They Say (Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival, 2005)

[Intro]
But I could give a damn what they say
I could give a damn about the things that they say
I could give a damn about the things that they say
I could give a...you know why? 'Cause...

[Chorus: John Legend]
They say "What's happenin'?"
We say the facts and if, they lie
We comin' back for them
They might say... but they don't know!
(Come on)
They say, They say...
They don't know
(Y'all know what they say, right? You know what they say)

[Verse 1: Common]
Yo, they say a nigga lost his mind
But in the scheme of things I never lost a rhyme
The thin line between love and hatred
I'm the black pill in the Matrix, the saturated life
They say life is what you make it
So I wait quick on a spaceship so I can take it
As high as the stakes get when paper get low
I be tellin' Derek, "Tell Cara get us a show"
Little Com, I make righteous bitches get low
Richest man ain't necessarily the nigga with dough
They say "You ripped" "Wow..." Yeah, that's what they say
My niggas couldn't tell it was me, like Jamie in Ray
Paintin' a day, wit' focused crime, broads, and good wine
They say "Dope is sour so it's homework and hood crimes"
I stood mine, for forever and a day so goodbye
They never could say - tell 'em, J

[Chorus]
They say "What's happenin'?"
We say the facts and if, they lie
We comin' back for them
They might say... but they don't know!
(Come on)
They say, They say...
They don't know

[Verse 2: Common]
They say "Dude think he righteous"
I write just to free minds, from Stony to Rikers
Amongst the lifeless, in a world crazy as Mike is
On my paper, whether its weed or Isis
They say "life is a game," so I play hard
Writin' for my life 'cause I'm scared of a day job
They say "Sef kept the hood together"
I tell the young, "We can't play the hood forever"
Play my cards right, they say I went too left
They showed me strange love, like I was Mr. F
Played chess in this game of, pawns and knights
Now I claim "King" like Don, or Frank White
They say my life is comparable to Christ's
The way I sacrificed, and resurrected, twice
They say "The crochet pants and the sweater was wack"
Seen "The Corner", now they say "That nigga's back"