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.
He's been trying with limited success
To get this girl to let him get into her dress
But every time he thinks he's getting close
She threatens death before he gets a chance
And that's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma
That's the way it's been since protozoa
First climbed onto the shores of California
And she's been trying with limited success
To get him to turn out the lights and dance
Cause like any girl all she really wants is
That fickle little bitch romance
That fickle little bitch romance
And that is why the girl is called a tease
And that is why the guy is called a sleaze
And that's why God made escort agencies
"One Life to Live" and mace and GHB
And that's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma-homa
That's the way since the animals and Noah
First climbed onto the shores of California
Must not be too kind
Stop thinking love is blind
Clench your fists, yeah, write
"She's just not my type"
Why all these conflicting specifications
Maybe to prevent overpopulation
All I know is that all around the nation
The girls are crying and the boys are masturbating
The girls are crying and the boys are masturbating
And that's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma-homa
That's the way Aristophanes and Homer
Wrote the Iliad and Lysistrata
That's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma-homa
That's the way since the anti-protozoa
First climbed onto the shores of California
To get this girl to let him get into her dress
But every time he thinks he's getting close
She threatens death before he gets a chance
And that's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma
That's the way it's been since protozoa
First climbed onto the shores of California
And she's been trying with limited success
To get him to turn out the lights and dance
Cause like any girl all she really wants is
That fickle little bitch romance
That fickle little bitch romance
And that is why the girl is called a tease
And that is why the guy is called a sleaze
And that's why God made escort agencies
"One Life to Live" and mace and GHB
And that's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma-homa
That's the way since the animals and Noah
First climbed onto the shores of California
Must not be too kind
Stop thinking love is blind
Clench your fists, yeah, write
"She's just not my type"
Why all these conflicting specifications
Maybe to prevent overpopulation
All I know is that all around the nation
The girls are crying and the boys are masturbating
The girls are crying and the boys are masturbating
And that's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma-homa
That's the way Aristophanes and Homer
Wrote the Iliad and Lysistrata
That's the way it is in Minnesota
That's the way it is in Oklahoma-homa
That's the way since the anti-protozoa
First climbed onto the shores of California
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this is one of my favorites on the album. Because I have been is this situation a couple of times. The girls are crying and the boys are masturbating. The music is amazing and I love it.