The Corner
Common Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Memories on the corners with the Fo's and the Mo's
Walk to the store for the Rose, talking straightforward to hoes
Got uncles that smoke, and some put blow up they nose
To cope with the lows, the wind is cold and it blows
In their socks and their soles, niggas holding they rolls
Corners leave souls opened and closed, hoping for mo'
With nowhere to go, niggas rollin' in droves
They shoot the wrong way, 'cause they ain't knowin' their goals
The streets ain't safe 'cause they ain't knowin' the code
By the foes I was told, either focus or fold
Got cousins with flows, hope they open some doors
So we can cop clothes and roll in a Rolls
Now I roll in a Olds, with windows that don't roll
Down the roads where cars get broken and stole
These are the stories told by Stony and Cottage Grove
The world is cold, the block is hot as a stove
On the corners

I wish I could give you this feeling
I wish I could give this feeling, uh-uh, uh-uh-ugh
On the corners niggas robbin', killin'
Dyin' just to make a living, huh, huh?

We overstated, we underrated, we educated
The corner was our time when time stood still and
Gators and snakeskins in
Yellow and pink and powdered blue
Profiles glorifying them

Street lights and deep nights, cats tryna eat right
Ridin' no-seat-bikes, with work to feed hypes
So they can get sweet Nike's, they head and they feet right
Desires of street life, cars and weed types
It's hard to breathe nights, days are thief-like
The beasts roam the streets, the police is Greek-like
Game at its peak, we speak and believe hype
Bang in the streets hats cocked left or deep right
It's steep life, coming up where niggas is sheep-like
Rappers and hoopers, we strive to be like
G's with three strikes, seeds that need light
Cheese and recite, needs and BE strife
The corner, where struggle and greed fight
We write songs about wrong 'cause it's hard to see right
Look to the sky, hoping it will bleed light
Reality's a bitch, and I heard that she bites
The corner

I wish I could give you this feeling
I wish I could give this feeling, uh-uh, uh-uh-ugh
On the corners niggas robbin', killin'
Dyin' just to make a living, huh, huh?

The corner was our magic, our music, our politics
Fires raised as tribal dances and war cries
Broke out on different corners
Power to the people
Black power
Black is beautiful

Black church services, murderers, Arabs serving burgers
As cats with gold permanents, move they bags as herbalists
The dirt isn't just fertile, it's people working and earning this
The curb getters go where the cash flow and the current is
It's so hot that niggas burn to live
The furnace is, where the money moving, the determined live
We talk shit, play lotto, and buy German beers
It's so black packed with action that's affirmative
The corners

I wish I could give you this feeling
I wish I could give this feeling, uh-uh, uh-uh-ugh
On the corners niggas robbin', killin'
Dyin' just to make a living, huh, huh?

The corner was our Rock of Gibraltar, our Stonehenge
Our Taj Mahal, our monument




Our testimonial to freedom, to peace, and to love
Down on the corner

Overall Meaning

In this song, Common is talking about the memories he has of growing up on the corners of Stony and Cottage Grove. He talks about walking to the store for Rose and engaging with women while holding on to the littlest of things amid the cold winds that blow. Common mentions that he has uncles who smoke and some who use drugs to cope with their problems, and he has cousins who flow and they hope to open some doors. The Corner is where the struggle and greed fight, with the game at its peak, and people talking about wrong because it's hard to see right. The corner serves as both a place of comfort and a place of pain, with murderers, black power, and beauty.


Through his lyrics, Common describes the struggles of everyday life on the corners – the pain, the poverty, the drugs, the gangs, the violence, the injustice, and the heartache. The song tells the story of the people who live on the corners and the struggles they face. It speaks of the music, the politics, and the culture that exists on the corners of the streets. Common's lyrics exemplify the struggle and hope that come with life on the corners.


Line by Line Meaning

Memories on the corners with the Fo's and the Mo's
Reminiscing about the past on the streets with friends and acquaintances


Walk to the store for the Rose, talking straightforward to hoes
Going to the store to get alcohol (Rose) and talking to women in a direct manner


Got uncles that smoke, and some put blow up they nose
Some family members smoke cigarettes, while others use cocaine to deal with their problems


To cope with the lows, the wind is cold and it blows
Using substances to deal with emotional pain as the cold wind literally blows


In their socks and their soles, niggas holding they rolls
People carrying their money in their socks to hide it from others


Corners leave souls opened and closed, hoping for mo'
Street corners can lead to positive or negative outcomes and people hope for more positive outcomes


With nowhere to go, niggas rollin' in droves
People wandering around with no clear direction, moving in groups


They shoot the wrong way, 'cause they ain't knowin' their goals
People make mistakes because they don't have clear goals in life


The streets ain't safe 'cause they ain't knowin' the code
The streets are dangerous because people don't understand the unwritten rules of the game


By the foes I was told, either focus or fold
Enemies advised me to either concentrate on success or give up


Got cousins with flows, hope they open some doors
Having talented relatives who can hopefully provide opportunities for success


So we can cop clothes and roll in a Rolls
Getting enough money to buy fancy clothes and a luxury car


Now I roll in a Olds, with windows that don't roll
Drive an old car with broken windows


Down the roads where cars get broken and stole
Driving on dangerous streets where cars get stolen or damaged


These are the stories told by Stony and Cottage Grove
These are the famous street corners that have stories, experiences, and struggles associated with them


The world is cold, the block is hot as a stove
The world is full of hardships, and the streets are also dangerous and hot


I wish I could give you this feeling
I wish I could convey this emotion


On the corners niggas robbin', killin'
People committing crimes such as robbery and murder on the streets


Dyin' just to make a living, huh, huh?
Risking one's life to earn a living


We overstated, we underrated, we educated
People have varied life experiences, knowledge levels, and opinions


The corner was our time when time stood still and
The street corner became a place to pause time and reflect


Gators and snakeskins in
Wearing fancy shoes made of alligator and snake skin


Yellow and pink and powdered blue
Wearing colorful clothing and accessories


Profiles glorifying them
Trendsetters being celebrated and copied


Street lights and deep nights, cats tryna eat right
The streets are illuminated but still dark, people striving to stay healthy


Ridin' no-seat-bikes, with work to feed hypes
Riding bikes without seats, working to fund their drug habits


So they can get sweet Nike's, they head and they feet right
Earning money to buy brand name shoes and look good


Desires of street life, cars and weed types
Wishing for the trappings of street life such as cars and drugs


It's hard to breathe nights, days are thief-like
The nights are suffocating, the days are full of thieves


The beasts roam the streets, the police is Greek-like
Dangerous people are wandering the streets, and the police seem like a foreign entity


Game at its peak, we speak and believe hype
The competition is fierce, and we buy into the hype


Bang in the streets hats cocked left or deep right
Guns are used in the street, and hats are worn at different angles depending on gang affiliation


It's steep life, coming up where niggas is sheep-like
Life is difficult trying to succeed where people lack leadership and follow others


Rappers and hoopers, we strive to be like
Aspiring to be like successful musicians and basketball players


G's with three strikes, seeds that need light
Ex-convicts and youth who need guidance and support


Cheese and recite, needs and BE strife
Earning money and expressing oneself through music, while dealing with challenges


The corner, where struggle and greed fight
The street corner is where people struggle with their personal desires and the need to survive


We write songs about wrong 'cause it's hard to see right
Creating music about the wrongs in life because it's difficult to see what is right


Look to the sky, hoping it will bleed light
Searching for hope and light in a dark world


Reality's a bitch, and I heard that she bites
When faced with reality, it can be harsh and unforgiving


The corner was our magic, our music, our politics
The street corner was where people found inspiration, expressed themselves through music, and discussed political issues


Fires raised as tribal dances and war cries
People were passionate and emotional, expressing themselves through physical movements and sounds


Broke out on different corners
The energy and passion for music and politics spilled out onto various street corners


Power to the people
Empowering the people to take control of their lives through activism and advocacy


Black power
Embracing and celebrating black culture and strength


Black is beautiful
Promoting the beauty and value of black people and culture


Black church services, murderers, Arabs serving burgers
On the same street corner, there are religious services, violent crime, and diverse restaurants


As cats with gold permanents, move they bags as herbalists
People with gold teeth sell drugs on the street


The dirt isn't just fertile, it's people working and earning this
The environment and its struggles are not just obstacles, but also opportunities


The curb getters go where the cash flow and the current is
Smart entrepreneurs go where the money is, following the trends


It's so hot that niggas burn to live
The environment is so difficult that people have to fight every day to survive


The furnace is, where the money moving, the determined live
The lucrative places are also the most challenging, and only the determined can make it


We talk shit, play lotto, and buy German beers
Wasting time talking poorly about others, spending money on lotto tickets, and buying expensive beer


It's so black packed with action that's affirmative
The street corner is busy with positive and negative actions


The corners
The street corners with all their experiences, struggles, and successes


Dyin' just to make a living, huh, huh?
Risking one's life to make enough money to survive




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Leon Moore, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Kanye Omari West, Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Funkypotato14

This song is fucking legendary. Pay attention to the rhyme schemes in each of the verses. Verse 1: All 1 syllable rhymes with the same vowel sound, Verse 2: is 2 syllable rhymes and Verse 3: is 3 syllable rhymes. Common is one of the most skilled lyricists to ever live.

@MrTweedum

Never peeped that!! Make him even more sic

@terrillmaxwell3862

+JOHNNY STORM dope

@buschg7106

peep game

@BostonGhost617

this was always was ill to me but thank you so much for pointing that out damn now it's 10x as hard

@Liquidmetal702

+Funkypotato14 Real Heads still exist!

13 More Replies...

@dlasky

Sometimes I get the feeling that I am beginning to hate Hip-Hop but then I listen to older stuff like this and I remember why I fell in love in the first place.

@RoxxySweets

YES! 😏

@russelladams7134

I feel ya. Listen to the old school hip-hop and you will never go wrong.

@kirekolevski190

Just like that

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