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.
Heaven Somewhere
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But for some reason I decided to answer it
On the other end was a French accent
He told me we needed to rap quick
Cause he had did some bad shit
And would be gone for years, spending these last two days
With his momma and his kids
When he spoke I wasn't trying to hear it ,cause
And this didn't seem like it was in his spirit
He couldn't believe as much as I couldn't, what he done
He said now its time for him to turn himself in
No longer could he run, from life, from God
Start thinkin', why is doing right is so hard
I got back to him when we was in London discussin' the new testament
And how our lives related to it, and how we could make the best of it
My voice became destined, so I asked him why you gotta go
He said you know turn to Matthew twenty-four
He said no one knows the hour, nor do they know the day
But the kingdom is near, don't let anything lead you to stray
As long as God is with you, everything will be okay
So right about then, we decided to pray
Just lyin' back makin' the smoke disperse a ray
Deep into clouds
It's makin' things appear to me so clearly
Deep in the clouds
Just lyin' back makin' the smoke disperse a ray
Deep in the clouds
It's makin' things appear to me so clearly
Deep into clouds
Your time
Is a terrible to waste
For it's
Not one of the possessions that you can bring to space, yeah, it don't matter
Its a challenge
But the chance of seeing, is quite a dream to chase, yes it is
I hope
I remind God of him when he sees my face
He goin' see it
The feeling just keeps on lifting me higher
And its ever flowing it's, ever flowing
When every thing, puts a smile on my face
And I recognize the strong goal
But I keep on going, I keep on going
I keep on going on
Hey mighty love
Watching over me
A smile, brilliant
All over, constantly
Warm, comforting
Perfect, like nothing
No hate, no confusion, no strain
Simply peace, simply
Simply, simply, simply
No fear! Heaven is to me
No fear of destruction
Understanding who he is
His name is Christ
Heaven, heaven is to me
Wisdom, understanding, knowledge
Streets of gold and pearly gates
Halos wings all dressed in white
Angels sing and cymbals glare
No one's rich no one's poor
People dreaming they live free
Making love while they in love
Wonderful dream wake me when you're home
Heaven, heaven is being pops
Heaven is spending the day with your grandchildren
Listenin' to they voices when and they laughing and play
And then at the end of the day we hug we kiss and slowly they walk away
And then suddenly they turn and rush back to me and hug me round the knees
Yeah, that's heaven to me
The song "Heaven Somewhere" by Common features a phone call from a friend who has decided to turn himself in for something bad he has done, knowing that he will be spending years in jail. The song reflects on the difficulties of choosing to do the right thing in life and the importance of relying on faith to guide us through hard times. The lyrics depict Common's conversation with his friend as they discuss their belief in God, the New Testament, and the kingdom of heaven. They pray together and express the hope that their actions will remind God of them when he sees them in the afterlife.
Throughout the song, Common also reflects on his own experiences and what heaven means to him. He expresses the idea that heaven is not just a physical place with streets of gold and pearly gates, but it is also a concept that resonates with people on a personal level. For Common, heaven is spending time with his family, listening to the voices of his grandchildren, and experiencing moments of peace and love.
Overall, "Heaven Somewhere" is a song that explores the complexities of life and the importance of having faith to navigate through difficult times. The lyrics highlight the struggles of choosing to do the right thing and the hope that there is a better life waiting for us in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Phone rang, screen said caller ID said blocked
The singer received a call from an unknown person.
But for some reason I decided to answer it
The singer, against their better judgement, answered the call.
On the other end was a French accent
The caller had a French accent.
He told me we needed to rap quick
The caller wanted to talk to the artist urgently.
Cause he had did some bad shit
The caller had done something wrong.
And would be gone for years, spending these last two days
The caller was going to be away for many years and was spending the last two days with his family.
With his momma and his kids
The caller was spending time with his mother and children.
When he spoke I wasn't trying to hear it ,cause
The artist initially didn't want to listen to the caller.
I knew he was a real good person
The artist believed the caller was a good person.
And this didn't seem like it was in his spirit
The artist didn't think the wrong he did was in line with the caller's nature.
He couldn't believe as much as I couldn't, what he done
The caller and speaker couldn't believe that the caller had done something wrong.
He said now its time for him to turn himself in
The caller believed it was time to turn himself in for the wrong he had done.
No longer could he run, from life, from God
The caller couldn't run away from the consequences of his actions anymore.
Start thinkin', why is doing right is so hard
The caller wondered why doing the right thing was so difficult.
I got back to him when we was in London discussin' the new testament
The singer and caller discussed the New Testament in London.
And how our lives related to it, and how we could make the best of it
The artist and caller talked about the relevance of the New Testament to their lives.
My voice became destined, so I asked him why you gotta go
The artist was overcome with emotion and asked the caller why he had to go.
He said you know turn to Matthew twenty-four
The caller suggested that the singer read Matthew chapter 24.
He said no one knows the hour, nor do they know the day
The caller believed that no one knew when the end of the world would come.
But the kingdom is near, don't let anything lead you to stray
The caller believed that the kingdom of God was close and advised the artist not to lose faith.
As long as God is with you, everything will be okay
The caller believed that with God, everything would be alright for the artist.
So right about then, we decided to pray
The artist and caller decided to pray together.
Just lyin' back makin' the smoke disperse a ray
The singer was relaxing and watching smoke disperse into rays.
Deep into clouds
The artist was looking deeply into the clouds.
It's makin' things appear to me so clearly
The singer felt that the smoke and clouds were helping them see things clearly.
Your time
The singer addresses the listener.
Is a terrible to waste
The singer believes that time is precious.
For it's
The artist is continuing their point.
Not one of the possessions that you can bring to space, yeah, it don't matter
The artist believes that time is not something that can be taken into space and that it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Its a challenge
The singer is acknowledging that using one's time wisely is difficult.
But the chance of seeing, is quite a dream to chase, yes it is
The singer believes that the chance to see and experience things in life is worth pursuing.
I hope
The artist is expressing a wish.
I remind God of him when he sees my face
The artist hopes that they remind God of someone they admire when God sees their face.
He goin' see it
The artist believes that God will see this quality in them.
The feeling just keeps on lifting me higher
The singer is experiencing a feeling of elation.
And its ever flowing it's, ever flowing
The artist believes that this feeling is always present and moving within them.
When every thing, puts a smile on my face
The singer is happy with everything they encounter.
And I recognize the strong goal
The singer recognizes their strong purpose.
But I keep on going, I keep on going
The singer is determined to keep going despite obstacles.
I keep on going on
The artist emphasizes their determination.
Hey mighty love
The artist is addressing God.
Watching over me
The singer believes that God is watching over them.
A smile, brilliant
The singer envisions a bright smile from God.
All over, constantly
The artist believes that God's presence is always there.
Warm, comforting
The artist finds comfort in thinking of God.
Perfect, like nothing
The artist believes that God is perfect.
No hate, no confusion, no strain
The singer believes that God is free of negativity and stress.
Simply peace, simply
The artist finds peace in thinking of God.
No fear! Heaven is to me
The singer doesn't fear death because they believe in heaven.
No fear of destruction
The singer isn't afraid of being destroyed.
Understanding who he is
The singer understands their faith in God.
His name is Christ
The artist believes in Jesus Christ as their savior.
Wisdom, understanding, knowledge
The artist values these qualities.
Streets of gold and pearly gates
The singer imagines heaven with luxurious streets and gates.
Halos wings all dressed in white
The singer envisions angels in white with wings and halos.
Angels sing and cymbals glare
The artist imagines music in heaven.
No one's rich no one's poor
The artist believes everyone is equal in heaven.
People dreaming they live free
The artist believes people can be free from pain and suffering in heaven.
Making love while they in love
The singer believes people can express love freely in heaven.
Wonderful dream wake me when you're home
The artist views heaven as a dream they can't wait to experience.
Heaven, heaven is being pops
The singer believes their idea of heaven is spending time with their grandkids.
Heaven is spending the day with your grandchildren
The singer values spending time with their grandkids.
Listenin' to they voices when and they laughing and play
The singer loves listening to their grandkids play and laugh.
And then at the end of the day we hug we kiss and slowly they walk away
The artist cherishes saying goodbye to their grandkids at the end of the day.
And then suddenly they turn and rush back to me and hug me round the knees
The artist loves it when their grandkids come back to give them another hug.
Yeah, that's heaven to me
The singer considers spending time with their grandkids to be their idea of heaven.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES JASON POYSER, MARY J. BLIGE, THOMAS DECARLO CALLAWAY, OMAR CHRISTOPHER HAMMER, LONNIE RASHID LYNN, BILAL OLIVER, PINO PALLADINO, JILL H SCOTT, AHMIR K THOMPSON, ERICA WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind