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.
Far from the worn path of reason
Further away from the sane
He battles his shadows and demons
Fighting to light the way
And the dust and the dirt cloud his vision
Onward he rides unafraid
He fights the good fight for good reason
A star that refuses to fade
Still he braves his path
Windmills only laugh
She was wounded and wild when he found her
He saw her through child's eyes
She fell for the spell he was under
Each day a brand new surprise
And she watches with strange curiosity
She wants so much to believe
Hoping to break the chains of reality
Dying to set herself free
Still he braves his path
While windmills only laugh
Though he may appear tattered and broken
His clothes are shabby and bare
Still he glows like the flame of a candle
With passion of one who still cares
There was always a rhyme to the reason
Peering out from tired eyes
The truth finally came in treason
So wrong, but so justified
So wrong but so justified
Windmills close their eyes
Further away from the sane
He battles his shadows and demons
Fighting to light the way
And the dust and the dirt cloud his vision
Onward he rides unafraid
He fights the good fight for good reason
A star that refuses to fade
Still he braves his path
Windmills only laugh
She was wounded and wild when he found her
He saw her through child's eyes
She fell for the spell he was under
Each day a brand new surprise
And she watches with strange curiosity
She wants so much to believe
Hoping to break the chains of reality
Dying to set herself free
Still he braves his path
While windmills only laugh
Though he may appear tattered and broken
His clothes are shabby and bare
Still he glows like the flame of a candle
With passion of one who still cares
There was always a rhyme to the reason
Peering out from tired eyes
The truth finally came in treason
So wrong, but so justified
So wrong but so justified
Windmills close their eyes
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