G.O.D
Common Lyrics

After bein' 25 you know just trying to survive in the world
After reaching a certain age and gaining life experience, one becomes more conscious about their decisions, since survival depends on it.

Bout to have a little boy or baby girl. Who knows?
As one becomes more mature and experiences life, they begin to think about starting a family.

Anyway just when you start getting that little age and experience to you
With age and experience, one begins to think more critically, reflecting on their decisions and striving to make better ones.

You start thinking about stuff, trying to make the right moves
Through experience and reflection, one becomes more thoughtful about the decisions they make and tries to make the right choices.

The education of the Lon chicka Lonnie Lynn
Common is reflecting on his personal journey and education.

Began, began with time
Common's education was a gradual process that took time and effort.

Being my bloodline is one with the divine
Common believes that his heritage is linked to a higher power.

In time brother, you will discover the light
Common believes that with time, people will come to understand the truth and find enlightenment.

Some say that God is Black and the Devil's White
There are varying beliefs about the nature of God and the Devil, with some believing they have racial associations.

Well, the Devil is wrong and God is what's right
Common believes that God is righteous and the Devil is not.

I fight, with myself in the ring of doubt and fear
Common acknowledges that he has doubts and fears but must combat them in order to find truth and peace.

The rain ain't gone, but I can still see clear
Life may still be difficult, but Common has clarity and perspective to navigate through it.

As a child, given religion with no answer to why
Common was introduced to religion as a child, but was not given sufficient explanations for why he should believe in it.

Just told believe in Jesus 'cause for me he did die
Common was told to simply have faith in Jesus without being given any rationale for this belief.

Curiosity killed the catechism
Common's curiosity led him to question the beliefs he was taught as a child.

Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm that I played to
Through learning and reflection, Common developed a new set of beliefs that were based on understanding and wisdom.

And became a slave to master self
Common pursued self-improvement and growth in order to master his own life.

A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness and his health
Common values knowledge, happiness, and health as indicators of true wealth.

My mind had dealt with the books of Zen, Tao the lessons
Common studied various religious texts, such as Zen and Taoism, in his pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

Koran and the Bible, to me they all vital
Common recognizes the importance of various religious texts, including the Koran and the Bible.

And got truth within 'em, gotta read them boys
Common believes that there is truth to be found within religious texts and encourages others to read them.

You just can't skim 'em, different branches of belief
It is important to read religious texts thoroughly and with an open mind to understand the different branches of belief they represent.

But one root that stem 'em, but people of the venom try to trim 'em
While different religions have different beliefs and practices, they all have a common root. However, some people try to distort this truth and cause conflict between religions.

And use religion as an emblem
Some people use religion as a superficial symbol or status sign rather than as a true path to enlightenment.

When it should be a natural way of life
Religion should be a natural way of life rather than a mere symbol or label.

Who am I or they to say to whom you pray ain't right
Common acknowledges that people have different beliefs and ways of worshiping, and it is not his place to say whether they are right or wrong.

That's who got you doing right and got you this far
Common believes that the way people choose to worship has gotten them this far in life and should be respected.

Whether you say "in Jesus name" or Hum do Allah
People may choose to worship using different names and practices, but Common believes that the underlying beliefs are the same.

Only 144,000 goin' get it baby
Common references a Biblical prophecy about the end of the world and how only a select few will be saved.

So many of my fellow brothers have given themselves a title
Common observes that many people try to give themselves a title or label without actually earning it through their actions.

That their actions didn't earn
These titles are often meaningless and not backed up by their actions.

Our ignorance is in the same breath as our innocence
Common sees ignorance and innocence as two sides of the same coin.

Subconsciously, seeking to find an impressionable mind to convince
Some people try to persuade those with impressionable minds to follow their misguided beliefs.

I've finally come to the realization why Black people in the worse place
Common reflects on the struggles of black people and attributes it to a lack of knowledge about their own history and heritage.

Cause it's hard to correct yourself when you don't know
Without knowledge and understanding, it is difficult to recognize and correct one's own mistakes.

Who you are in the first place
Understanding one's own identity is crucial to self-improvement and growth.

But evidently, White folks know more Black history than we do
Common observes that many white people are more knowledgeable about black history than black people themselves.

Why're we bein' lied to? I ain't know our history was purposely hidden
Common questions why black history has been deliberately hidden and obscured from many people's knowledge.

Damn, somethin' in me want to know who I am
Common's search for knowledge and understanding about his identity is born of a deep desire to know himself.

So I began my search, my journey started in church
Common began his journey of self-discovery by researching and reflecting on his experiences in church.

It gave my heartache relief when I started to understand belief
Through learning and reflection, Common found solace and peace by gaining a deeper understanding of belief and spirituality.

Hustling was like a gift spent my share of time in the streets
Common's life experiences, including time spent hustling on the streets, were valuable lessons that helped him grow and learn.

Taught me survival from this evil I'm just gonna have to deal with
Through hustling, Common learned how to survive and deal with the evil in the world.

And I felt like a fool when I tried to learn it in school
Common acknowledges that formal education did not always provide him with the knowledge and understanding he needed to grow and learn.

It almost seemed like a rehearsal when the only
Formal education felt like a rehearsal rather than true learning since it often lacked deep understanding and wisdom.

Science and math are universal
Common recognizes the value of science and math, which are universally applicable and understood.

Taking elder advice, read the Bible, the Koran
Common believes in the value of seeking wisdom from elders and reading various religious texts.

Searched scrolls from the Hebrew Israelites
Common studied religious texts from the Hebrew Israelites in his spiritual journey.

Hold on, this ain't right, Jesus wasn't White
Common challenges the false portrayal of Jesus as a white man.

Some leads were granted with insight
Common gained insight through his search for truth and understanding.

And it's all in the plan, but it took me some time to over stand
Common believes that everything happens for a reason, but it took him time to fully understand and appreciate this truth.

He still created with the imperfection of man
Despite the imperfections of humanity, Common believes that we were all created by a higher power.

So, with followin' I disagree
Common chooses to question and challenge beliefs rather than blindly following them.

By no means have I forgotten or forgiven what's been done to me but
Common still carries the pain of the past but strives to move forward.

I do know the Devil ain't no White man, the Devil's a spiritual mind
Common does not believe that the Devil is a white man but rather a spiritual force.

That's color blind, there's evil White folk and evil niggas
People of all races can be evil or good based on their actions, as race has no bearing on one's morality.

You goin' surely find there's no positivity without negativity
Common acknowledges the duality of life and that positivity cannot exist without negativity as a point of reference.

But one side you gonna have to choose
People must choose between being positive or negative in their actions and beliefs.

Any chance to speak I refuse to misuse
Common recognizes the importance of using his platform and voice responsibly and with respect for others.

So how can you call yourself God when you let a worldly possession
Common challenges those who call themselves God but allow worldly possessions to control them.

Become an obsession and the way you write your rhymes and
Common views the way one writes their rhymes as a reflection of their values and beliefs.

Can't follow your lesson
If one cannot follow their own teachings and beliefs, they are not truly living by them.

If a seed's sown, you make sure it's known, you make sure it's grown
If one has knowledge or wisdom, they should ensure that others are aware of it and help them cultivate it.

If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
Those who call themselves God should use their power to help others and not oppress or enslave them.

Being me
Common concludes with a reflection on being himself, with all his experiences, beliefs, and growth.