Common - G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definition) Lyrics
[Common:]
After bein' 25, you know, just trying to survive in the world
Bout to have a little boy or baby girl. Who knows?
Anyway, just when you start gettin that little age and experience to
you
So bust it out, this is what I was thinkin, check it
Yo, the education of the Lon-chicka-Lonnie Lynn
Began, began with time
Bein my bloodline is one with the divine
In time brotha, you will discover the light
Some say that God is Black and the Devil's White
Well, the Devil is wrong and God is what's right
I fight, with myself in the ring of doubt and fear
The rain ain't gone, but I can still see clear
As a child, given religion with no answer to why
Curiosity killed the catechism
Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm that I played to
And became a slave to master self
A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness and his health
My mind had dealt with the books of Zen, Tao the lessons
Koran and the Bible, to me they all vital
And got truth within 'em, gotta read them boys
You just can't skim 'em, different branches of belief
But one root that stem 'em, but people of the venom try to trim 'em
And use religion as an emblem
When it should be a natural way of life
Who am I or they to say to whom you pray ain't right
That's who got you doin right and got you this far
Whether you say "in Jesus name" or Hum do Allah
Long as you know it's a bein' that's supreme to you
You let that show towards others in the things you do
Cuz when the trumpets blowin, 24 elders surround the throne
Only 144,000 gon get home
Only 144,000 gon get home
Only 144,000 gon get it baby
Chorus Cee-Lo:
I've lived and I've learned
I have taken and I've earned
I have laughed, I've cried
I have failed and I have tried
Sunshine, pouring rain
found joy through all my pain
I just wanna be happy with being me
Cee-Lo:
Let me voice my concern
So many of my fellow brothers have given themselves a title
That their actions didn't earn
Our ignorance is in the same breath as our innocence
Subconciously, seeking to find an impressionable mind to convince
I've finally come to the realization why Black people in the worse
place
Cuz it's hard to correct yourself when you don't know
Who you are in the first place
So I try to find the clue in you
But evidently, White folks know more Black history than we do
Why're we bein' lied to? I ain't know our history was purposely hidden
Damn, somethin' in me wanna know who I am
So I began my search, my journey started in church
It gave my heartache relief when I started to understand belief
Hustlin was like a gift spent my share of time in the streets
Taught me survival from this evil I'm just gonna have to deal with
And I felt like a fool when I tried to learn it in school
It almost seemed like a rehearsal when the only
Science and math are universal
Takin elder advice, read the Bible, the Koran
Searched scrolls from the Hebrew Israelites
Hold on, this ain't right, Jesus wasn't White
Some leads were granted with insight
and it's all in the plan, but it took me some time to overstand
He still created with the imperfection of man
So, with followin' I disagree
By no means have I forgotten or forgiven what's been done to me but
I do know the Devil ain't no White man, the Devil's a spiritual mind
That's color blind, there's evil White folk and evil niggas
You gon surely find there's no positivity without negativity
But one side you gonna have to choose
Any chance to speak I refuse to misuse
So how can you call yourself God when you let a worldly possession
become an obsession and the way you write your rhymes and
Can't follow your lesson
If a seed's sown, you make sure it's known, you make sure it's grown
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
Well, I've lived and I've learned
I've taken and I've earned
I have laughed, I have cried
I failed and I have tried
Sunshine, pourin rain
I found joy through my pain
Just wanna be happy...bein me
Bein me
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Common - Pyramids
- Common - Kingdom
- Common - Real
- Common - Nobody's Smiling
- Common - Hustle Harder
- Common - Speak My Piece
- Common - Blak Majik
- Common - Diamonds
- Common - No Fear
- Common - Rewind That
- Common - Out On Bond
- Common - 7 Deadly Sings
- Common - Red Wine
- Common - Love Star
- Common - Black America Again
- Common - Word From Moe Luv Interlude
- Common - Home
- Common - Joy And Peace
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Common G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definition) Comments
People of the venom, try to trim them and use religion as an emblem
Only 144000 are going to make it home ,we need to try very harder,this touches me deeply
The first time I heard CeeLo rapping was on this track. I was 13/14 back then. Sparking my "Knowledge of Self Determination"
I got alot of inspiration from this song.
Genius 😍
Had this CD.
Spoken like a true prodigy, thanks Common
One of my favorite albums of all time.. Chuck thank you so much for having the ear for this.
God ain't black, God ain't white, God ain't a gal, nor is God a mate.
A Beautiful Song created by two highly intelligent Black Men
After bein' 25 you know just trying to survive in the world
Bout to have a little boy or baby girl. Who knows?
Anyway just when you start getting that little age and experience to you
You start thinking about stuff, trying to make the right moves
So bust it out this is what I was thinking check it
Yo the education of the Lon chicka Lonnie Lynn
Began, began with time
Being my bloodline is one with the divine
In time brother, you will discover the light
Some say that God is Black and the Devil's White
Well, the Devil is wrong and God is what's right
I fight, with myself in the ring of doubt and fear
The rain ain't gone, but I can still see clear
As a child, given religion with no answer to why
Just told believe in Jesus 'cause for me he did die
Curiosity killed the catechism
Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm that I played to
And became a slave to master self
A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness and his health
My mind had dealt with the books of Zen, Tao the lessons
Koran and the Bible, to me they all vital
And got truth within 'em, gotta read them boys
You just can't skim 'em, different branches of belief
But one root that stem 'em, but people of the venom try to trim 'em
And use religion as an emblem
When it should be a natural way of life
Who am I or they to say to whom you pray ain't right
That's who got you doing right and got you this far
Whether you say "in Jesus name" or Hum do Allah
Long as you know it's a bein' that's supreme to you
You let that show towards others in the things you do
'cause when the trumpets blowing, 24 elders surround the throne
Only 144, 000 goin' get home
Only 144, 000 goin' get home
Only 144, 000 goin' get it baby
I've lived and I've learned
I have taken and I've earned
I have laughed, I've cried
I have failed and I have tried
Sunshine, pouring rain
Found joy through all my pain
I just want to be happy with being me
Let me voice my concern
So many of my fellow brothers have given themselves a title
That their actions didn't earn
Our ignorance is in the same breath as our innocence
Subconsciously, seeking to find an impressionable mind to convince
I've finally come to the realization why Black people in the worse place
Cause it's hard to correct yourself when you don't know
Who you are in the first place
So I try to find the clue in you
But evidently, White folks know more Black history than we do
Why're we bein' lied to? I ain't know our history was purposely hidden
Damn, somethin' in me want to know who I am
So I began my search, my journey started in church
It gave my heartache relief when I started to understand belief
Hustling was like a gift spent my share of time in the streets
Taught me survival from this evil I'm just gonna have to deal with
And I felt like a fool when I tried to learn it in school
It almost seemed like a rehearsal when the only
Science and math are universal
Taking elder advice, read the Bible, the Koran
Searched scrolls from the Hebrew Israelites
Hold on, this ain't right, Jesus wasn't White
Some leads were granted with insight
And it's all in the plan, but it took me some time to over stand
He still created with the imperfection of man
So, with followin' I disagree
By no means have I forgotten or forgiven what's been done to me but
I do know the Devil ain't no White man, the Devil's a spiritual mind
That's color blind, there's evil White folk and evil niggas
You goin' surely find there's no positivity without negativity
But one side you gonna have to choose
Any chance to speak I refuse to misuse
So how can you call yourself God when you let a worldly possession
Become an obsession and the way you write your rhymes and
Can't follow your lesson
If a seed's sown, you make sure it's known, you make sure it's grown
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
Well, I've lived and I've learned
I've taken and I've earned
I have laughed, I have cried
I failed and I have tried
Sunshine, pouring rain
I found joy through my pain
Just want to be happy, being me
Being me
Thanks!
Blessing
Evidently white people know more Black history than we do...
Inspiring n inspired me to seek Knowledge of Self
I need the instrumental to this !!
brilliant lyrics and good sound
Truest form of some G shit. Literally miggas.
If ya God then save ya own don't mentally enslave ya own miggas.
Cee lo on the chorus though
Beautifully perfect
man dis song here deep hearing it now take's me back when it came out album of course this song make me think of all da people I've lost y don't konw just sum bout it an when i here cee lo part especially at da very end he killed dat part an i would rewind dat part an just zone out plus it was on repeat an when dat part of da song come's I'm stuck again classic
Favourite common song of all time. The truth and beauty in this song.
He has classics and this one of them...
I need to learn how to play this on the piano
chi town righteous 👑 well learned.
this song turned me into an atheist @ 16 after being raised in the church lols
hey man i jus wana say, God loves u dude
Iv'e heard a lot of music in my 15 years of life and iv'e never had a feeling like this from a song :') so beautiful <3
Nathaniel Rossi I began listening to this song at 15. I’m 27...
THIS SONG THO! SOUNDS LIKE HEAVEN TO THE EARS!
+cul2cat One of my favorite songs of all time! On tha real!! LOL!!
"A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness and his health."
As We Pharaohs [ELs... ELohims] Prophesied eOns ago... The EThereAL ATLantean & Kemet.eK Sphinx Tribe of 13... are The RoyAL 144,000 Crystallized Bla.eK Light Bringers of Divine BluBla.eK Auras of Isis RA & EL [Israel]... known as the MU.
This song is Number 7 in the playlist of my life. Common is a philosopher
+Lerato Malimabe absolutely a philosopher! :)
Cee Lo though... Incredible on here. Plus his verse on Soul Food (Goodie Mobb)
What's 1 - 6?
Godammit a perfect song until the last verse where that one dude raps with complete disregard for the beat.
:/..do u understand that this is poetry set to music and not just a rap song..smh
they shudnt have done it that way. because then it justs sounds like noise...
+dseer13 you are very worng Cee Lo kills the second verse
@sjkelly34
thank u
+dseer13 haha that one dude is Cee Lo Green but yes i tend to agree with you its an off kilter flow
And this is not single from One Day It'll All Make Sense ... damn such a mistake
It goes too deep to be a single. Unfortunately. In 1997 P. Diddy and Jay Z was the kind of hip pop that got a lot of air play.
+Simon Dilling Christiansen How the fuck was Jay-Z's music being on the radio unfortunate???
Its not? its on my CD......must be a bonus song 😐😐😐😐
JiggaJ1979 nah he means that it wasn’t released as a single. It was on the album yeah
TIMELESS ! PHUCKING TIMELESS
I always said no matter what religion you believe in, if it makes you a better person then so be it! Very nice song.
Uploaded 4 years ago on my bday..and im enjoying it again on my bday. Thanks for the gift : )
thanks for this explaination
Love this album!
A classic
listening to this song and saw a familiar face in the comments :) Hey Prince
I've lived and I've learned
I have taken and I've earned
I have laughed, I've cried
I have failed and I have tried
Sunshine, pouring rain
found joy through all my pain
I just wanna be happy with being me
Lonnie lynn and Gnarls Barkley dropping the 48 keys of life!
love it
The number one thing of why I like this song because it's basically the whole "Think before you Talk." Many people from whatever religion believe their way is the right way. Now if anyone wishes to convert it's because they understand the basic concept of living in another person's shoes. Whether you're Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, etc. we are all the same on the outside. It's not the religion or the skin color but it's our actions that make us different.
Preach bruh
Love it
This is music. Its much better than all these stupid songs out today. #real music
I.just heard this song, its so soothing
Ameen brother. And peace be with you. Even Allah in the Qur'an says that Christians and Jews are Ahl-al-kitaab (people of the Scripture) and that they still worship Him. We are all brothers and sisters
A rich man is one with knowledge happiness and his health
144,000 people from Israeli tribesm,
Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.
So what is the Biblical meaning homie?
it has biblicle meaning
"You've just been blessed with beautiful music"-Rapsody
144,000?
lol, what's your other two favorite then? Retrospective For Life(Featuring Lauryn Hill) and Making Names for Ourselves(Featuring Canibus)?
You mean eternity?
This is one of my top 3 fav songs from the album.
One Day It'll Make Sense is my favorite album by Common. I could listen to this for eternally.
@ old school type soul 144, 000 are not the final numberz...Thatz' z talking about 12,000 from each tribe 0f the 24 tribez ov israel. If that were the case there wouldn't have been a need ov a saviour!!!
Notice how the numbers all give you the numbers that mAke the triangle of vortex maths vault? 3,6 & 9.... Funny how 144 000 does round up to 9, which is the number that governs all the numbers in the numbers system... Very deep
meanwhile, LMFAO has millions of views...
Their verses were soo true. I miss THIS CEE-LO AND COMMON!!! Not no bullcrap ''Lady Killer''!!!
I am so dissapointed in Common & Cee-Lo. I hate the fact they sold out. This song had me in tears it was soooo dang real. They were my NIGGAS, but then they HAD to sell out the people. It's a shame, a crying shame. WHY DID THEY SELL THEIR SOUL?!?!?!! It's a crying shame. And yet Common still makes somewhat positive music, but he is misleading the children. He's promoting Obama, who is the puppet on the strings. Being a politician won't benefit the black community, just create more puppets.
@OldshcoolTypeSoul Thanks, I've got a bible I need to look through now, learn something new everyday... Stay blessed.........
@ChaseGr33n is it in the bible??? thats all that matters...regardless of religion...is it in the book
@OldshcoolTypeSoul don't u think it's funny how only 144, 000 out of the billions or trillions of souls that have been here, and the billions that are here now... get to go to heaven. What about the tribes like bushmen who live so godly, give thanks for every little drop of water and mouthful of food? Never came across a holy book but live so peacefully, grow old, pass on and then what... damnation? Just a question I ask as I watch the "righteous" tear each other apart over god.........
Numerology gives the answer to why 144000 souls... not literal
@Motho Moso i always wondered
Ok that was Cee-Lo on the second verse. Killed the mood of the song completely
I think Common was really confused when he wrote this in 1997. I'm a Christian, and while I don't believe other religions like Islam and Bhuddism an whatnot, nothing is more ridiculous than making the claim that all of them are right when they clearly contradict each other. This really sucks because I love the flow of this song (at least the first half, before whoever fxcks it up), and Cee-Lo singing the chorus was phenomenal, but I don't agree with the message at all
He is saying that it's truth in each religion and that there are valid points in each
Islam recognizes Christ and all the previous prophets... being the last, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him, whom the message of Allah was told by Gabriel. Quran is our last chance of redemption. Is not new, is the real message on how we should live, respect each other and put Allah above all, the only way of salvation. :)
BoxOfOranges84
He not talking about religion listen carefully
Jonathan Henry please explain what he's talking about.
Truly Inspirational.
@tkal17 Amazing song btw :)
"So how can you call yourself God when you let a worldly possession become an obsession and the way you write your rhymes and Can't follow your lesson"
I have been saying this for a long time now. But ppl look at me like I'm on crack. I just think that if God is saying killing is wrong, then it is wrong period. He should practice what he preaches. Lead by example. God should try to follow his/her/its own teachings and not be a hypocrite.
real hip-hop, a poetic conversation between a couple of brothers tryin 2 enlighten the minds of the people
Love this song. I really enjoy Common's songs because you can tell he is a deep thinker. I respect that.
this could be a natural way of life? who am i or they to say to whom you prayin aint right?
Look within for what you need. God is everywhere in everything at all times.
we need more brothers like common...and more Hip Hop LP's with concept and
meaning
I can't count how many times I've leaned on this song for inspiration. Classic in my world
bout the most powerful lyrics ever put down on paper
praise Common Sence you have a gift
thanks for uploading cuz
@dseer13 its poetry
This chorus WILL be tatted on me VERY soon!!!!!
This is 2 dopee!!! Is common a converted muslim or some
GREAT SONG
why is ceelo so off beat. or does that not matter to him anymore?
if ya dig good music checkout my channel
three cheers for Common !!!!
Chicago's man has spoke the truth and this will always live on
Deep song. This is one of those songs that if you listen to it when you are throwed or blazed it can really stimulate thought. Makes you think... that's the power of good music.
Real Music With a Real Message.. people need to start listening to this instead of today rappers that talk about nothing but selfglorification greed and nonsence..
@karanvir93 cee-lo is only half of gnarles barkley
Common was great before he got lame and started making movies with Queen Latifah.
mi canción favorita... la que me pone de buenas siempre =)
esta es clasica
Is that gnarles barkley?
wow....dats the single word to sum up this piece of art
If you love poetry you will love this poem search " Is the cross Christian" IT will blow your mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's Deeeeeeeeeeepp!!!
Luv Common, man. He speak the truth. THIS VIDEO NEED TO GET MO VIEWS! INSTANT FAVORITE!