questions
Common & Mos Def Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's the questions (what) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (what) it's the questions come on
The questions (what) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (hah) it's the questions yeah
Talking bout the questions, it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, dig it
The questions (why) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (huh) that's what it's all about

Yo, yo
What is an emcee if the wall ain't got no back
(I don't know, yo, he must be kinda wack)
What is paper to a nigga if the nigga don't stack
(Yo, why the hell you asking me that)
Why do these girls, look so good in the summer
(I don't know, I'm just saying this shit)
If you got ta-dat-ta-dat-tap for your lady would you wanna
(Hmmm, yeah, right)
Cause you answer the phone peace do that mean that you not a freak
(Hell no! That's right)
Cause you recognize me, yo, I got to speak
(Why can't you speak What you big a star now)
Why you got-ta, act like, nigga, all the time
(Even on Sunday's you should)
Is a nigga yo' complexion, is it all in your mind
(It's all your mind)
What's it called y'all

It's the questions (what) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, yeah!
The questions (uh) it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (What) it's the questions come on
The questions, it's the questions boy
It's the questions (ah, uh ah) it's the questions, yeah
The questions (yes) it's the questions boy
It's the questions, that's what it's all about

Yo, if I'm a intellectual, I can't be sexual
(I don't know, you wanna be sexual)
If I want to, does that mean I lack respect for you
(I don't know you tell me)
You see a grown man, why fuck that young girl, are you lusting
(I might look twenty but I'm 15, slow down girl)
If you got paper like that, then why you still hustling
(Why you still hustling come on!)
Now you know yo' stomach too big, to be wearing a shirt like that
(Look at your stomach, it's sloppy)
So why, you want, to go and do that

Why ya why ya why ya why ya why ya wanna why ya wanna
Why ya wanna go and do that love huh

Yo why your girl gigiddy when my name come up
How come the industry build careers that don't last
(Uh-huh, that's right, ask him)
How come niggas don't know but they front and don't ask
Man I don't know, I don't know

It's the questions (what) it's the questions girl
It's the questions (what) it's the questions come on
The questions (what) it's the questions Com
It's the questions it's the questions yeah
Yo we talking bout the questions, it's the questions girl
It's the questions (the who, the where, the when, the why)
It's the questions, come on!
The questions, the questions y'all (yo we shoutin' it out)
It's the questions, that's what it's all about

Yo, why they say never say never, when they know that ain't right
(What)
Cause to never say never you done said never twice
(They scrubs, that's why yeah that's twice)
Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.
(I don't know, beats me beats me)
If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D.
(That's right, that's true)
Why do these fine ghetto women got so much ass
(Why'd you talking about our ass though come on now)
Why did Dr. J shave his beard and mustache
(Like this, and like this)
How you got high expectations but got no patience
(Come on, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know)
How come this joint named The Questions is so John Blazin'
(Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh) Man I don't know, I don't know

It's the questions (what) it's the questions boy
It's the questions, it's just my questions black
Some questions, it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, yo
Talking bout the questions, it's the questions girl
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, come on




The questions (which) and we're shoutin' it out
It's the questions (huh) that's what it's all about, yo

Overall Meaning

The Questions by Common and Mos Def is a song that revolves around various questions that are thought-provoking, but with no clear answers. It is designed to make listeners think about different aspects of life, society, and human behavior. The song suggests that some questions don't have clear answers, and people shouldn't be afraid to raise and explore such questions. The questions in the song range from personal to political, from beliefs to societal standards. They are a mix of serious, absurd, and comical questions that reflect the song's theme of making people think outside the box. Some of the questions discuss topics such as respect, sexuality, age, beauty standards, identity, love and relationships, and the industry standards of fame.


The song's structure has two artists passing questions and answers back and forth as a conversation, with no clear storyline or bridges. The lyrics in the song are open-ended, and sometimes the answers are ambiguous or sarcastic, adding to the song's mysterious nature. Common and Mos Def's vocal styles blend well together, and their delivery of the lyrics is critical to the song's overall impact. The Questions is a song that inspires introspection and is relevant today in terms of its commentary on society, human behavior and the struggles society faces.


Line by Line Meaning

It's the questions (what) it's the questions boy
The song is about asking thought-provoking questions.


What is an emcee if the wall ain't got no back
What is the point of being an emcee if there's no audience backing you up?


What is paper to a nigga if the nigga don't stack
What is the use of paper or money if you're not accumulating wealth?


Why do these girls, look so good in the summer
It is a rhetorical question, acknowledging the physical charm of girls in the summertime.


If you got ta-dat-ta-dat-tap for your lady would you wanna
If you had to constantly entertain and impress your lady, would you still want to be with her?


Cause you answer the phone peace do that mean that you not a freak
If you answer the phone politely, does that mean you're not sexually adventurous?


Cause you recognize me, yo, I got to speak
If you recognize me, you should say hi.


Why you got-ta, act like, nigga, all the time
Why do you have to act tough and masculine all the time, even on Sundays?


Is a nigga yo' complexion, is it all in your mind
Does a person's skin color define their identity or is it just a mental construct?


If I'm a intellectual, I can't be sexual
Is it impossible for a person to be both intellectual and sexual?


If I want to, does that mean I lack respect for you
Does expressing sexual desire for someone mean that you don't respect them?


You see a grown man, why fuck that young girl, are you lusting
Why do men have sexual interest in young girls who are not yet adults?


If you got paper like that, then why you still hustling
If you have enough money already, why do you still need to hustle or work hard?


Now you know yo' stomach too big, to be wearing a shirt like that
You know your belly is too big, so why are you wearing a tight shirt?


Why ya why ya why ya why ya why ya wanna why ya wanna
It's a rhetorical question, questioning why someone would do something.


Why they say never say never, when they know that ain't right
Why do people say 'never say never' when it's logically incorrect?


Cause to never say never you done said never twice
Saying 'never say never' is itself a contradiction because you're saying it twice.


Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.
Why do you need identification to get further identification?


If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D.
If you already have identification, you wouldn't need to obtain more.


Why do these fine ghetto women got so much ass
Why do women from the ghetto tend to have larger buttocks?


Why did Dr. J shave his beard and mustache
Why did Dr. J, a famous basketball player, decide to shave his facial hair?


How you got high expectations but got no patience
How can you have high expectations but lack the patience to achieve them?


How come this joint named The Questions is so John Blazin'
Why is this song called 'The Questions' so popular and celebrated?


It's the questions it's just my questions black
The questions being asked in the song are just the artist's personal inquiries.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LONNIE RASHID LYNN, JAMES JASON POYSER, DANTE TERRELL SMITH, JAMES DEWITT YANCEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@MuseOfTheMoose

"Why you got high expectations but got low patience?" Realest line.

@ibehabuchi2337

Hmm

@drkdrumz

How come this joint named The Questions is so John Blazin'?

@zigtgut1

💯

@Holy1OfIsrael.

@drkdrumz If a had ID i wouldnt neeeeeed ID!

@hozo1994

Dilla was so talented, he was not human. He always made them sick beats..... RIP

@HatishBeats

@Ustaz Official cry baby

@carterdotn3083

@Ustaz Official mfs really be writing whole ass paragraphs in yt comment sections lmao go outside

@T6M4L

Why do i need ID to get ID If i had ID i wouldnt need ID haha laugh every time when i hear that part

@drkdrumz

FACTS 🤷🏻‍♂️

More Comments

More Versions