Stand up for Something (feat. Common)

Diane Warren and Common wrote "Stand Up For Something" for the biographical film Marshall. The 2017 legal drama movie focuses on an early legal case of lawyer Thurgood Marshall, who would eventually become the first African-American Supreme Court justice.

Warren told Billboard that after reading the script for Marshall, "I scribbled down 'it all means nothing if you don't stand up for something.'" She added: "I kind of had a vision of the song I wanted to write for this. And I wanted to write a song that could have been sung by Sam Cooke. Like 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' or 'People Get Ready.' Those kinds of songs."

After writing the lyrics for this rallying cry, Warren had the idea to bring Common on board for a guest rap. "My intention was to put out positive energy at a time when so many people are feeling discouraged and a lot of fear is out there," said Common about his verse. He added that he wrote the rhymes, "to remind us that in these days and times, we need more art that's part of the movement."