I need a reason to get up before I wash my face The junkies, the Hookers, the dealers the place kickin' off my covers trippin' off the fact that I haven't called my gramma in a long, long time standin in the shower for almost half an hour Tryin' to wake up and I'm lookin for the power reachin' for the towel with soap in my eyes dryin' off my shoulders, my chest, and my thighs The next thing I know the telephone rings I hear my own voice on the answering machine please leave a message I'm glad ya called I listen for a voice but there's nothin' at all Man oh Man I gotta kick the blues and pay respect where respect is due all praises to GOD the one I return to the one I can turn to when I'm feelin burned to the bone (chorus) Early in the morn before I wash my face a hundred thousand miles is a lonely place At six in the morning she rolled outa bed stared out the window and then she said that I wasn't her type... I think she's runnin outa types though...and I told her so. She picked up her things and walked through the door and then said that she couldn't see me no more just as she was leaving I asked her if she'd call she didn't look back said nuttin at all I didn't change my clothes because they smell like you and when I took a shower it reminded me of you I called Gramma Brown for advice it happened to me once it happened to me twice Michael my son you sound really bugged I wish that you were here so I could to you give a hug then she gave me a long, long talk she said "you have the patience of ice on a sidewalk" when things get rough don't sweat it sometimes in life you just have to let it and sing out a song so strong that even a bad dream couldn't bring harm to the mind of a young childs battles formed from the candle light shadows her voice is like a whispering kiss on the forehead (chorus) Early in the morn before I wash my face The bedisstill warmbut there's an empty space Early in the mornin beforeIwashmy face a hundred thousand miles is a lonely place In the last thirty minutes before I fall asleep when I have said my prayers and I have brushed my teeth This is the time when I am forced to think about all of the things I been tryin to forget about The Bills, the phone, cleanin up my room the cars, the traffic, the speakers and the boom alone I remember the times with me and you and I realize my heart is shakin' up the room Gramma she would tell us about the glory days and gramma she would tell us about when we were slaves in the livin' room pianos outa tune on top of it the pictures of every bride and groom child/ grand child lost child every single tear shed every single smile 'cause everybodies got alota shit to deal with and life doesn't stop it just makes ya feel it so shake the dust offa your feet take a step forward liberate with the beat so for you I wrote this song I wanted you to hear it before you are gone. the African in me the Seminole in me These are some a things my grandmother gave to me some believe there are and some believe there ain't if ever there was one my gramma Brown she is a saint (chorus) Early in the morn before I wash my face The bed isstill warmbut there'san empty space Earlyin themornin before I wash my face a hundred thousand miles is a lonely place