The truth
Common & Talib Kweli Lyrics

Truth had me up against the ropes
The truth can be overwhelming and make you feel like you're cornered and unable to defend yourself.

And semi-conscious without no boxing skills
When faced with the truth, you can feel vulnerable and unprepared, like a boxer without the skills to fight back.

Fear of it makes hair on my neck grow like minoxodil
The fear of the truth can cause a physical reaction, such as the hair on your neck standing up like it does with the use of the hair growth drug minoxidil.

Watchin' the clock is ill when, faced wit the truth
When you're confronted with the truth, time can seem to slow down, making the experience uncomfortable or even unpleasant.

Parallels observing, amateur video tapes of
Trying to understand and make sense of the truth can feel like watching amateur video footage and trying to see the parallels between what's happening on screen and in reality.

Twenty-one top notch NYPD cops get ill
Even highly trained and skilled professionals can struggle with the truth and its implications.

Fill they minds not to kill still son, never revealed
The truth can be hidden or kept secret, even if it goes against what's expected or desired.

True feelings, we speakin' on the truth right now in itself is a healing
Speaking the truth can be a healing experience in and of itself, as it allows you to express your true feelings and thoughts.

See The Creator, created existence and balance
The universe was created with a balance and order, and this is the work of a higher power, or 'The Creator.'

At right angles, unless it was conceived and stated
Things must be conceived and formulated in order to be in the right balance or order, unless they just naturally fit perfectly at a right angle.

So whoever shall stray away from right lives wrong
If you deviate from the right path or the truth, you will be living in the wrong and making poor choices.

The deliverance of the word false opposite of truth off course
Lies and misinformation are the opposite of the truth and derail us from the right path.

Sure as my slave name sending
As certain as the singer's birth name, which is reminiscent of slavery and oppression, the truth will always be ever-present and important.

Troy Donald Jamerson paves the path, enabling truth
The singer's own name, Troy Donald Jamerson, is used as an example of paving the way for truth and remaining committed to it.

To stay stable and cling to earth!
The truth remains grounded and stable, even when everything else seems to be in flux or changing rapidly.

Sorta similar to the way static electricity sting see
Just as static electricity can cause a small shock or sting, the truth can also cause discomfort or pain.

Truth brings light, light refracts off the mirror
The truth illuminates things and causes them to become clearer and more visible, much like how light is refracted off a mirror.

Visions of yourself and error could never clearer
When presented with the truth, you can see yourself and your own mistakes much more clearly.

The truth is that you ugly, not on the outside
The truth can sometimes be hard to accept, such as when it reveals a negative truth about yourself, like being ugly on the inside even if you appear beautiful on the outside.

But in the inside on the outside you frontin' you lovely
Sometimes people try to hide their ugly inside by pretending to be beautiful on the outside, but this is just 'fronting'.

The discovery of these things and all are well-hidden
The truth can be difficult to discover, especially when it's well-hidden or not obvious.

But when you in denial of self it is forbidden, that's the truth
When you are in denial of the truth about yourself, this is forbidden and wrong.

In due time we will find
The truth may take time to reveal itself or be discovered, but eventually it will come to light.

Let the truth be told from young souls that become old
The truth should be spoken and shared by people of all ages, from young to old.

From days spent in the jungle, where must one go
Even from the most difficult or challenging situations, the truth can be found and learned from.

To find it, time is real, we can't rewind it
Discovering the truth takes time, and time cannot be rewound or stopped.

Out of everybody I met, who told the truth? Time did
In the long run, the truth will be revealed, and it can often be found in the passage of time.

We find kids speakin' 'cause it's naturally in us
Children often speak the truth because it comes naturally to them.

But the false prophets by tellin' us we born sinners
False prophets or people who spread lies may try to convince us that we are inherently sinful or bad from birth.

Venders of hate, got me battlin' my own mind state
People who spread hate or lies can cause us to feel conflicted or confused within ourselves.

At a divine rate, I ain't in this just to rhyme great
The quest for truth is a divine pursuit, and the singer is not only focused on making great music or poetry.

So constantly I seek it
The pursuit of truth is ongoing and requires constant effort to find and discover.

Wonderin' why I gotta drink a six pack to speak it
Sometimes it takes some liquid courage, like a six pack of beer, to speak the truth and be honest with ourselves and others.

Took a picture of the truth and tried to develop it
The truth is often blurry or hard to see, and it takes time and effort to fully develop or understand.

Had proof, it was only recognized by the intelligent
The truth may be evident or obvious, but it can only be recognized by those who are willing to truly see and understand it.

Took the negative and positive, 'cause niggas got to live
Life is a balance of positive and negative experiences, and we must accept both in order to live and thrive.

Said I got to get more than I'm given
Sometimes we must actively seek out the truth and go beyond what is presented or given to us.

'Cause truth'll never be heard in religion
Religion may try to define truth, but the truth exists beyond any one dogma or belief system.

After searchin' the world, on the inside what was hidden
Even after searching far and wide in the world, the truth may be something that is hidden or internalized within ourselves.

It was the truth
The truth is often a small, powerful kernel of knowledge or understanding that can be easy to overlook or dismiss.

Check it, on my neck I still got marks from the nooses
The scars of oppression and racism can be seen on the artist's body, demonstrating the lasting impact of the truth.

The truth it produces, fear that got niggas on the run like Carl Lewis
The truth can be scary and intimidating, causing people to try to run away from it like a sprinter running from a race, as Carl Lewis was.

The truth is my crew is the smoothest bits of saliva juices like the roots is
The truth is that the singer's crew is the best and most talented, much like the smooth and effective juices produced by the roots of a plant.

More organic than acoustics
The truth is natural and genuine, unlike the artificial or constructed sound of acoustics in music.

Heavenly, what will set you free and kill you in the same breath
The truth can be liberating and freeing, yet also bring with it a sense of risk or danger at the same time.

That shit you gotta get off your chest before your death, unless
It's important to speak the truth and be honest with yourself and others before you die, unless you want to leave things unresolved or hidden.

The way you speak is lighter than a pamphlet
Speaking the truth should be easy and light, like handing out a small pamphlet or brochure.

'Cause the truth give the words away to the planet goddammit
The truth brings the power and impact to words, making them meaningful and inspiring on a global scale.

I ran wit what God planted in my heart and I understand it
The singer has followed the path laid out by God and has a deep understanding of the truth as a result.

To be the bring the light to the dark, breathe some life in this art
The truth can illuminate and bring life to art, and it's the singer's goal to spread this truth and light in dark or difficult situations.

This must be the truth (why?) 'cause we keep marchin' on (True)
The enduring pursuit of truth is evidence of its power and importance in our lives.

The truth lay the foundation of what we rockin' on (True)
The truth is the foundation of everything we do and believe, especially in the world of music where honesty and authenticity are key.

You can't see it if you blind but we will always prevail (True)
If you're not willing to see the truth, you will never recognize its power, but those who do will always come out on top.

Life is like the open sea, the truth is the wind in our sail
Navigating life is like sailing on the open sea, and the truth is what propels us forward and helps us chart our course.

And in the end, our names is on the lips of dying men
In the end, what matters is not material possessions or achievements, but rather the truth and the legacy we leave behind after we're gone.

If ever crushed in the earth, we always rise again
Even if you're knocked down or crushed, the truth will always bring you back up again and give you the strength to keep going.

When the words of lying men sound lush like the sound of a violin
Lies can sound beautiful and seductive, but they will never hold the power or importance of the truth, which is more raw and authentic.

The truth is there, it's just the heart you gotta find it in
The truth is always present and available, but it requires a willingness to look within yourself and find it in your own heart and soul.

You will find
The pursuit of truth is ongoing, and with patience and determination, it can always be found.

You will find
The truth may come in unexpected ways or at unexpected times, but it will always be there for those who are willing to look for it.

You will find
The truth is not something that can be forced or rushed, but with determination and patience, it will always be discovered.

You will find
Ultimately, the pursuit of truth is a deeply personal journey that requires introspection, courage, and a willingness to face the unknown.

You will find
No matter where you are or what you're going through, the truth is out there waiting for you to discover it.

You will find
With each passing day, the truth becomes clearer and more visible, reminding us that it's always there for those who seek it.