Common

Released: July 10, 2005

Songwriter: Common Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo

Producer: The Neptunes

[Intro: Common & Mary J. Blige]
What I'm really tryin' to say is
Come close to me, baby
Let your love come through
Put your hands in the y'all, it's the basement party
I know this world gets crazy
What's it without you?

[Verse 1: Common]
Are we living in a dream world?
Are your eyes still green, girl?
I know you're sick and tired of arguing
But you can't keep it bottled in
Jealousy, we got to swallow it
Your heart and mind, baby, follow it
Smile, happiness, you could model it
And when you feel opposite
Yo, I just want you to know
Your whole, being is beautiful
I'ma do the best I can do
Why, 'chelle, 'cause I'm my best when I'm with you

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige + (Common)]
Come close to me, baby
Let your love hold you
(Yo, let your love hold you)
I know this world is crazy
What's it without you?
Nothin', nothin'

[Verse 2: Common]
You've helped me to discover me
I just want you to put trust in me
I kind of laugh when you cuss at me
The aftermath is you touching me
Destiny that we connected, girl
You and I, we can affect the world
Yo, I'm tired of the fast lane
I want you to have my last name

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige + (Common)]
Come close to me, baby
Let your love hold you
(Let your love hold you)
I know this world is crazy
What's it without you?
(Yo, sing it with us y'all, take 'em to the bridge)

[Bridge: Mary J. Blige + (Common)]
I know what you're thinking, you're on my mind
You're right, (Say what?) you're right, you're right (Yeah)
You're running so fast, you just might take flight
Hope you're not tired, (When y'all?) tonight, tonight

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (previously Common Sense), is a Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper and actor from Chicago, Illinois. Common’s inspired mix of poetic flow and hip-hop soul has helped him earn his status as one of the most respected rappers in the game.

After being a ball boy for his hometown Chicago Bulls as a teen and attending Florida A&M University for business administration, Common Sense kicked in and he left school to become a rapper. He gained national attention after being featured in the Unsigned Hype column of The Source magazine in 1991. He released his debut album Can I Borrow a Dollar? through Relativity Records in 1992, followed by his breakthrough second album Resurrection in 1994, which features his hip-hop classic single “I Used To Love H.E.R.”

As his career began to take off, he was sued by the music group Common Sense over the name, leading Common to drop the “Sense” and allude to the change in the title of his third album, One Day It’ll All Make Sense (1997). He has released several critically acclaimed albums, including Like Water For Chocolate (2000), which features his J Dilla-produced hit single “The Light”, and Be (2005), which was released under fellow Chicago musician Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint. He also joined musicians Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper to form the group August Greene, and the trio released their self-titled album in 2018.

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