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.
You're a well-paid scientist, you only talk in facts
You know you're always right
'Cause you know how to prove it, step-by-step
PhD to show you're smart with textbook formulas
But you're used up, just like a factory hand
Something is wrong here
You won't find in on a shelf
You're well-paid, you're well-trained, you're tied to a rack
Company cocktails, gotta go
Say the right thing don't fidget, jockey for position
Be polite in the pyramid you hate
Sip that scotch, get that raise, this ain't no party at all
Something is wrong here
You won't find in on a shelf
You're well-paid, you're well-trained, you're tied to a rack
Cringe and tense up, grind your teeth
And wipe your sweaty palms
Close your windows driving past the lowlife company bar
They're making fun of you
Ha!
Ah, even you
You've gotta punch the clock, why don't you punch your boss?
Ah, even you
You just punch the clock, too scared to punch your boss
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
When will you
Open your eyes, open your eyes, open your eyes?
Pull up to your sterile home, you're drained
Bite the heads off of your kids
Chew them well, they taste like you, just slam the door
Assigned here 'cause your company owns the land
All your colleagues live here too
Private guards in golf carts keep you safe at home?
Something is wrong here
You won't find in on a shelf
You're well-paid, you're well-trained, you're tied to a rack
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
The dark shattered underbelly of the American dream
Avoid it like the plague
It stares you from your bathroom mirror
Drown!
You know you're always right
'Cause you know how to prove it, step-by-step
PhD to show you're smart with textbook formulas
But you're used up, just like a factory hand
Something is wrong here
You won't find in on a shelf
You're well-paid, you're well-trained, you're tied to a rack
Company cocktails, gotta go
Say the right thing don't fidget, jockey for position
Be polite in the pyramid you hate
Sip that scotch, get that raise, this ain't no party at all
Something is wrong here
You won't find in on a shelf
You're well-paid, you're well-trained, you're tied to a rack
Cringe and tense up, grind your teeth
And wipe your sweaty palms
Close your windows driving past the lowlife company bar
They're making fun of you
Ha!
Ah, even you
You've gotta punch the clock, why don't you punch your boss?
Ah, even you
You just punch the clock, too scared to punch your boss
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
When will you
Open your eyes, open your eyes, open your eyes?
Pull up to your sterile home, you're drained
Bite the heads off of your kids
Chew them well, they taste like you, just slam the door
Assigned here 'cause your company owns the land
All your colleagues live here too
Private guards in golf carts keep you safe at home?
Something is wrong here
You won't find in on a shelf
You're well-paid, you're well-trained, you're tied to a rack
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
When will you crack?
The dark shattered underbelly of the American dream
Avoid it like the plague
It stares you from your bathroom mirror
Drown!
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A great example of Dead Kennedy's. Much better than that California Uber Alles song...... This should be up there in the top 10.
Well "Pain" Scientist?
Ah, Ice's posted most of the lyrics on this page anyway, so we can let him off with a warning for that one.
Self-explanatory song.
In this song it shows the effect of our corporate influence on scientific research. Rather than scientists working for the greater progression of man and exploration of life's mysteries the corporate grind has reduced them to nothing more than every other cog for capitalism, trying to stay afloat for a paycheck.
Scientists were practically the new great explorers but modern life made their dream dead and sterile. A similar message about the death of the great American dream is winnebago warrior.