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.
I will set it up with you
We will get inside his head
And we will tell him how to leave a bitter land
I'll pretend I never know what the giants put them through
And all the shame he made in you
You are the bigger man
And the arms are crossed and the stills must all come down
It's time to separate the people from the men who disregard them
I will set it up with you
We will get inside his head
And we will tell him how to be a bigger man
The arms are crossed and the stills must all come down
It's time to separate the people from the men who disregard them
We will get inside his head
And we will tell him how to leave a bitter land
I'll pretend I never know what the giants put them through
And all the shame he made in you
You are the bigger man
And the arms are crossed and the stills must all come down
It's time to separate the people from the men who disregard them
I will set it up with you
We will get inside his head
And we will tell him how to be a bigger man
The arms are crossed and the stills must all come down
It's time to separate the people from the men who disregard them
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i just read the novel 1984 and i think this song has a lot to do with it. the society is a strick toletarian police state that forces you to only think in one certain way. the government heads are opressing everyone. in the song "We" is the party and it gets in side winston's head and shows him how to function in just the right way. they inspire shame, are conservative and stern "the arms are crossed" and all the people are separated into three main levels, inner party, outer party, and the proles. and oceania is a bitter land. the proles separate from the inner party the most, who are the people who disregard everyone the most. oceania is the bitter land. i'm such a nerd.
i'm pretty sure that this is one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard.
I'm not sure when this song was written (before or after the whole Iraq war) because I haven't looked much into it, but to me it sounds alot like Bush and the war.
"We will get inside his head And we will tell him how to leave a bitter land"
His being President Bush and the bitter land refering to the Middle East, which has always been fighting over land.
"And all the shame he made in you You are the bigger man"
Many people disliked the war and didn't support the war efforts causing "shame" for the soldiers. You are the bigger man (being bigger than Bush) for actually fighting on the front lines.
"It's time to separate the people from the men who disregard them"
The President and Congress sending the soldiers over there are the men disregarding, acting as if it is nothing. This line could possibly suggest it is time for a revolution.