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 
The bed is still warm but there`s an empty space 
Easrly 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