The Muhfuckin' Song of the Week

OK, so, usually, I'd have some witty bits before the review, but this song does too much to me, so I'll just go right into it. Boyz II Men are some of the best vocalists I have ever heard, and it seems that, by this point in their career, they have differentiated their individual sounds enough to spice up their songs a little. But that's not what grabs me about this song. I mean, it contributes, but in order to understand why this song does what it does to me, you have to know a little history...*Back in 1998, I lived in Boston with my mother. We had what I thought at the time was a good life. I was in a stable school situation, I saw my father and he was actively participating, I had a TV in my room, and we always had food and lights. However, during the past year, my mother had begun bringing up the idea of moving, which was detestable to me since I had never known another place as home, and had no desire to. My familiarity was comfortable, safe. I knew who my friends were, where they lived, and what we could do. And as the summer began, I expected the usual camp situation and hours of free time, and (back then, anyway) eagerly awaited the rekindling of the school year. So I went off to camp, and then, as a treat, got to visit my paternal grandmother, who spoiled me to no end.When I arrived back in Boston and stayed with my father for 2 consecutive weeks, I knew something was wrong, but I had no idea what. Then, one evening, my father and newly acquired stepmother sat me down and told me news that has shaped my life, that I have still not gotten over: my mother had moved to Atlanta. Without me. Without even telling me. I was DEVASTATED. My mother was my world for 11 years, and I thought I was hers, or at least a big part of it. But with that, news, my world fell apart, I couldn't stop crying for weeks that felt like years, couldn't stop being sad for months that felt like years. My new family (my father, stepmother, and 2 new siblings) grew, and although I have never fully recovered, and certainly never forgotten, I have pieced together the broken pieces and gotten enough together to move.*So, there's the story. This song speaks to me on so many levels. I have never been truly angry with my mother. We don't speak now, but I still can't bring myself to tell her exactly what she did to me or how I felt, for fear it might hurt her. But this song, both chronologically and mentally, brings back the times before I was "damaged goods," before I had a stepmother who was my real mother, before everything. And, it sums up how I feel about my stepmother (on days when I can stand her, that is), because she took the pieces of boy that my mother left behind and did all she could to make them into a man, even with a daughter of her own to raise. So, maybe it's an impartial vote for SOTW, but that's it, and that's why.the candymanYou taught me everything and everything you've given meI always keep it insideYou're the driving force in my life, ey, yeahThere isn't anything or anyone that I can beAnd it just wouldn't feel rightIf I didn't have you by my side, ohYou were there for me to love and care for meWhen skies were grayWhenever I was down, you were always thereTo comfort meAnd no one else can be what you have been to meYou will always beYou will always be the girl in my lifeFor all timesMama, mama you know I love you (I love you, ooh, you know I love you)Mama, mama your the queen of my heartYour love is like tears from the stars (Yes, it is)Mama I just want you to knowLovin' you is like food to my soul (Yes, it is, yes, it, is, oh... oh... oh...)(Yes, it is, yes, it is, yes it, is, oh... oh... oh...You're always down for me have always been around for meEven when I was badYou showed me right from my wrong, yes, you didAnd you took up for me when everyone was downin' meYou always did understandYou gave me strength to go onThere was so many timesLooking back when I was so afraidAnd then you come to me and say to meI could face anythingAnd no one else can do what you have been doin' for meYou'll always beYou will always beThe girl in my life, woo, ohMama, mama you know I love you (You know I love you, you know I love you)Mama (Hoo), mama your the queen of my heart (You are)Your love is like tears from the stars (Your love is like tears from the stars)Mama I just want you to know (Ooh, mama I just want you to know)Lovin' you is like food to my soul, ohNever gonna go a day without you, ooh...Fills me up just thinkin' 'bout youI'll never go a day without my mamaMama (You know), mama (Mama) you know I love you(You know I love you, ooh... oh... ooh...)Mama, mama your the queen of my heart (The queen of my heart)Your love is like (Say your love) tears from the stars (Your love is like tears from the stars)Mama (Mama) I just want you to know (Whoa, ma-mama, mama)Lovin' you is like food to my soul (Lovin' you is like food to my soul)Bom, bom, bom (Oh... ho... oh... oh...)Bom, bom, bom (Yeah... yeah...)(You are the food to my soul)(Yes, you are)