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.
Love of My Life
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way back
Way back, yeah
I met him when I was a
Little girl, he gave me
He gave me poetry
And he was my first
But in my heart I knew I
Wasn't the only one
Cause when the tables turned
He had to break up
Whenever I got lonely
Or needed some advice
He gave me his shoulder
His words were very nice
But that is all behind me
Cause now there is no other
My love is his and his is mine
A friend became the
Love of my life
You are my friend
Love of my life
I can depend
Love of my life
Without you, baby
It feels like a simple true love
Hope this shit ain't clear
A freak-freak ya'll, and ya don't stop
To the beat ya'll and ya don't stop
A freak-freak
Or could it be that it was
All just so simple then
A teenage lover who said
He's just a friend
He moved around and we kept
In touch through his friend Mike
The world was young and he knew
We couldn't rush but
Whenever I got lonely
Or needed some advice
He gave me his shoulder
His words were very nice
But that is all behind me
Cause now there is no other
My love is his and his is mine
A friend became the
Love of my life
You are my friend
Love of my life
A dude I can depend, yeah, yeah
Love of my life
Feels like a simple true love, yeah
Love of my life
You are my friend
Love of my life
A dude I can depend, yeah, yeah
Love of my life
Feels like a simple true love, yeah
Hope this shit ain't clear
Y'all know how I met her
We broke up and got back together
To get her back I had to sweat her (sweat her)
Thought she roll wit bad boys forever
In many ways them boys made her better
To grow I had to let her (let her)
She needed cheddar and I understood that (that)
Lookin' for cheese that don't make her a hood rat (rat)
In fact she's a queen to me, her light beams on me
I love it when she sings to me
It's like that and a
Ooh you know you rock my world
And you be boy and I'll be girl
And we don't stop until the break of dawn
Ooh you know you rock my world
And you be boy and I'll be girl
And we don't stop until the break of oohhh
The first few lines of the song "Love of My Life" by Common feat. Erykah Badu take us back to the past to reflect on a teenage romance that turned into a blossoming friendship. Common reminisces about the time when he first met the woman who would go on to become the love of his life. He acknowledges that they were young and that she gave him poetry - an indication that they connected on an intellectual level from the start. However, he also admits that he wasn't the only one in her life and that when the tables turned, she had to break up with him. Despite that, Common speaks positively of how supportive and encouraging she was to him whenever he needed someone to talk to.
As the song progresses, Common's narration shifts to the present, letting us know that the teenage love is now behind them, and they have found their way back to each other. The woman who once gave him poetry is now his most dependable and trusted friend, the love of his life. The rapper admits that their journey to this point wasn't easy, as they had to break up before getting back together. However, he also acknowledges that this is the woman for him, his queen, whose light shines bright on him.
Love of My Life is a beautiful song that tells a story of love, the different stages it can go through, and the importance of having a friend you can depend on. It speaks to the universal experience of teenage infatuation, heartbreak, and the joy of rediscovering an old flame, who has become so much more. It's a song that celebrates love in all of its forms and a reminder that true love can withstand even the most challenging situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Right here what we gon' do is go back
Let's revisit an old love story
Way back
A long time ago
I met him when I was a
I first encountered him during my childhood
Little girl, he gave me
He gave me the gift of poetry when I was young
He gave me poetry
He introduced me to the beauty of poetic expression
And he was my first
He was my first love
But in my heart I knew I
Deep down, I was aware
Wasn't the only one
That I wasn't the only woman in his life
Cause when the tables turned
When the situation changed
He had to break up
He ended our relationship
Whenever I got lonely
Whenever I felt alone
Or needed some advice
Or needed some guidance
He gave me his shoulder
He comforted me and lent me his support
His words were very nice
His words were always kind and reassuring
But that is all behind me
But that is in the past now
Cause now there is no other
Because now there is no one else
My love is his and his is mine
We love each other equally
A friend became the
A friend became the love of my life
Love of my life
The person I love the most
You are my friend
You are my closest confidant
I can depend
I know I can trust you
Without you, baby
My life would be incomplete without you
It feels like a simple true love
Our love is pure and straightforward
Hope this shit ain't clear
I hope this message is not too cryptic
A freak-freak ya'll, and ya don't stop
Let's party and have a good time
To the beat ya'll and ya don't stop
Let's dance to the rhythm
Or could it be that it was
Or maybe it was just
All just so simple then
Everything seemed so easy back then
A teenage lover who said
We were young and foolish lovers who said
He's just a friend
That we were just friends
He moved around and we kept
He moved away but we stayed in touch
In touch through his friend Mike
We stayed in contact through his friend Mike
The world was young and he knew
We were both young and he realized
We couldn't rush but
That we needed to take things slow
A dude I can depend, yeah, yeah
A man whom I can rely on
Feels like a simple true love, yeah
Our relationship is uncomplicated and sincere
Y'all know how I met her
Let me tell you how I met her
We broke up and got back together
We went through a break-up and a reunion
To get her back I had to sweat her (sweat her)
To win her back, I had to work hard
Thought she roll wit bad boys forever
I thought she would always be attracted by bad boys
In many ways them boys made her better
In some ways, those boys improved her
To grow I had to let her (let her)
To mature, I had to set her free
She needed cheddar and I understood that (that)
She needed money and I accepted that
Lookin' for cheese that don't make her a hood rat (rat)
But seeking money does not make her a promiscuous woman
In fact she's a queen to me, her light beams on me
In fact, she is my queen and she shines her light on me
I love it when she sings to me
I adore it when she serenades me
It's like that and a
That's how things are
Ooh you know you rock my world
You know that you make my world spin
And you be boy and I'll be girl
I'll be the girl and you'll be the boy in our relationship
And we don't stop until the break of dawn
And we won't stop until the morning arrives
And we don't stop until the break of oohhh
And we won't stop until the break of dawn
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LONNIE RASHID LYNN, ROBERT C. OZUNA, JAMES JASON POYSER, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, GLEN DON STANDRIDGE II, ERICA WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Peakfreud
Totally agree, except for the simple part .
This song came out in 2002 the summer after 9/11
I'm a New Yorker the Patriot act had us getting search at random to get on the train.
There was soldiers in the subway with M4 riffles...
Life would never be the same.
@NyssaSayWhat
I didn’t realize as a child. This video is a love letter to hip hop. Showing the evolution and paying homage to every era. Even leaving the future of hip hop up to the children in the end. Beautiful.
@kanetheassassin
and having Kool Herc driving the bus this video is just amazing
@NyssaSayWhat
Smitch another gem I missed! Thank you!
@eadekolu
I didn't even realize it myself too lol
@empress3723
y'all it literally said an ode to hip hop by I understand😂
@callmekrayy
Literally just got that today. Lol, I am ashamed of myself.
@Dr.FinbarrCalamitous
As an adult I understand the slowdown portion with the purple filter. Homage to Texas rap culture. This really has to be one of my favorite videos of all time!!
@adultcartoonsandcereal15
Also she was "screwed" by the police in that police scene when she was framed and arrested.
@tenneshaskyers
The T-shirt Also says screwed :D makes me want to try purp just to experience the slowed beat for myself Lool
@MF_Frost
RIP DJ SCREW, one of the greatest hip hop artists with such an influence over the years