Post #11, Visual Arguement

Here is the final piece to my song interpretation. It is a music video with still images. Enjoy!!

Theory Two, Arguement Four

The third verse of this song is the hardest of all to interpret for my second theory. Out of all three verses of the song, the third one is the one with the least amount of information to support the theory. After carefully analyzing the third verse, I drew this line from it. Tupac states, "I wish I could take the pain away, If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day." Maybe it was possible that Tupac put his mother throught alot of emotional and stress throughout his years as a child and teenager. From selling drugs, to ending up in incarcerated, it is a great possibility that each of those acts stressed his mother out more and more. This probably caused unwanted tensions between the two, and it maybe even got his little sister invlolved, which of all things is horrible to put a little child through. The last rhyme that I was able to find in the song that helps prove my theory was this one. He says, "Everything will be alright if ya hold on, It's a struggle everyday, gotta roll on." Even though he probably had problems with his mother, he stresses how sometimes one has to struggle just to survive. He strongly urges his mom to stay strong and keep fighting. Becuase on the bright side, there will be a better day.

Theory Two, Arguement Three

Moving onto the second verse of the song, I see quite a bit of interesting ones. Now that I start to think about it, this song could be either about his mother or his family in general. This song provides alot of good lines to try and prove both of the theories. Tupac states in the second verse, "They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along I was lookin for a father he was gone." When he says I was lookin for a father he was gone, does he mean gone as in passed away, or gone as in left him and his family to live and take care of themselves on their own? Its very hard to say for sure what exactly he means, but we can assume can't we? From other lines in the song, it's obvious that he never really knew his father well, so we can assume that since he was never there for Tupac, he could no longer show love and compassion for his father who had kicked him and his family to the curb. Without a father, the amount of emotional and mental stress that would occur to any child would be devastating. I would not be able to handle that kind of situation. Asides from that, the second verse does not offer any more evidence to prove my second theory.

Theory Two, Arguement Two

After finding two lines to support my second theory, I made an attempt to find more lines that could prove my theory. It gets harder and harder to find lines that that can prove this theory since it is vaguely described in the song. As stated by Tupac in the first verse, "Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face, Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place." This line can interfere with my first theory. It could possibly mean that he loves his mother so much, or it could mean that he now appreciates her but possibly at one time he was going through rough situations which made him feel different towards his mother. In the first verse, I also found a line which is quite interesting to interpret. Tupac says, "I shed tears with my baby sister, Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids." It seems that at one point in time during his life, him and his siter were going through rough times. Maybe it was because of their mother or father, or the fact that that they were so poor that they could not afford to live nicely. Either way it kind of seems obvious that Tupac did not have good childhood life. The most interesting line of the verse however, has to be this one. "When things went wrong we'd blame mama." They might have thought it was necessary to blame everything on their mother because of how she was not able to take of them properly. Overall, this verse was very interesting and full of good lines.

Theory Two, Arguement One

Although its obvious that this song is about Tupac's appreciation for his mother, it might be possible that the song also has another meaning behind it. After thinking about it for a while, I came to the conclusion that maybe this song is about Tupac's personal family issues. There are plenty of lines that purport to show that Tupac was possibly going through some issues with his mom and dad at the moment. For example, as stated in the first verse of the song, "When I was young me and my mama had beef, Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets". This says something about an action he may have done wrong. Whatever the action may have been, it ultimately caused his mom to kick him out of the house. This may have been the start of his family problems. Asides from possibly having problems with his mom, it seems like he also had problems with his dad. Also right at the beginning of the second verse, Tupac mentions, "No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there. He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my angerwouldn't let me feel for a stranger." These words are very deep coming from anyone. But then again, how can he feel pain for someone he barely knew? Because he did not have a father for most of his life, he most likely diverted to other people who would show him love and appreciation.

Theory One, Arguement Four

After attempting to interpret the third verse, I came to the conclusion that this song is definately dedicated to Tupac's mother. It is also indeed trying to show how much appreciation and love he has for his mother. He misses how when he was in doubt, his mother would give him some good words of advice, and it would motivate him to do the right thing. He remembers his childhood and how his mom did her best to provide him with everything he could have possibly wanted. He thanks her for how she raised him as a child. Basically, he is repeating how he plans to show her that he understands what she went through. He states in the third verse, "I gotta thank the Lord that you made me, There are no words that can express how I feel". This shows once again how he constantly thanks her for not only taking care of him, but also for concieving him, how wierd but understandable. He wishes that he could do something to ease the pain of a such a hard life, but realizes that all he can do is hold on and hope the struggles fade. There is much repetition in this verse to show how he cares for his mother. For example, also stated in the song was "Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the drama, I can always depend on my mama". This is another perfect example to illustrate the appreciation he had for his mother. By stating that he could always depend on his mama, he shows everyone that she is most likely the most important figure in his life, along with his only sister.

Theory One, Arguement Three

After looking at the second verse of the song Dear Mama, it is still clearly obvious that the song is written towards Tupac's mother in order to show his appreciation for her. In fact, this verse is the most interesting one, considering it has the most meaningful rhymes out of the whole song. As stated in the second verse, "No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there, He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger". This goes to show that apparently he did not have a loving and supporting father throughout his childhood and teenage years. Because of this, it might have cuased him to be the person who he was in the song. Since he had no father, he probably grew a very strong relationship with his mother, who was always there for him. Resorting to anything in order to make money, Tupac started dealing drugs just to put food and money in his mothers hands. Tupac says in the song, "It feels good puttin money in your mailbox, I love payin rent when the rent's due". He feels obligated to take care of his mother no matter what he has to do or go through. He wants to show her his appreciation for her, because he remembers all the nights that she would come home late from work and still struggle to make a meal for him and his sister.

Theory One, Arguement Two

Asides from the overall explanation of the song, "Dear Mama" can be broken down into seperate verses for interpretation. This allows for easier understanding of the song and its meaning. In verse one of the song, Tupac Shakur states that "I reminice on the stress I caused, it was hell, Huggin on my mama from a jail cell." I believe he is truly sorry he ever commited such acts to end up where he was. Maybe from selling drugs to doing anything else in order to get money, he is glad that it will be able to help him and his mother out. And even though it caused his mother alot of pain to see him in those conditions, she was glad that her son was willing to help her out in any way possible. The reality that his mother was a crack addict throughout that period of time did not change Tupac's love and appreciation for his mother. He still would struggle to put money and food on their plates since his mother was not fully capable of doing so.
Also stated in the first verse was "A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it,There's no way I can pay you back, But the plan is to show you that I understand" This sums up the entire first theory and first verse. Tupac realizes that he can never pay his mother back financially for all the things she has done for him. So in order to show that he appreciates her not only for her money, he tries to provide her with materials like food.

Theory one, arguement one

I believe Tupac wrote this song in order to express the amount of appreciation he had for his mother. It seems that he grew up living a tough life. Living in the ghetto he also had no father, and was taken care of by his mom, who not only had to take care of him but also his little sister. At the same time she had to work, making things even tougher. He apologizes for causing his mom a lot of trouble throughout his childhood and teenage years. He wishes that he would've treated her differently from the beginning. In the song he says that there ain't a woman alive who can take his mothers place. This must go to show how much he cares for her. Tupac also apologizes for how he acted as a kid. Selling drugs in order to pay for rent and live comfortably. He hopes that his mother can understand this and forgive him for all that he has done.

Second Post

Title of song: Dear Mama
Sung by: Tupac Shakur
Written by: Tupac Shakur
Important Links: http://www.2paclegacy.com/, http://www.tupacfans.com/home.php

You are appreciated
[Verse One: 2Pac]When I was young me and my mama had beefSeventeen years old kicked out on the streetsThough back at the time, I never thought I'd see her faceAin't a woman alive that could take my mama's placeSuspended from school; and scared to go home, I was a foolwith the big boys, breakin all the rulesI shed tears with my baby sisterOver the years we was poorer than the other little kidsAnd even though we had different daddy's, the same dramaWhen things went wrong we'd blame mamaI reminice on the stress I caused, it was hellHuggin on my mama from a jail cellAnd who'd think in elementary?Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one dayAnd runnin from the police, that's rightMama catch me, put a whoopin to my backsideAnd even as a crack fiend, mamaYou always was a black queen, mamaI finally understandfor a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a manYou always was committedA poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did itThere's no way I can pay you backBut the plan is to show you that I understandYou are appreciated

[Chorus: Reggie Green & "Sweet Franklin" w/ 2Pac]Lady... Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet ladyDear mamaPlace no one above ya, sweet ladyYou are appreciatedDon't cha know we love ya?[second and third chorus, "And dear mama" instead of "Dear mama"]

[Verse Two: 2Pac]Now ain't nobody tell us it was fairNo love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't thereHe passed away and I didn't cry, cause my angerwouldn't let me feel for a strangerThey say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all alongI was lookin for a father he was goneI hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugsThey showed a young brother loveI moved out and started really hanginI needed money of my own so I started slanginI ain't guilty cause, even though I sell rocksIt feels good puttin money in your mailboxI love payin rent when the rent's dueI hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to youCause when I was low you was there for meAnd never left me alone because you cared for meAnd I could see you comin home after work lateYou're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plateYa just workin with the scraps you was givenAnd mama made miracles every ThanksgivinBut now the road got rough, you're aloneYou're tryin to raise two bad kids on your ownAnd there's no way I can pay you backBut my plan is to show you that I understandYou are appreciated

[Verse Three: 2Pac]Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the dramaI can always depend on my mamaAnd when it seems that I'm hopelessYou say the words that can get me back in focusWhen I was sick as a little kidTo keep me happy there's no limit to the things you didAnd all my childhood memoriesAre full of all the sweet things you did for meAnd even though I act craaazyI gotta thank the Lord that you made meThere are no words that can express how I feelYou never kept a secret, always stayed realAnd I appreciate, how you raised meAnd all the extra love that you gave meI wish I could take the pain awayIf you can make it through the night there's a brighter dayEverything will be alright if ya hold onIt's a struggle everyday, gotta roll onAnd there's no way I can pay you backBut my plan is to show you that I understandYou are appreciated

First Post

This blog is a student run project to delve into [Dear Mama] written by [Tupac Shakur] and sung by [Tupac Shakur]. The posts that follow will contain a textual and contextual analysis of the lyrics, the writer’s word choice, how the music emphasizes certain lyrics, and how those lyrics function in the world.

I am particularly interested in seeing what responses, memories and feelings these lyrics evoke in myself as I continue to peel back the layers of meaning. And less interested in interviews given by the artist on the lyrics, although I may include some of those later on in my project.

Over the next three weeks, this blog will feature three posts per week. These posts will develop two distinctive theories of meaning. I encourage everyone to leave comments as I will use those comments to help further build and refute my theories.
Later, this blog will also feature an visual argument based on my interpretations.