The Dreamer
Common Lyrics


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For the world world world
My name is Common, No I.D

Ferrari testers, Armani dressers
Exquisite thick bitches that body bless us
Rest assured, we getting festive in Miami now
Told my nigga 'Ye I'm about to win the Grammys now
Getting Johnny Cash old white folks know me now
Standing close to the mic like I'm Kobe now
We celebrate the (?), they hate because we got love
It's the pop life, a lot of faces pop up
Known to tear the club and the block up
Going through the airport with more lie than an opera
Knew crooks who move books like Harry Potter
Get cleaners to get it cleaner
A legend like John, Lennon, I'm a dreamer
Tried to fuck the world she only let me finger
Mind trips to Medina to visit the redeemer
A hero, I'll drop out like Hiroshima
Off sangria with two broads at La Esquina
Still opening Rose for (?)
I'm a dreamer

It's for the world world world world world
Dream on

We take, uh, we make, uh, paper
And build skyscrapers
Walking on water, building my faith up
Niggas with no heart, I'm the pace maker
Get the beat from No I, feel the pulse of the Chi
Survival of the fit with hope in they eye
Taking notes from the sky to fly above understanding
They notes from the most high, so I gotta land them
Career ain't random, make anthems, streets chant them
Rock roles like a phantom
Mad hoes like they throwing tantrums
I tell them I need space like Richard Branson
Dancing, with (?) and stars getting full at bars
And then pass out like a pamphlet
Never taking Grants for granted
It's Common, I'm high above standard
Fly nigga, keep my feet planted
To rock the planet, I don't stop for panic
Maybe I'm a hopeless hip-hop romantic
I'm a dreamer

It's for the world world world world world
Dream on

He introduced me, I stepped to the podium
Said peace, gave thanks to the holy one
Put my water up, thought about my daughter for a second
The youth, the living resurrection
Reflections of the sun glaring through the window
Now the audience staring at my mental
Feeling like the world, the world is at my fingers
'Bout to speak to an auditorium full of dreamers
Kinda took me back to when I first had a dream
To be like the king that sang Billie Jean
Now it's gold records, and I'm on silver screens
At the mountaintop, you still gotta dream
To the dreamers

If I dream you're here
And you dream I'm there
We'll be no where near
You should just come here
If I wake you up
Only difference is




You can live the dream
Just believe in it

Overall Meaning

The Dreamer is a song by Common featuring the legendary Maya Angelou. The song features strong affirmations of resilience and hope despite the difficulties facing African-American society. Common starts by asserting his name, his partners, and the festive Miami environment which is characteristic of wealth, music, and glamour. He goes on to say that he is a recipient of a Grammy and had been recognized by the white community. Common and Angelou convey the message that the dominant culture should not be the only measure of an artist's worth. Rather, he calls for a society that acknowledges and celebrates black excellence. He also mentions his visit to Medina, the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, which is a significant pilgrimage site for Muslims. While there, he connects with the spirituality of Islam and his African heritage.


In the second verse, Common addresses the challenges facing black America. He mentions the poverty and lack of heart of a few individuals, which necessitates him to be a pacemaker. He then urges that success in the music industry is not handed out randomly but on the merit of the quality of work. He also alludes to his lucrative success in the industry, relating to his feelings of being unstoppable. He uses Richard Branson as an analogy to illustrate his status as an industry leader. Angelou asserts that it is through hard work, believing in oneself, and vision, that one can attain success despite one's background.


Line by Line Meaning

For the world world world
This song is dedicated to everyone around the world.


My name is Common, No I.D
The creators of this song are Common and No I.D.


Ferrari testers, Armani dressers
Some people who enjoy expensive things like cars and clothes.


Exquisite thick bitches that body bless us
Beautiful women who have curvaceous figures.


Rest assured, we getting festive in Miami now
We are currently enjoying a fun time in Miami.


Told my nigga 'Ye I'm about to win the Grammys now
I mentioned to my friend Kanye West that I am expecting to win a Grammy award soon.


Getting Johnny Cash old white folks know me now
Even elderly white people who might not be familiar with rap know who I am.


Standing close to the mic like I'm Kobe now
I am very confident and performing with intensity like Kobe Bryant would on the basketball court.


We celebrate the (?), they hate because we got love
We have fun together, but some people dislike us for it.


It's the pop life, a lot of faces pop up
Being in the limelight means many people will recognize you.


Known to tear the club and the block up
I have a reputation for being a great performer who can get a crowd hyped up.


Going through the airport with more lie than an opera
I am carrying a large amount of luggage, which could be a reference to an opera when there are many props on stage.


Knew crooks who move books like Harry Potter
I have known people who were involved with illegal activities but were very smart and made money in creative ways, like the character Harry Potter.


Get cleaners to get it cleaner
When something is dirty, we hire someone to clean it so it looks new again.


A legend like John, Lennon, I'm a dreamer
I aspire to be a legendary musician, like John Lennon, and I believe in the power of dreams.


Tried to fuck the world she only let me finger
I wanted to achieve greatness, but have not reached my full potential yet.


Mind trips to Medina to visit the redeemer
I take journeys in my mind to the holy city of Medina, possibly to seek spiritual guidance.


A hero, I'll drop out like Hiroshima
I will make an impact like the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, but in a positive way as a hero.


Off sangria with two broads at La Esquina
I am drinking sangria with two women at a bar called La Esquina.


Still opening Rose for (?)
It is unclear who or what 'Rose' refers to, but I am continuing to serve and celebrate it.


We take, uh, we make, uh, paper
We make money.


And build skyscrapers
We use our money to create tall buildings.


Walking on water, building my faith up
I am gaining confidence in myself as I face challenges that seem impossible.


Niggas with no heart, I'm the pace maker
I am the leader among people who lack courage and determination.


Get the beat from No I, feel the pulse of the Chi
I am inspired by the work of No I.D and I am tapped into the energy of the city of Chicago.


Survival of the fit with hope in they eye
Only the strong survive, but those who have hope for a better future can continue to thrive.


Taking notes from the sky to fly above understanding
I am listening to my intuition and imagination to reach new heights and surpass limitations.


They notes from the most high, so I gotta land them
I believe that ideas and inspiration come from a higher power, and it is my responsibility to manifest them in the world.


Career ain't random, make anthems, streets chant them
Success is not just a coincidence, but comes from creating songs that resonate with and are celebrated by people on the streets.


Rock roles like a phantom
I move and accomplish tasks with the stealth and grace of a ghost-like figure.


Mad hoes like they throwing tantrums
Women are attracted to me and become emotional when they do not get my attention, which can be a negative thing.


I tell them I need space like Richard Branson
I communicate to these women that I require personal space, like how Richard Branson the businessman requires personal space to continue to be successful.


Dancing, with (?) and stars getting full at bars
I am enjoying a lively evening with some unidentified people and celebrities, possibly at bars.


And then pass out like a pamphlet
I become very tired and fall asleep easily, like how a brochure can be easily passed out to people.


Never taking Grants for granted
I am grateful for whatever opportunities come my way and do not let them go to waste.


It's Common, I'm high above standard
I am exceptional and stand out from ordinary people.


Fly nigga, keep my feet planted
I am confident and cool, but grounded and humble.


To rock the planet, I don't stop for panic
I have the ambition and talent to make a significant impact on the world and I will not let fear or anxiety stop me.


Maybe I'm a hopeless hip-hop romantic
I believe strongly in the power of hip-hop music and its ability to inspire and connect people on a deep level.


He introduced me, I stepped to the podium
Someone brought me up to the stage to speak to a large audience.


Said peace, gave thanks to the holy one
I greeted the audience with a message of peace and expressed gratitude towards a higher power.


Put my water up, thought about my daughter for a second
I took a break and reflected on my family and the important things in my life.


The youth, the living resurrection
Young people are the key to a bright future and have the power to bring new life to the world.


Reflections of the sun glaring through the window
The sun shining into the room caused me to ponder and reflect on certain things in my life.


Now the audience staring at my mental
The crowd is listening closely to my thoughts and the message that I am trying to convey.


Feeling like the world, the world is at my fingers
I am full of confidence and feel like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.


'Bout to speak to an auditorium full of dreamers
I am about to address a crowd full of people who are passionate about their goals and aspirations.


Kinda took me back to when I first had a dream
Speaking to this audience reminded me of the moment when I first realized what I wanted to achieve in life.


To be like the king that sang Billie Jean
I was inspired to become a successful musician like Michael Jackson, who famously sang the song 'Billie Jean.'


Now it's gold records, and I'm on silver screens
I have achieved great success as a musician and now also have acting roles in movies.


At the mountaintop, you still gotta dream
Even when you have reached the top of your career or life, it is important to continue to have dreams and aspirations.


If I dream you're here
If I have a dream about you being present with me.


And you dream I'm there
If you dream about me being there with you.


We'll be no where near
Despite our dreams, we may still be far apart in reality.


You should just come here
Suggesting that the other person should visit or be near me.


If I wake you up
If I were to call or text you and interrupt your sleep.


Only difference is
The one major difference between our situations.


You can live the dream
You have the opportunity to make your dreams a reality.


Just believe in it
The key to achieving your dreams is to truly believe that they are possible.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LONNIE RASHID LYNN, MAYA ANGELOU, JAMES MOORE FAUNTLEROY, ERNEST WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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