I want to make this a special tribute To a family that contradicts the concepts Heard the rules, but wouldn't accept And women-folk raised me And I was full grown before I knew I came from a broken home Sent to live with my grandma down South Where my uncle was leaving And my grandfather had just left for heaven, they said And as every -ologist would certainly note I had no strong male figure, right? But Lily Scott was absolutely not Your mail order, room service, type-cast black grandmother I was moved in with her, temporarily, just until things were patched 'Til this was patched and 'til that was patched Until I became at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 The patch that held Lily Scott who held me and like them four I became one more And I loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones And we was holdin' on I come from a broken home She had more then the five senses She knew more then books could teach And raised everyone she touched just a little bit higher And all around her there was a natural sense As though she sensed what the stars say, what the birds say What the wind and the clouds say A sensual soul and self, that African sense And she raised me like she raised four of her own And I was hurt and scared and shocked When Lily Scott left suddenly one night And they sent a limousine from heaven to take her to God, if there is one So I knew she had gone And I came from a broken home