As well as music, Common has worked as an actor, on films such as 'Smokin' Aces' (as Sir Ivy) 'American Gangster' (as Turner Lucas), 'Wanted', and 'John Wick: Chapter 2'. He may also be seen in cameo roles in films such as 'Brown Sugar'.
His debut was the 1992 album Can I Borrow A Dollar, but he achieved little critical or commercial success until 1994's Resurrection, an instant classic. He produced several more albums, notably Like Water For Chocolate and the highly experimental Electric Circus, before releasing the Kanye West and J Dilla-produced Be in 2005, which was his first album to receive widespread mainstream appeal and radio playtime.
Common is considered a "cred" artist, which has lead him to collaborations with the likes of De La Soul, Jadakiss, T.I, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Kanye West, Lily Allen, Erykah Badu, and Fort Minor.
The 2007 album Finding Forever was produced mainly by long-time collaborator, Kanye West. Common released his eighth album Universal Mind Control in 2008, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album but lost to the Eminem album Relapse. He released his ninth album The Dreamer/The Believer in 2011. Nobody's Smiling, his tenth album, was released in 2014. The concept of the album was inspired by his troubled hometown of Chicago.
Between Me You & Liberation Version )
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sensed liberation in between breaths
Wonder if sex is what she found it in
Peace, found it laying down with men
Wasn't there to judge her, many ways I loved her
It was more than bodies we shared with each other
We laid under the cover of friends
A place where many lovers began
Body language, it's so hard trying to understand
Usually after sex, it's a good feel
Took by silence, emotion stood still
I could feel, her tears spill, from her grille
Hurt from before that began to build
She told me hold me, a story she assembled it
Telling it, trying not to remember it
It was a story of innocence taken
Thought she could redeem, through love making
When she was eight she was raped by her father
And tried to escape through multiple sex partners
Felt pitiful, she had only learned,
To love through the physical, inside it burned
My heart turned, I thought of what this man did
She forgave him, she grew to understand it
Her soul was tired and never really rested
Only with men through aggression
Said it was a blessing and it happened for a reason
By speaking it, she found freedom
Between me and you
[Chorus: Cee-Lo]
Sometimes I wish a, careless whisper
Serenade her, without speaking a word
Because of you I'm stronger, I'm afraid no longer
I feel so alive in me, you have liberated me
She laid, I watched her breathe
Happy to be here, not afraid to leave
I couldn't conceive her not being here
Death in her face her not having fear
Less than a year she was diagnosed with it
Memories of that year, so close and vivid
Happiness, would only visit, once in a while
To watch an adult, becoming a child
Somehow, I knew she'd make it
The life of one so given early would God take it?
Hurt she placed in, hope and prayer
Hurt she placed in chemo and lost hair
I stare with my eyes closed
Wonder when the body leave does the mind go
Watching Jordan became less important
Seeing this disease eat away my aunt's organs
According to doctors there's no cure
We went through doubt, and cases of insure
Wish I knew then how to heal with herbs
Knew a part of her I could heal with words
But the Creator was sending for her
What seemed like the end was the beginning for her
Like that, she didn't want us to remember her
No more medication did she want us to give to her
It spread from her liver to her lungs to her last breath
Only to be freed through death
Between me and you
[Chorus]
He spoke with his eyes, tear-filled
A lump in his throat, his fear built
My whole life it was in steel
This ain't the way that men feel
A feeling, he said he wish he could kill
A feeling, not even time could heal
This is how real life's supposed to be?
For it to happen to someone close to me?
So far we'd come, for him to tell me
As he did, insecurity held me
I felt like he failed me
To the spirit, yelled help me
I'd known him for like what seemed forever
About going pro we dreamed together
Never knew it would turn out like this
For so long he tried to fight this
Now there was no way for him to ignore it
His parents found out and hated him for it
How could I judge him? Had to accept him if I truly loved him
No longer he said had he hated himself
Through sexuality he liberated himself
Between me and you
[Chorus]
Liberation
Peace
The song Between Me You & Liberation by Common feat. Cee-Lo is a powerful track that tells the stories of different individuals who have undergone different struggles and, in their own way, found liberation. The first verse talks about a woman who, through sex, has found peace after being raped by her father when she was eight years old. She shares her story with Common, who is there to listen without judgment. The second verse tells the story of Common's aunt who is diagnosed with cancer, and even though happiness only visited occasionally, she still finds freedom in the end. The last verse is about a friend who reveals his sexual orientation to Common; the friend confesses that he has found liberation through sexuality.
The chorus contains the lyrics "Sometimes I wish a careless whisper, Serenade her without speaking a word, because of you I'm stronger, I'm afraid no longer, I feel so alive in me, you have liberated me," which speaks to the idea that sometimes words aren't necessary to show someone that they are free.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was produced by J Dilla, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time. Another interesting fact about the song is that it features Cee-Lo Green, who is known for being a member of Gnarls Barkley and for his solo work. The song is also notable for its powerful lyrics that tackle heavy themes such as sexual assault and cancer.
The chords for Between Me You & Liberation are not widely available, but the song is known for its use of a soulful sample that runs throughout the track. The sample is taken from "Sharon" by David Axelrod and features a haunting, echoing melody that adds to the song's emotional impact.
In conclusion, Between Me You & Liberation is a powerful song that tells the stories of different individuals who have found liberation in their own unique ways. Its emotional and thought-provoking lyrics, combined with its soulful sample and powerful message, make it a standout track in Common's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
She rested her head upon my chest
A moment of closeness between two people
Sensed liberation in between breaths
Feeling free in the moment
Wonder if sex is what she found it in
Questioning the reason for physical intimacy
Peace, found it laying down with men
Feeling calm and at peace with sex partner(s)
Wasn't there to judge her, many ways I loved her
Loving someone unconditionally
It was more than bodies we shared with each other
A deeper connection beyond physical intimacy
We laid under the cover of friends
Intimacy within a friendship
A place where many lovers began
A setting where romance often blooms
I began, to feel her body shake in my hand
Sensing intimacy between partner(s)
Body language, it's so hard trying to understand
Miscommunication through non-verbal cues
Usually after sex, it's a good feel
Sexual satisfaction often leads to positive emotions
Took by silence, emotion stood still
The aftermath of sex can be both emotionally difficult or satisfying
I could feel, her tears spill, from her grille
Partner is experiencing emotional pain
Hurt from before that began to build
Emotional trauma impacting current relationship
She told me hold me, a story she assembled it
Partner seeks emotional support and is ready to share their story
Telling it, trying not to remember it
Recounting a difficult experience with reluctance
It was a story of innocence taken
Narrative of traumatic event
Thought she could redeem, through love making
Using sex as a form of healing
When she was eight she was raped by her father
Revelation of traumatic past experience
And tried to escape through multiple sex partners
Coping mechanism towards trauma - promiscuity
Felt pitiful, she had only learned,
Self deprecation and worthlessness
To love through the physical, inside it burned
Only understanding love through sex and experiencing emotional turmoil because of it
My heart turned, I thought of what this man did
Reacting to someone else's monstrous actions
She forgave him, she grew to understand it
The journey towards forgiveness and empathy
Her soul was tired and never really rested
The weight of trauma always present
Only with men through aggression
Using men to cope with past trauma and not knowing a healthy relationship
Said it was a blessing and it happened for a reason
Finding meaning and purpose in past trauma as a way to heal
By speaking it, she found freedom
Sharing her story as a form of healing and liberation
Sometimes I wish a, careless whisper
The desire to express love without words
Serenade her, without speaking a word
Wanting to express love through music
Because of you I'm stronger, I'm afraid no longer
Feeling empowered and safe because of partner's love
I feel so alive in me, you have liberated me
Feeling liberated and alive as a result of the relationship
Less than a year she was diagnosed with it
The shock of receiving a dangerous medical diagnosis
Memories of that year, so close and vivid
The emotional toll of a difficult year
Happiness, would only visit, once in a while
Struggling to find joy during a difficult time
To watch an adult, becoming a child
Seeing a loved one suffer brings back feelings of vulnerability and helplessness
Somehow, I knew she'd make it
The hope that the person will recover
The life of one so given early would God take it?
The questioning of why bad things happen to good people
Hurt she placed in, hope and prayer
Finding comfort in faith
Hurt she placed in chemo and lost hair
The physical and emotional toll of treatment
I stare with my eyes closed
Feeling overwhelmed with emotions
Wonder when the body leave does the mind go
Reflecting on the concept of death
Watching Jordan became less important
A shift in priorities due to the severity of the situation
Seeing this disease eat away my aunt's organs
The visceral reality of a loved one's health deteriorating
According to doctors there's no cure
The acceptance of the reality of the situation
We went through doubt, and cases of insure
The emotional and financial costs of treatment for a serious illness
Wish I knew then how to heal with herbs
The wish to have more control over the situation
Knew a part of her I could heal with words
The power of words and emotional support
But the Creator was sending for her
The idea that death is predetermined by a higher power
What seemed like the end was the beginning for her
The belief in an afterlife and continuation of the soul
Like that, she didn't want us to remember her
Choosing to be remembered in a certain way
No more medication did she want us to give to her
Choosing to end treatment and pass away peacefully
It spread from her liver to her lungs to her last breath
The physical manifestation of the disease
Only to be freed through death
Finding freedom from pain through death
He spoke with his eyes, tear-filled
Communicating deep emotion without words
A lump in his throat, his fear built
Overwhelmed with emotion and anxiety
My whole life it was in steel
The weight of societal expectations
This ain't the way that men feel
Breaking societal expectations of masculinity
A feeling, he said he wish he could kill
A negative emotion felt towards oneself
A feeling, not even time could heal
The depth of emotional pain and trauma
This is how real life's supposed to be?
The questioning of societal norms and expectations
For it to happen to someone close to me?
The pain of seeing someone you love suffer
So far we'd come, for him to tell me
Realizing how close you are to someone despite the unexpected revelation
As he did, insecurity held me
Feeling insecure and vulnerable because of the revelation
I felt like he failed me
Feeling disappointed or let down by the person you love
To the spirit, yelled help me
Asking for spiritual guidance or help during a difficult situation
I'd known him for like what seemed forever
A long-standing relationship with the person
About going pro we dreamed together
Shared ambitions and goals for the future
Never knew it would turn out like this
Unexpected developments in life
For so long he tried to fight this
Struggles with internal conflict and denial
Now there was no way for him to ignore it
The reality of the situation could no longer be ignored
His parents found out and hated him for it
The complexity of relationships with family members
How could I judge him? Had to accept him if I truly loved him
Choosing to love and accept the person despite their actions or situation
No longer he said had he hated himself
Choosing to accept and love oneself despite struggles
Through sexuality he liberated himself
Finding freedom and self-discovery through sexuality
Liberation
Finding freedom and transformation through challenging experiences
Peace
Feeling calm and at ease with oneself and the world
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES JASON POYSER, THOMAS DECARLO CALLAWAY, LONNIE RASHID LYNN, GIUSEPPE HENRY PALLADINO, AHMIR K THOMPSON, JAMES DEWITT YANCEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind