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.
Crack of dawn the rooster moans
Wake up boy you're far from home
Serpentine the tracks in flames
Longest path the devil laid
Led you straight aboard this rusty train
Lift your head 'cause you can't sleep
Bite your lip 'cause you can't eat
Darkest den the devil made
Jesus weeps but he's been paid
Not to ride inside this rusty train
Buzzard's breath the rooster moans
Stow it boy you're far from home
Stow your sorrows stow your fear
What'd you do to end up here
End up on the devil's rusty train
Wake up boy you're far from home
Serpentine the tracks in flames
Longest path the devil laid
Led you straight aboard this rusty train
Lift your head 'cause you can't sleep
Bite your lip 'cause you can't eat
Darkest den the devil made
Jesus weeps but he's been paid
Not to ride inside this rusty train
Buzzard's breath the rooster moans
Stow it boy you're far from home
Stow your sorrows stow your fear
What'd you do to end up here
End up on the devil's rusty train
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kyle, you need to add the next line as a continuation of that thought: "Jesus weeps, but he's been paid, not to ride this dusty train"
To me, the train is symbolic of a person or place that's inherently evil, or ill-willed. It has some type of connotation to me anyways of someone doing something terrible to a child, like abuse or exploitation. Something like that.