still
Common Feat. Talib Kweli & Gangstarr Lyrics
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So I am ordering some food
Scrolling through the movies
Coming up empty on Hulu
I think I inherited
Insomnia from Mom
She was always pacing round
Laying on the couch
And counting ways that we have changed
Normally it bothers me
But tonight it's not so strange
Our friends are packing up
And moving far away
That's alright with me as long as
They're doing okay
It's you and me
As far as I can see
Still awake and dreaming of the dreams that might come true
Still awake and wishing I could sleep as sound as you
When I get too self-aware
My mistakes are hard to bare
But whenever I am with you I don't care
I don't think I need to sleep
My brain is all aglow
If I got in bed with you
I'd fidget til you woke
So I'll fight the morning
Do my best to not be rude
I will be here if you need me
Waiting on my food
It's you and me
As far as I can see
Still awake and dreaming of the dreams that might come true
Still awake and wishing I could sleep as sound as you
When I get too self-aware
My mistakes are hard to bare
But whenever I am with you I don't care
It's you and me
As far as I can see
The song “Still” by Common feat. Talib Kweli & Gangstarr highlights the theme of insomnia and how sleeplessness can lead to a prolonged state of introspection. The singer can't sleep again and resorts to ordering some food while scrolling through the movie options on Hulu. The mention of insomnia being inherited from the singer's mother depicts the hereditary nature of the condition which could leave one with memories of past sleepless nights.
As the singer lies on the couch, he can't help but count all the ways things have changed while contemplating the people and things he's lost. However, even though the thought bothers him, tonight it's not so strange. This state of mind is as a result of the loss of friends who are moving far away, leaving him and his significant other behind. It's okay with him as long as they're doing okay.
The chorus of the song emphasizes that despite the sleepless nights, the continuity of the bond shared between the singer and the significant other remains unchanged. They are still awake and dreaming of the dreams that might come true, and the singer wishes he could sleep as sound as the significant other. Whenever he's with her, his mistakes become less severe because he doesn't care. The song ends on an optimistic note, reiterating the bond between the singer and the significant other as far as he can see.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't sleep again
Unable to fall asleep once again
So I am ordering some food
Placing an order for some food to eat
Scrolling through the movies
Browsing through the available movie options
Coming up empty on Hulu
Unable to find any movies to watch on Hulu
I think I inherited
I believe I received the trait genetically
Insomnia from Mom
Difficulty sleeping runs in my family from my mother
She was always pacing round
My mother would constantly walk around at night
At night when I was young
During my childhood at night
Laying on the couch
Resting on the sofa
And counting ways that we have changed
Reflecting on the differences that have developed between us
Normally it bothers me
Usually it causes me distress
But tonight it's not so strange
However, tonight the change is less unsettling
Our friends are packing up
People we know are preparing to move out
And moving far away
Moving to a distant location
That's alright with me as long as
It is acceptable to me under the condition that
They're doing okay
They are well and functioning properly
It's you and me
The only ones present are you and I
As far as I can see
As much as my view permits
Still awake and dreaming of the dreams that might come true
Even in my sleeplessness, I am imagining the possibilities of what could happen
Still awake and wishing I could sleep as sound as you
I remain awake and desire to sleep as peacefully as you
When I get too self-aware
When I become too conscious of my actions and behavior
My mistakes are hard to bare
It becomes difficult for me to confront and accept my mistakes
But whenever I am with you I don't care
Being in your presence causes me to overlook my faults
I don't think I need to sleep
I do not believe it is necessary for me to rest
My brain is all aglow
My mind is active and alert
If I got in bed with you
Should I join you in bed
I'd fidget til you woke
My restlessness would persist until I rouse you from sleep
So I'll fight the morning
I will resist the arrival of the morning
Do my best to not be rude
I will attempt to maintain a polite demeanor
I will be here if you need me
I am available should you require my assistance
Waiting on my food
Anticipating the arrival of my ordered meal
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Gardner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind