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.
If I run uphill I'm out of breath
If I spend all my money I've got no money left
If I place all my chips on only one bet
I'm all in
And it's a surefire bet I'm gonna die
So I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights
And it's not that I believe in your all might
But I might as well
As insurance or bail
'cause institution's like a big bright lie
And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fight
And you've been in the desert underneath the charging sky
It's just you and god
But what if god's not there?
But his name is on your dollar bill
Which just became cab fare
For the evangelist, the communist, the lefts and the rights
And the hypocrites and the jesuits and the blacks and the whites
In the belly of the beast
In the atlanta streets
Or up in laurel canyon
The middle east
Still they're dying on the dark continent
It's been happening long enough to mention it
Have I mentioned my parents are getting back together again
It's been twenty-five years
Of spreading infection
Somehow we're not affected
So my mom, she brushes her hair
And my dad starts growing bob dylan's beard
And I share with my friends a couple of beers
In the atlanta streets
In the belly of the beast
If I spend all my money I've got no money left
If I place all my chips on only one bet
I'm all in
And it's a surefire bet I'm gonna die
So I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights
And it's not that I believe in your all might
But I might as well
As insurance or bail
'cause institution's like a big bright lie
And it blinds you into fear and consuming and fight
And you've been in the desert underneath the charging sky
It's just you and god
But what if god's not there?
But his name is on your dollar bill
Which just became cab fare
For the evangelist, the communist, the lefts and the rights
And the hypocrites and the jesuits and the blacks and the whites
In the belly of the beast
In the atlanta streets
Or up in laurel canyon
The middle east
Still they're dying on the dark continent
It's been happening long enough to mention it
Have I mentioned my parents are getting back together again
It's been twenty-five years
Of spreading infection
Somehow we're not affected
So my mom, she brushes her hair
And my dad starts growing bob dylan's beard
And I share with my friends a couple of beers
In the atlanta streets
In the belly of the beast
Lyrics submitted by y plus white girl
The Charging Sky Lyrics as written by Jenny Diane Lewis
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hi, i love this song; i think it is my favorite one on the album. I don't know what it really means because i pay more attention to the music than the lyrics. Does anyone know where can i find the tabs to play this song in guitar?
Thanks...jonny