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.
A place we tried to search a thousand times
To finally feel as if forever wasn't ever long enough
I was afraid
I feel a passion watching over me
To shed this
This evolution will empower me
Now truth begins
And you will not find me
(I am safe in here)
I'm where I want to be
It's a place where your wish will be granted
Come, you'll see I'm right
It's a force that will live on within you
Dark as day is night
It's a place where your dreams will be slanted
And will always be
It's a force that was sent out to win you
Just you wait and see
Take one step closer to the borderline
When night is taken back
This mortal coil is gone and left behind
On holy soil
And you will not find me,
(I am safe in here)
I'm where I want to be
It's a place where your wish will be granted
Come, you'll see I'm right
It's a force that will live on within you
Dark as day is night
It's a place where your dreams will be slanted
And will always be
It's a force that was sent out to win you
Just you wait and see
You will not find me
I am safe in here
I am where I want to be
So leave me now in peace
And you will not find me
(I am safe in here)
I'm where I want to be!
It's a place where your wish will be granted
Come, you'll see I'm right
It's a force that will live on within you
Dark as day is night
It's a place where your dreams will be sanctioned
And will always be
It's a force that was sent out to win you
Just you wait and see
To finally feel as if forever wasn't ever long enough
I was afraid
I feel a passion watching over me
To shed this
This evolution will empower me
Now truth begins
And you will not find me
(I am safe in here)
I'm where I want to be
It's a place where your wish will be granted
Come, you'll see I'm right
It's a force that will live on within you
Dark as day is night
It's a place where your dreams will be slanted
And will always be
It's a force that was sent out to win you
Just you wait and see
Take one step closer to the borderline
When night is taken back
This mortal coil is gone and left behind
On holy soil
And you will not find me,
(I am safe in here)
I'm where I want to be
It's a place where your wish will be granted
Come, you'll see I'm right
It's a force that will live on within you
Dark as day is night
It's a place where your dreams will be slanted
And will always be
It's a force that was sent out to win you
Just you wait and see
You will not find me
I am safe in here
I am where I want to be
So leave me now in peace
And you will not find me
(I am safe in here)
I'm where I want to be!
It's a place where your wish will be granted
Come, you'll see I'm right
It's a force that will live on within you
Dark as day is night
It's a place where your dreams will be sanctioned
And will always be
It's a force that was sent out to win you
Just you wait and see
Lyrics submitted by Heimdall86
Sancta Terra Lyrics as written by Coen J. Janssen Adrianus Ad Sluijter
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The lyrics are vague enough that I'm sure this could be taken several different ways. For me, this seems like a song describing a fall into acceptance of religion (from the point of view of an outside, atheist observer).
Sancta ~ holy, terra ~ everywhere on Earth.
I feel a passion watching over me - God/gods To shed this This evolution will empower me - interesting word choice. Are we shedding evolution or is the change to religion an empowering change? Now truth begins - religion works on paradoxical immutable truths.
It's a place where your dreams will be sanctioned - religion tells its followers what to believe And will always be - a reference to the permanence of religion or perhaps the eternities described in the teachings. It's a force that was sent out to win you - your weekly tithing, please, pass the tray! Just you wait and see - a reference to the hope that truth will one day show itself to the religious, or is this an allusion to afterlife?
Other verses can be seen through a similar lens. Maybe the context in the album provides a more specific/different meaning. Either way, this is just what I thought when listening/reading to this song.
@corey10000 excellent interpretation - I share similar understanding. All in all, this song is a masterpiece!