Testify Lyrics
[Verse 1]
She walk in 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 loved him
Looked at the jury, how can they judge him?
She screamed
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away (Uh)
Before you lock my love away (Yeah), before you lock my love away
Please let me testify
[Verse 2]
Fear in her chest, her face with 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 scuffle and fights
While he tryna hustle that white
Up all night wondering if he's alive
Seeing him tried, she bubbled inside and screamed
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away (Uh), before you lock my love away (Yeah)
Before you lock my love away (Yeah), before you lock my love away
Please let me testify
She walk in 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 loved him
Looked at the jury, how can they judge him?
She screamed
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away (Uh)
Before you lock my love away (Yeah), before you lock my love away
Please let me testify
[Verse 2]
Fear in her chest, her face with 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 scuffle and fights
While he tryna hustle that white
Up all night wondering if he's alive
Seeing him tried, she bubbled inside and screamed
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away (Uh), before you lock my love away (Yeah)
Before you lock my love away (Yeah), 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 confession, she screamed
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away (Uh)
Before you lock my love away, 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
They 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
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away
Please let me testify
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 confession, she screamed
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away (Uh)
Before you lock my love away, 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
They 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
[Hook]
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away
Before you lock my love away, before you lock my love away
Please let me testify
[Outro]
You accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, you accuse
Please let me testify, you accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, you accuse
Please let me testify, you accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, you accuse
Please let me testify, you accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, pl-ple-
You accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, you accuse
Please let me testify, you accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, you accuse
Please let me testify, you accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, you accuse
Please let me testify, you accuse me of a, you accuse me of a, pl-ple-
About
Genius Annotation
Over a chopped up sample of Honey Core’s “Innocent ‘Til Proven Guilty” (which actually fits really well into the song), Common tells of a woman testifying for her husband before he is sent to jail.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Who did the vocals on the hook?
Genius Answer
It is a vocal sample from “Innocent Til Proven Guilty” by Honey Cone, an American R&B and soul all-girl vocal group best remembered for their Billboard #1 hit single, “Want Ads”.
- 1.Be (Intro)
- 2.The Corner
- 3.GO!
- 4.Faithful
- 5.Testify
- 6.Love is…
- 7.Chi-City
- 9.Real People
- 10.They Say
- 12.So Cool
Credits
Producer
Writers
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Assistant Recording Engineer
Label
Copyright ©
Mastering Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Recording Engineer
Recorded At
Encore Studios (Burbank, CA) & Sony Music Studios (New York City)
Release Date
September 27, 2005
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