Humanity
The Roots and John Legend Lyrics
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More and more each day, yeah
Still I am determined that I am never gonna change my way
Thinking 'bout love the way it should be
You gotta open your eyes and you will see
About love the way it should be
You gotta make up your minds and you'll advance humanity
What happened to the love
That they are all talking about?
It's nothing but useless words
Coming from out of their mouths
Talking 'bout love the way it should be
We gotta open our eyes and we will see
About love the way it should be
We gotta make up our minds and we'll advance humanity
Humanity, humanity, humanity,
Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
Yeah
What happened to the love
That they are all talking about?
It's nothing but useless words
That are coming from out of their mouth
Talking 'bout love the way it should be
Open our eyes and we will see
About love the way it should be
We gotta make up our minds and we'll advance humanity
Humanity, humanity, humanity, yeah
Listen, people listen
You got the notion (I hope so)
Listen while I'm saying to you
You got the notion (I hope so)
A little bit of justice and peace
You got the notion (I hope so)
But bring a little love for everyone, yeah
You got the notion (our hope's on)
You got the notion
You got the notion (our hope's on)
So get in the motion
So get in the motion
You got the notion (I hope so)
You got the notion oh
You got the notion (I hope so)
So get in the motion
You got the notion (I hope so)
You got the notion (I hope so)
You got the notion (I hope so)
You got the notion (I hope so)
Yeah yeah yeah
The song "Humanity" by The Roots and John Legend is a call for social justice and a plea for love to guide our actions. The opening lines acknowledge the difficult times we're facing but also emphasize the singer's determination not to give up or change who he is. The verses then contrast the empty words often spoken about love with the reality that the world needs more genuine love and that we should make up our minds to advance humanity by showing more kindness to one another. The chorus repeats the refrain "humanity" to echo the song's central message that the future depends on how we treat each other.
The second half of the song is a rap section featuring lines that further expound on the themes of justice, peace, and love. The repetition of the phrase "you got the notion" asks the listener to consider their own capacity for empathy and action. The song concludes with a repetition of the word "yeah" that suggests a sense of agreement and a call to action to bring about positive change.
Overall, the lyrics of "Humanity" by The Roots and John Legend are a powerful and moving reflection on the importance of love and empathy in our social and political interactions. The song asks us to consider our own role in creating a more just and equitable world.
Line by Line Meaning
Time is gettin' harder and harder
Life is becoming more difficult every day
More and more each day, yeah
This trend of increasing difficulty is continuing
Still I am determined that I am never gonna change my way
Despite these challenges, I am resolved to stick to my beliefs and values
Thinking 'bout love the way it should be
Reflecting on what true love looks like
You gotta open your eyes and you will see
If you pay attention and look closely, you can recognize genuine love
About love the way it should be
This is in reference to ideal love, as opposed to superficial or fake love
You gotta make up your minds and you'll advance humanity
By committing to and embodying true love, we can collectively push humanity forward
Humanity, humanity, humanity
Repeated to emphasize the importance of improving human relationships
What happened to the love
Questioning why there appears to be a lack of genuine love
That they are all talking about?
Doubting the authenticity of claims of love from others
It's nothing but useless words
These words of love are meaningless and have no real impact
Coming from out of their mouths
People are talking about love, but not actively demonstrating it
Listen, people listen
Calling on others to pay attention
You got the notion (I hope so)
Suggesting that the listener already understands the importance of true love
Listen while I'm saying to you
Asking for undivided attention
A little bit of justice and peace
Advocating for fairness and tranquility
But bring a little love for everyone, yeah
Encouraging people to show love and compassion to all
So get in the motion
Implying that action is required, not just talk
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY HENRY, CLAYTON MORANDER BROWN, ROBIN GIORNO, DAMON WILDING, MICHAEL RICHARD HURLEY, IAN MARK HARPER, MATT GRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind