Common — Respiration Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2005

[Intro] This what they told me to tell you [Chorus] So much on my mind, I just can't recline Blast holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine Breathe out, green smoke retrace the skyline Hold up, bass ride out like an ancient mating call I can't take it, y'all, I can feel the city breathing Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening This is how we ride... [Verse] Yo, on The Amen Corner I stood lookin' at my former hood Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn't mask it Mixin' down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered What what, I choreograph seven steps to Heaven In Hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leaven Veteran of a cold war; it's Chica-I-go for What I know or what's known Some days I take the bus home, just to touch home From the crib I spend months gone Sat by the window with a clutched dom Listening to shorties cuss long Young girls with weak minds, but they butt strong Tried to call, or at least beep the Lord but didn't have a touch-tone Dog-eat-dog world, you gotta mush on Some of this land I must own, outta the city, they want us gone Tearing down the 'jects creating plush homes My circumstance is between Den Haag and Love Jones Surrounded by hate, yet I love home Asked my guy how he thought travelling the world sound Found it hard to imagine, he hadn't been past downtown It's deep, I heard the city breathe in its sleep Of reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep Deep, I heard my man breathe in his sleep Of reality I touch, but for me it's hard to keep [Chorus] Come on, so much on my mind, I just can't recline Blast holes in the night 'til she bled sunshine Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline I heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call I can't take it, y'all, I can feel the city breathing Chest heaving, against the flesh of the evening We kiss the sky goodbye on the last train leaving [Outro] Check it, everybody say 'Oh yeah' Say 'Oh yeah' Say 'Oh yeah' Say 'Oh yeah' Say 'Oh yeah' Say 'Oh yeah' Say 'Oh oh yeah' Now scream