So Many People

[Chorus: Bilal] So many people So many people So many people So many people [Verse 1: Common] So many people seek her, me especially The H.E.R. I'm talkin' 'bout right now is Destiny She and I was 'posed to meet to chop it up I wanted to ask her in like but I was gettin' stuck Many times, she said some of that was in my mind And grind plus the right time equals divine Ask if I would see a sign where I'm supposed to be She said, "Just be free and get close to me Destiny, to get dough, you've got the recipe And I'm Anita Baker, giving you the best of me" I got to a spot where I didn't know if you were true With so many voices, how do I know when it's you? She said, "I met you, boy, when you was ten years old That rap that I gave you was a part of your soul Any time you feel that, know that it's gold Stick with me and your story will forever be told by many people" [Chorus: Bilal] So many people So many people So many people So many people [Verse 2: Common] Some people live by her, some ignore her Her name is Faith, I always loved the aura The more I got to know her I became like Noah The ark of my life, a prover and shower She showed up for me in the darkest times Conversations with her would spark my mind My heart would find reasons that I needed her She saw a future in me, reputation preceded her Eager to be with her, my soul would leap for her I lost love once, but still kept keepin' her My miseducation was the doubtin' in me Through valleys and Lauryn Hill, she moved mountains for me The times I was broke, she was countin' for me Money I would make rappin' over breaks A Faith like Evans or light from the heavens Her personality pleasant, still use her like a weapon Many people [Chorus: Bilal] So many people So many people So many people So many people [Verse 3: Common] Some people see her for the future, some see her for now Her name is Hope, she first spoke to me as a child I would listen, I could see the glisten in her eyes Her wisdom, it was wise, she envisioned I would rise Under Chi' city skies, she said I'd become king She sat by my side and reminded me to dream Through schemes or rhymes, a queen sublime The gates of heaven on Earth, yeah, we would climb Though it seemed at times I would lose her To get her back, like The Mack, I had to choose her Dues of life, strife, struggle to survive She ran with Jesse and them, they kept Hope alive She spoke in the eyes of the first Black president He would bring her around the Southside residents Medicine for the masses seen through Hope's glasses I pray that Destiny, Faith and Hope everlastin' for people [Chorus: Bilal] So many people So many people So many people So many people [Outro: Bilal | Malcolm X] So many people And what you and I have to let the man know is we are peaceful people We are loving people We love everybody who loves us So many people So many people And what you and I have to let the man know is we are peaceful people We are loving people We love everybody who loves us So many people We are not violent with people So many people So many people So many people So many people So many people So many people So many people So many people You are the very people of God You do have a responsibility to wake up, clean up, and stand up