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.
Went out last night, take a little round
Met little Sadie and I blowed her down
Then I run right home and went to bed
With a forty-four smokeless under my head
The girls all heard little Sadie was dead
They went home to be ragged in red
Come a slippin' and a slidin' down the street
In their loose mother hubbards and their stocking feet
Well I began to think what a deed I'd done
Grabbed my hat and I started to run
I made a good run just a little too slow
And they overtook me in Jericho
Standing on the corner reading a bill
Up stepped the sheriff of Thomasville
Said young man is your name Lee Brown?
Remember the night you blowed Sadie down?
Yes I said my name is Lee
I murdered little Sadie in a first degree
First degree and a second degree
If ya got any papers, read 'em to me
Took me downtown, dressed me in black
Put me on a train and send me back
Didn't have no one to go on my bail
Throw me back in the county jail
Judge and the jury took their stand
Judge had the papers in his hand
Forty-one days and forty-one nights
Forty-one years just to wear them stripes
Met little Sadie and I blowed her down
Then I run right home and went to bed
With a forty-four smokeless under my head
The girls all heard little Sadie was dead
They went home to be ragged in red
Come a slippin' and a slidin' down the street
In their loose mother hubbards and their stocking feet
Well I began to think what a deed I'd done
Grabbed my hat and I started to run
I made a good run just a little too slow
And they overtook me in Jericho
Standing on the corner reading a bill
Up stepped the sheriff of Thomasville
Said young man is your name Lee Brown?
Remember the night you blowed Sadie down?
Yes I said my name is Lee
I murdered little Sadie in a first degree
First degree and a second degree
If ya got any papers, read 'em to me
Took me downtown, dressed me in black
Put me on a train and send me back
Didn't have no one to go on my bail
Throw me back in the county jail
Judge and the jury took their stand
Judge had the papers in his hand
Forty-one days and forty-one nights
Forty-one years just to wear them stripes
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Traditional.
<url>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Sadie</url>