there wasn’t much to use And when the house got quiet after everybody slept You faced the dreams you gave away and never once complained [Pre-Chorus] You could’ve taught a room full of children how to read Instead you taught four sons what a promise means [Chorus] Mama, I love you for the life you gave For every tired morning, every night you stayed You buried your own dreams so ours could breathe Put four boys ahead of everything you needed James, Shawn, me, Curtis—we were your whole world You made a way when the road unfurled If I could give you back one thing you lost I’d hand you every dream, no matter what it costs Mama, I love you, and I hope you know You’re the reason any good in me could grow [Bridge] I can’t rewrite the years or make the hard days small Can’t put your younger heart back in that hallway wall But I can say it plainly, with my whole chest tonight You were never just surviving—you were teaching us to fight And every road I travel, every decent thing I do Carries four boys and one impossible love for you [Final Chorus] Mama, I love you for the life you gave For every tired morning, every night you stayed You laid your dreams down so ours could breathe Made a home from all the pieces life had left beneath James, Shawn, me, Curtis—we remember every mile The sacrifice behind your brave and patient smile If heaven keeps a ledger, let it write this down: You raised four sons with love when the world tried to wear you down Mama, I love you, and I hope you know Every part of who I am came from the way you showed [Outro] You wanted to teach, and Mama, you did You taught us how to live when the world came in cold James, Shawn, me, Curtis—we’re standing here because You gave us all your heart, and that was more than enough