Paraphrasing Songs

“The 6th Sense” Common
The time is now
We’ll show you how
The window to the soul is open now,
So listen up

The times were hard, yet I took charge
Came out on top despite the odds
Everyone’s in a struggle, but some don’t make it
These visual perceptions were crazy, strange to me
“There’s no need to care, at least you made it” I heard
But the truth will never lay inside me undeterred
Review where I came from, taking a glance
Where all people need is a decent chance
Giving back my own knowledge
To the young scholars
Who don’t know their potential of spitting rap for dollars
Can’t begin until they breathe in and read into
Where they been, what they did, and it’s too late for breaks

A message of truth, something you can relate to
Realize it, realize it
The stories of the ghetto-bound slaves
Yeah, Yeah

The barrier between me and the world that fuels my mind
The inner soul of my girl, and the words that I find
I do business with only the ones that accept our lives’ design
The revelation of rap now lasts forever
With me as the headliner “Common Brought It Together”
What I say is nothing simple to disregard
This is hardcore realism, times are hard
God brings this word of mouth through me as I speak it out
The perks and riches I’d love to take
Not just for me but for the children’s sake
Dealing with my culture and problems
The difficulties that are easily seen in them
So much is breaking me down
You can’t live forever in this town
I am the greatest one training others to watch for the false rap nation

A message of truth, something you can relate to
Realize it, realize it
The stories of the ghetto-bound slaves
Yeah, Yeah

I travel sometimes to walk with reality
Found a girl reciting rhymes that blew thoughts at me
What has this music done for the world
Reviving the forgotten while unity begins to unfurl
But what can I say?
What I don’t like I don’t try to see
This is no disrespect, that’s just me
I come to help with what I say
Preaching what I see and know everyday
Letting those on the street know that I pray
With them, the rich the poor, the famous athlete
They all know what I spit is me…

This version of “The 6th Sense” is a little more sugarcoated than the original song. It has a similar message, but not as serious. The audience is somewhat changed as well. The first refers to all people in poverty but the revised one is more about black people in poverty more than anyone else.

“Iris” GooGoo Dolls

Eternity means nothing without you
You understand this as well
If I don’t get to Heaven, all I need is you
I wish us together where only God can tell

I feel it in all 5 senses
I feel it all around my soul
I know that I can’t last forever
But please baby don’t let me go

Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see

Sadness can’t be faked in this life
Nor facts be surrounded by lies
This isn’t fantasy although it may feel like it
Use pain to open up your own eyes.

Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see

Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see

Our secrets must be kept between us
Criticism is not now what I need
My heart can’t take the pressure
My inner soul I only want you to see

I open my heart to you
I open my heart to you
I open my heart to you

This song has changed in the way that the couple knows who each other are. In the original song the woman was unaware because her admirer was afraid to reveal himself to the world. The changed song is more of a secret romance where the couple are aware of each other. It is similar to a teenage rebellious love.

“Ghetto Heaven” Common

Looking through the ghetto for the one
Ladies got no sense, they just wanna have fun
A third type, no specifications, but special
Got the right mind and the clothes to match my mind’s image
My baby mama is lost
But my girl I got always
The spirit speaks
As the young searches for the meek
Given the cluelessness of a hidden, wandering man
When all that is tall sinks as low as it can
What’s left is me, with the right guide patrolling me through
And through hard times and temptation, I recognize what I came here to do
My mission is more important than riches and pleasure
I spread peace, happiness and spiritual pleasure

Peace of mind
Surrounding me with the peace of mind
Peace of mind
Surrounding me with the peace of mind

Listen miss, don’t put all your hopes and dreams with one man
You are independent to do whatever you can
You’re looking for the right guy money is not the key
Because those who spoil you are obsessed with their greed
Troubles from generations are handed down
Always reawaken and end up worse than when they were found
Know yourself, then search for the one
You have plenty of time and mistakes to learn from
Don’t’ punish all men because one turned you down
Realize what you want, and then achieve it
When your journey is over you will receive him
It’s a hard road to travel, but remember this
Your pain is only so that you can find your prince
Don’t look back, because your aching is past tense
You need someone in your life because loneliness is hard
Your peace comes from yourself and God

Peace mind
Surrounding me with the peace mind
Peace of mind
Surrounding me with the peace of mind

What I say comes overshadows me
It’s open-minded, joyful, rhythmic poetry
The business can take a lot out of you
But keep the good deeds in mind, your brothers too
Interpreting what our ancestors left behind
Putting the things together in my mind
Cherish the blessings of music
It’s not the crutch to riches, you can’t just use it
Live through it, embrace it, analyze it, take it
Run it through your soul and spirit, open your mind and think hard
Because our peace comes from yourself and God
Your peace comes from yourself and God
Your peace comes from yourself and God
This song was altered to fit many topics of truth and moral standpoints much like the original. The interpretation was changed somewhat to make the reader think into it. It had more of a religious theme than the first one.