This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Three four
Ooh
Take a piece of my heart (ooh)
Take a piece of my soul (ooh)
Let me live
Oh yeah
Why don't you take another little piece of my heart
Why don't you take it and break it
And tear it all apart
All I do is give
And all you do is take
Baby why don't you give me
A brand new start
So let me live (so let me live)
Let me live (leave me alone)
Let me live, oh baby
And make a brand new start
Why don't you take another little piece of my soul
Why don't you shape it and shake it
'Til you're really in control
All you do is take
And all I do is give
All that I'm askin'
Is a chance to live
(So let me live) so let me live
(Leave me alone) let me live, let me live
Why don't you let me make a brand new start
Yeah, and it's a long hard struggle, yeah yeah
But you can always depend on me
And if you're ever in trouble, hey
You know where I will be
Why don't you take another little piece of my life
Why don't you twist it and turn it
And cut it like a knife
All you do is live
All I do is die
Why can't we just be friends
Stop livin' a lie
So let me live (so let me live)
Let me live (leave me alone)
Please let me live
(Why don't you live a little)
Oh yeah baby
(Why don't you give a little love)
Go for it baby
Let me live
Please let me live
Oh yeah baby, let me live
And make a brand new start
Let me live (let me live)
Ooh yeah (let me live)
Come on (let me live ooh)
In your heart, oh baby
(Take another piece, take another piece)
(Take another piece, take another piece)
Ooh please let me live
(Take another piece, take another piece)
(Take another piece, take another piece)
Why don't you take another
Take another piece of my, piece of my heart
Oh yeah baby
Make a brand new start
Oh, baby baby
Baby baby
Baby baby
Baby baby
All you do is take, take
Let me live
(Ooh, let me live)
Ooh yeah let
Let me live
Ooh
Take a piece of my heart (ooh)
Take a piece of my soul (ooh)
Let me live
Oh yeah
Why don't you take another little piece of my heart
Why don't you take it and break it
And tear it all apart
All I do is give
And all you do is take
Baby why don't you give me
A brand new start
So let me live (so let me live)
Let me live (leave me alone)
Let me live, oh baby
And make a brand new start
Why don't you take another little piece of my soul
Why don't you shape it and shake it
'Til you're really in control
All you do is take
And all I do is give
All that I'm askin'
Is a chance to live
(So let me live) so let me live
(Leave me alone) let me live, let me live
Why don't you let me make a brand new start
Yeah, and it's a long hard struggle, yeah yeah
But you can always depend on me
And if you're ever in trouble, hey
You know where I will be
Why don't you take another little piece of my life
Why don't you twist it and turn it
And cut it like a knife
All you do is live
All I do is die
Why can't we just be friends
Stop livin' a lie
So let me live (so let me live)
Let me live (leave me alone)
Please let me live
(Why don't you live a little)
Oh yeah baby
(Why don't you give a little love)
Go for it baby
Let me live
Please let me live
Oh yeah baby, let me live
And make a brand new start
Let me live (let me live)
Ooh yeah (let me live)
Come on (let me live ooh)
In your heart, oh baby
(Take another piece, take another piece)
(Take another piece, take another piece)
Ooh please let me live
(Take another piece, take another piece)
(Take another piece, take another piece)
Why don't you take another
Take another piece of my, piece of my heart
Oh yeah baby
Make a brand new start
Oh, baby baby
Baby baby
Baby baby
Baby baby
All you do is take, take
Let me live
(Ooh, let me live)
Ooh yeah let
Let me live
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