I need a reason to get up before I wash my face
The junkies, the hookers, the dealers, the place
Kickin' off my covers trippin' off the fact
That I haven't called my gramma in a long, long time

Standin in the shower for almost half an hour
Tryin' to wake up and I'm lookin for the power
Reachin' for the towel with soap in my eyes
Dryin' off my shoulders, my chest, and my thighs

The next thing I know the telephone rings
I hear my own voice on the answering machine

Saying: Please leave a message I'm glad ya called
I listen for a voice but there's nothin' at all

Man oh man, I gotta kick the blues
And pay respect where respect is due
All praises to god the one I return to
The one I can turn to
When I'm feelin burned to the bone

Early in the morn before I wash my face
The bed still warm but there's an empty face
Early in the morn before I wash my face
A hundred thousand miles is a lonely place

It's six in the morning she rolled outta bed
Stared out the window and then she said
That I wasn't her type...
I think she's runnin outa types though...And I told her so.

She picked up her things and walked through the door
And then she said that she couldn't see me no more
Just as she was leaving I asked her if she'd call
She didn't look back said nuttin at all

I didn't change my clothes because they smell like you
And when I took a shower it reminded me of you
I called gramma Brown for advice
It happened to me once it happened to me twice

Michael my son you sound really bugged
I wish that you were here so I could to you give a hug
Then she gave me a long, long talk
She said "you have the patience of ice on a sidewalk"

When things get rough don't sweat it
Sometimes in life you just gotta let it
And sing out a song so strong
That even a bad dream couldn't bring harm
To the mind of a young childs battles
Formed from the candle light shadows
Her voice is like a whispering kiss on the forehead

Early in the morn before I wash my face
The bed still warm but there's an empty face
Early in the morn before I wash my face
A hundred thousand miles is a lonely place

In the last thirty minutes before I fall asleep
When I have said my prayers and I have brushed my teeth
This is the time when I am forced to think about
All of the things I been tryin to forget about

The bills, the phone, cleanin up my room
The cars, the traffic, the speakers and the boom
Alone I remember the times with me and you
And I realize my heart is shakin' up the room

Gramma she would tell us about the glory days
And gramma she would tell us about when we were slaves
In the livin' room pianos outta tune
On top of it the pictures of every bride and groom

Child/ grand child lost child
Every single tear shed every single smile
'cause everybodies got alota shit to deal with
And life doesn't stop it just makes ya feel it

So shake the dust offa your feet
Take a step forward liberate with the beat
So for you I wrote this song
I wanted you to hear it before you are gone.

The african in me the seminole in me
These are some a things my grandmother gave
To me some believe there are and some believe there
Ain't if ever there was one my gramma brown she is a saint

Early in the morn before I wash my face
The bed still warm but there's an empty face
Early in the morn before I wash my face
A hundred thousand miles is a lonely place