Hodge was signed to Blue Note Records after meeting record producer and Blue Note president Don Was in September 2011. On August 6, 2013, his solo album, Live Today, was released with guest appearances by Common ("Live Today"), vocalist Alan Hampton ("Holding Onto You"), Robert Glasper ("Live Today"), Chris Dave, Mark Colenburg, Travis Sayles, Keyon Harrold, and Aaron Parks. He has also worked with Floetry, Osvaldo Golijov, Anthony Hamilton, Gerald Levert, Donnie McClurkin, James Moore, Mos Def, Musiq Soulchild, Q-Tip, Jill Scott, Timbaland, and Kanye West. He has toured and recorded with Clark Terry, Mulgrew Miller, Terell Stafford, and Terence Blanchard.[1]
He appeared on Flow[2] and A Tale of God's Will (A Requiem for Katrina) (2007), which were nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning one for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. He also appeared on rapper Common's albums Be and Finding Forever, which won a Grammy Award. Hodge was musical director for R&B singer Maxwell from 2009 to 2013, and was featured as bassist on Maxwell's BLACKsummers'night, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums as well as winning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2010. Hodge won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2013 with the Robert Glasper Experiment for Black Radio and in 2014 with Black Radio 2.
Hodge was a contributing composer for the musical score of When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, an HBO documentary produced by Spike Lee, aired in August 2006, as well as choral arranger for the ending credits of Miracle at St. Anna also directed by Lee. He was sole composer of the score for the documentary film Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans[3] directed by Dawn Logsdon, written by Lolis Eric Elie and released in 2008. Other film credits include music composer for The Recruiter directed by Edet Belzberg, The Black Candle directed by M. K. Asante, Jr., as well as scores for director and playwright David E. Talbert. "Infinite Reflections" was commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and arranged for small brass ensemble
Live Today
Derrick Hodge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can turn the moment, into something he owns
Not just for him, but for them
To understand, this is peace of a man
Woman beside providing balance
So that we can do our best
With God's talents
We live today, live today
Live today, live today, live today
Live today live today, live today
Don't give it away
It away, it away, it away
Cause we live today
We live today, we live today, we live today
Today I'm known, today I'm born
New ways I'm going, new ways I'm growing
New ways I'm flowing
A form unknown from the corner is one stone
Coloring life with more than one tone
Nation embracing life's placements
Faces in places we in
The direction it's taking us in
Like the wind from a city
That's discovered by DuSable
Chicago taught me how to lead and to follow
My heart, even when it's hollow
I plant a seed for today
That believes in tomorrow
Sun telling me never feed in the sorrow
Pay attention, cause these times are borrowed
Days is a maze, Is a lesson, it's a maze
It's a blessing it's a
Blessing we live today
We live today, live today
Live today, live today, live today
Live today live today, live today
Don't give it away
It away, it away, it away
Cause we live today
We live today, we live today, we live today
Life everlasting
Passion is extreme from dreams that we have
The path that we take the path that we make
We create from the one true
Yo, Some things we gotta undo, and unlearn
Taking turn to earn taking turn to burn
Taking things is firm
Firm in the mind and rewind them
We divide them out, divide them in
The way common sense and my man D hodge blend
We take it in like a breath
I can be the chef in the kitchen
While I'm switching
Up a different type of style
I'm a different child i gotta think faster
Got a task for everybody
Just to do just to live today
Just to live today
We live today for the present
Known and it's a blessing for our future
Giving thanks, for our ancestors in the past
Forgiveness for the transgressors
Cause we dance with the ancestors
The song "Live Today" by Derrick Hodge and Common is about the importance of the present moment and the transitions that shape our lives. The beginning of the song highlights the significance of a man's mission and how it affects not only himself but also those around him. The importance of balance is also emphasized with the mention of a woman who provides it. The lyrics capture how our lives are constantly in a state of flux, but it is how we handle the changes that ultimately determine our happiness.
As the song progresses, Common recalls his path to where he is today and how he is constantly growing and changing. He credits his hometown of Chicago for teaching him how to lead and follow with his heart, even in difficult times. In the chorus, the message of living in the present moment is reiterated, and the song encourages listeners to appreciate what they have today and not give it away. The second verse connects this message to our ancestors and the importance of forgiveness.
Overall, “Live Today” is a reflection on the often-overlooked beauty and significance of the present moment. It urges listeners to appreciate the present and embrace change as it comes.
Line by Line Meaning
Transitions transitions of a man's mission
The changes that happen in a man's life can define his journey
Can turn the moment, into something he owns
Those changes can empower him to take control of his life
Not just for him, but for them
The impact of his success is not just for himself, but for those around him
To understand, this is peace of a man
Achieving this level of success is what brings peace to a man
Woman beside providing balance
Women play an important role in providing balance and support
So that we can do our best
Their support enables us to perform at our best
With God's talents
Our success is due to the talents that God has given us
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Phrase repeated for emphasis
We live today, live today
We should focus on living in the present
Don't give it away
We should not waste or squander our time or opportunities
Cause we live today
Each day is a precious gift that we should cherish
Today I'm known, today I'm born
Each day is a new beginning for personal growth and development
New ways I'm going, new ways I'm growing
Each new day presents opportunities for learning and personal development
A form unknown from the corner is one stone
Even something small or unnoticed can have a big impact
Coloring life with more than one tone
Our experiences and perspectives shape and add depth to our lives
Nation embracing life's placements
We should accept and embrace the circumstances and challenges in our lives
The direction it's taking us in
We should be mindful of the path our lives are taking
Chicago taught me how to lead and to follow
The city of Chicago has shaped the artist's leadership and teamwork skills
My heart, even when it's hollow
Even when feeling empty or lost, we should hold on to hope and positivity
I plant a seed for today
We should take action in the present to prepare for our future
That believes in tomorrow
Having faith in the future helps us through difficult times
Sun telling me never feed in the sorrow
We should not dwell on negative emotions but find hope in the future
Pay attention, cause these times are borrowed
We should focus and make the most of the time we have
Days is a maze, Is a lesson, it's a maze
Life can be complex and challenging, but there are lessons to be learned along the way
It's a blessing we live today
Living each day to the fullest is a blessing
Life everlasting
Our legacy and impact can continue beyond our lifetime
Passion is extreme from dreams that we have
Our dreams can ignite intense passion and motivation
The path that we take the path that we make
We are responsible for the path we choose and the decisions we make
We create from the one true
Our creativity and accomplishments come from a divine source
Yo, Some things we gotta undo, and unlearn
We must be willing to unlearn things that no longer serve us
Taking turn to earn taking turn to burn
We must work hard to achieve success, but must also be willing to take risks
Taking things is firm
We must stand firm in our beliefs and values
Firm in the mind and rewind them
We must strengthen and reinforce our mindset to remain resilient
We divide them out, divide them in
We must discern and separate helpful from harmful thoughts and behaviors
The way common sense and my man D hodge blend
The artists collaborate to offer wisdom and insight
We take it in like a breath
We must be receptive to new insights and knowledge
I can be the chef in the kitchen
We have control and influence over our own lives
While I'm switching
We can try new things and experiment with change
Up a different type of style
We can break free from convention and pave our own paths
I'm a different child i gotta think faster
We must evolve and adapt quickly to keep up with a changing world
Got a task for everybody
We all have a role and responsibility to contribute to society
Just to do just to live today
Our purpose is to make the most of each day
We should focus on living in the present
We should cherish and make the most of each day
Each day is a precious gift that we should cherish
We should be grateful for the opportunity to live and experience life
Even something small or unnoticed can have a big impact
We should not underestimate the power of our actions, however small
Our experiences and perspectives shape and add depth to our lives
Our perspective on life is influenced by the experiences that we have
We should accept and embrace the circumstances and challenges in our lives
We should not resist or fight against the inevitable events of life
The city of Chicago has shaped the artist's leadership and teamwork skills
The artist's experiences in the city have influenced his personality and strengths
Even when feeling empty or lost, we should hold on to hope and positivity
We should remain optimistic and hopeful, even during tough times
We should take action in the present to prepare for our future
We should plan and take steps towards achieving our goals
Having faith in the future helps us through difficult times
Believing in a better future can give us the strength to persevere through tough times
We should not dwell on negative emotions but find hope in the future
We should not let negative emotions consume us and focus on better times ahead
We should focus and make the most of the time we have
We should not take time for granted and use it wisely
Life can be complex and challenging, but there are lessons to be learned along the way
Our experiences in life serve as learning opportunities
Our legacy and impact can continue beyond our lifetime
The impact that we have on others can continue to live on after we pass away
Our dreams can ignite intense passion and motivation
Our goals and aspirations are powerful motivators to pursue success
We are responsible for the path we choose and the decisions we make
Our success is determined by the choices and actions that we take
Our creativity and accomplishments come from a divine source
Our talents and abilities are gifts from a higher power
We must be willing to unlearn things that no longer serve us
We must let go of old habits and beliefs that do not benefit us
We must work hard to achieve success, but must also be willing to take risks
Success requires both hard work and willingness to take chances
We must stand firm in our beliefs and values
We should not compromise our values or beliefs for the sake of others
We must strengthen and reinforce our mindset to remain resilient
We must build mental toughness and resilience to overcome obstacles
We must discern and separate helpful from harmful thoughts and behaviors
We must distinguish between positive and negative thoughts and behaviors
The artists collaborate to offer wisdom and insight
The artists offer meaningful perspective and advice through their collaboration
We must be receptive to new insights and knowledge
We should remain open to new ideas and learning opportunities
We have control and influence over our own lives
We can shape our lives through our actions and decisions
We can try new things and experiment with change
We should embrace diversity and change in our lives
We can break free from convention and pave our own paths
We do not have to follow traditional or expected paths in our lives
We must evolve and adapt quickly to keep up with a changing world
We must keep learning and developing new skills to stay relevant
We all have a role and responsibility to contribute to society
We have a duty to help others and make a positive impact in the world
Our purpose is to make the most of each day
Our mission in life is to maximize our potential and impact on the world
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE YOUNG, NED WASHINGTON, VICTOR POPULAR YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind