You tried to be different
You tried
To be good
Like the past hadn't been chasing you
You did it all different at first
You did it all right
But this person you try to be
Just isn't the truth

Dear brother
Don't you bother
Being someone you hate
Like you chose to be raised that way
It doesn't have to be that way

Dear sister
Please stop chasing
These men that just want you
So they can say they got a good one
Without knowing how to treat one
Daddy never showed you what a man
Looks like, he never showed you how to stand
On your own two feet
And that a man don't leave
At the first sight of things
Getting tricky

Looks like momma didn't show you love
Was far gone when pushing came to shove
She never cared for tears
She never made it clear
That it was just tough love
She never meant to make it rough
Dear brother
Don't you bother
Being someone you hate
Like you chose to be raised that way
It doesn't have to be that way
Dear sister

Please stop chasing
These men that just want you
So they can say they got a good one
Without knowing how to treat one
Every night I pray that we all gain the strength that we need
Ohh, I

In the middle of the night I
Hope that we're set free
Ohh, I
That we will be alright
We will be alright
Yes, we will be
Ohh

Dear brother
Don't you bother
Being someone you hate
Like you chose to be raised that way
It doesn't have to be this way
Dear sister
Please stop chasing
These men that just want you
So they can say they got a good one
Without knowing how to treat one