Common — Testify Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival 2005

[Verse 1] She walk into the court her knees buckle Saying for a man to survive he needn't hustle Seen and been through struggle her whole life Made a transition from being his ho to his wife Stifling, the night upend the ATF bust in Her daddy was a hustla, so she love them Looked at the jury, how can they judge him, she screamed [Chorus] (Before you lock my love away) Put your hands in the air (Before you lock my love away) Yeah, you say (Before you lock my love away) Yeah, it go (Before you lock my love away) (Please let me testify) [Verse 2] Fear in her chest her face in tears Had her man's back he was facing years In her name, though the place was his They tryna take everything except the kids For years she been through stumbling fights He tryna hustle that white Up all night wondering if he's alive Seeing him tried, she bubbled inside and screamed [Chorus] (Before you lock my love away) Put your hands up (Before you lock my love away) Keep your hands up (Before you lock my love away) And the people say (Before you lock my love away) (Please let me testify) [Verse 3] The judge yelled for order Court reporter making her words shorter His lawyer sat next to him She could see how the trial was affecting him It hurt for her eyes to connect with him Using her lies for protecting him They arrested him for murder and gun possession As they read back her confessions, she screamed [Chorus] (Before you lock my love away) Everybody say (Before you lock my love away) Put your hands up (Before you lock my love away) Sing it with us y'all (Before you lock my love away) (Please let me testify) [Verse 4] The court awaited as the foreman got the verdict from the bailiff Emotional outbursts, tears and smeared makeup He stated, he was guilty on all charges She's shaking looking like she took it the hardest A spin artist, she brought her face up laughing That's when the prosecutor realized what happened All that speaking her mind, testifying and crying When this bitch did the crime, the queenpin [Chorus] (Before you lock my love away) Everybody say (Before you lock my love away) Put your hands up (Before you lock my love away) All the ladies say (Before you lock my love away) Guilty...next case