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.
Every night I vibrate internally
That's my form of prayer
And the angels signal me
"Come over here, mister
Stretch out your glove..."
You've got to nail it down
You got to nail it down
I got to nail it down
That ultra unbelievable love
Every morning I wake up alone
Ain't nobody there
All of my friends have died
And changed their shape
Flapping away like crows, mister
That swoop down from above
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
That ultra unbelievable love
A cartoon man in the real world
Cartoon man in the real world
Oh, mockery is easy
And a good laugh, too
You can laugh at hair
There are no jokes in the Bible, Keith
And it's a crying shame, mister
Haven't you cried enough?
I got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I got to nail it down (Nail it down)
That ultra unbelievable love
That's my form of prayer
And the angels signal me
"Come over here, mister
Stretch out your glove..."
You've got to nail it down
You got to nail it down
I got to nail it down
That ultra unbelievable love
Every morning I wake up alone
Ain't nobody there
All of my friends have died
And changed their shape
Flapping away like crows, mister
That swoop down from above
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
That ultra unbelievable love
A cartoon man in the real world
Cartoon man in the real world
Oh, mockery is easy
And a good laugh, too
You can laugh at hair
There are no jokes in the Bible, Keith
And it's a crying shame, mister
Haven't you cried enough?
I got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I've got to nail it down (Nail it down)
I got to nail it down (Nail it down)
That ultra unbelievable love
Lyrics submitted by Milkman82
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My guess is that this about Jesus Christ and his rejection of the Pharisees' version of religious life. I think the phrase, "cartoon man in the real world" refers to the fact that Jesus was not of the world he was in. "Ultra unbelievable love" refers to the supernatural level of love he was able to show mankind according to the New Testament and "nail it down" is a reference to crucifixtion.
Other lines in the song seem intended to refer to Jesus' rejection of the Pharisees' formalism: e.g., the fact that "vibat[ing] internally" is his "form of prayer" -- i.e., that his relationship with God is internal and not simply based on external routines -- and that "there are no jokes in the [Pharisees'] Bible" referring, I think, to the fact that their vision of God was far darker than that he was advocating.
This doesn't mean that the lyrics necessarily grow out of a deep faith in the New Testament (or any other set of religious tenets). But I do think that they're using the New Testament story to draw an interesting contrast between different ways of thinking about, and relating to God and to other people.
My guess is that this about Jesus Christ and his rejection of the Pharisees' version of religious life. I think the phrase, "cartoon man in the real world" refers to the fact that Jesus was not of the world he was in. "Ultra unbelievable love" refers to the supernatural level of love he was able to show mankind according to the New Testament and "nail it down" is a reference to crucifixtion.
Other lines in the song seem intended to refer to Jesus' rejection of the Pharisees' formalism: e.g., the fact that "vibat[ing] internally" is his "form of prayer" -- i.e., that his relationship with God is internal and not simply based on external routines -- and that "there are no jokes in the [Pharisees'] Bible" referring, I think, to the fact that their vision of God was far darker than that he was advocating.
This doesn't mean that the lyrics necessarily grow out of a deep faith in the New Testament (or any other set of religious tenets). But I do think that they're using the New Testament story to draw an interesting contrast between different ways of thinking about, and relating to God and to other people.