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.
let's go down by the grapevine
drink my dady's wine
get happy
down by the grapevine
drink my daddy's wine
get happy
happy
oh sweet blindness
a little magic
a little kindness
oh sweet blindness
all over me
four leaves on a clover
I'm just a bit of a shade hung over
come on baby do a slow float
you're a good lookin' riverboat
and aint that sweet-eyed blindness good to me
down by the grapevine
drink my dady's wine
good mornin
down by the grapevine
drink my daddy's wine
good mornin
Mornin!
oh sweet blindness
a little magic
a little kindness
oh sweet blindness
all over me
please don't tell my mother
I'm a saloon and a moonshine lover
come on baby do a slow float
you're a good lookin riverboat
and ain't that sweet eyed blindness good to me
(don't ask me cause I)
ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinkin'
ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinkin'
ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinkin'
wine
of wonder
Wonder!
(by the way)
sweet blindness
a little magic
a little kindness
oh sweet blindness
all over me
don't let daddy hear it
he don't believe in the gin mill spirit
come on baby do a slow float
you a good lookin' riverboat
and ain't that sweet eyed blindness good to me
good to me
now ain't that sweet eyed blindness good to me
drink my dady's wine
get happy
down by the grapevine
drink my daddy's wine
get happy
happy
oh sweet blindness
a little magic
a little kindness
oh sweet blindness
all over me
four leaves on a clover
I'm just a bit of a shade hung over
come on baby do a slow float
you're a good lookin' riverboat
and aint that sweet-eyed blindness good to me
down by the grapevine
drink my dady's wine
good mornin
down by the grapevine
drink my daddy's wine
good mornin
Mornin!
oh sweet blindness
a little magic
a little kindness
oh sweet blindness
all over me
please don't tell my mother
I'm a saloon and a moonshine lover
come on baby do a slow float
you're a good lookin riverboat
and ain't that sweet eyed blindness good to me
(don't ask me cause I)
ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinkin'
ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinkin'
ain't gonna tell you what I've been drinkin'
wine
of wonder
Wonder!
(by the way)
sweet blindness
a little magic
a little kindness
oh sweet blindness
all over me
don't let daddy hear it
he don't believe in the gin mill spirit
come on baby do a slow float
you a good lookin' riverboat
and ain't that sweet eyed blindness good to me
good to me
now ain't that sweet eyed blindness good to me
Lyrics submitted by just_old_light
Sweet Blindness Lyrics as written by Laura Nyro
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I also know this version from The Fifth Dimension, and I love it as well.
The musical style is pure Gospel, yet the lyrics espouse the joys of drinking, perhaps to excess. I find this very ironic and very funny.