Your soul is your all, Mama.

All what keeps sparkin’ your plug. 

It be the soft tether keep you snug to the straight,

and nat’ral on the narrow. 


It be the  amen! to your ever’ prayer,

and ever’ nickel you slip into the poor box,

or  in some needy chile’s hand. 

Yeah.  That be your soul, Mama. 
 

It’s all what makes your kitten purr,

your man sing,

and your chirren crawl inna yo' bed  ‘cuz ain’t no boogie man never get past you, nah.   
 

It be the sweet in yo’ sugar, honey.

It be what makes your bread rise, and my heart soar.

It be the callouses on yo' poor hands, Mama,

the corns on yo' tired feet .
 

But mostly, Mama, it be the light in yo' eye.

And yo' never say die.

Yo' never say die.