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.
Give me the green light, give me just one night
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now (let's go)
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
I see you move, I'm checking your smile
Working your back like it's going out of style
Shake just a little bit faster
Shake just a little now girl
Dying to meet you, so let's mess around
Got an obsession with us getting down
Come just a little bit closer
I just need permission, so
Give me the green light, give me just one night
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
We can go all night, give me the green light
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now (let's go)
A-one, two, three, green light, but if it's what it seems like
The you moving baby, lets me know that it's gon' be right (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
A-one, two, three, red light, I wanna see what you dance like
But if I be your buddy, get you studied, is your head right? (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
Do I have a girlfriend, technically no
If you'll be my girlfriend then I'll make it so
You'll be my only true lover
No competition, no other (no other)
Maybe it's just the thrill of the chase
But I've got a feeling that I'm winning this race
Baby I'm gettin' closer, I just need permission, so
Give me the green light, give me just one night
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
We can go all night, give me the green light
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now (let's go)
A-one, two, three, green light, but if it's what it seems like
The you moving baby, lets me know that it's gon' be right (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
A-one, two, three, red light, I wanna see what you dance like
But if I be your buddy, get you studied, is your head right? (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
So I went hard like Medusa staring at me
I told her let's go, let's blow this lame nigga factory
She said, "What kind of girl do you think I are?
The kind that you meet in a bar?
You think you can get whatever you want 'cause you some kinda star"
No I'm a comet, I just want you woman
Hey, if I were you, it would be me that I go home with
Three, the one and only, one thing you ain't considered
I heard you when you told your girl, "Ooh he can get it," admit it
You did it, let's hop a cab and split it
I'm kiddin', we both going to where you livin'
Ha, I got you gigglin' like I'm piglet
Oh that's the ticket?
I hope you're more like Anita Baker than Robin Givens
No, I don't know that lady so let me quit it
I'm just style freein', freestylin' which y'all seldom do
This is what I'm telling you (I'm ready to go right now)
To the bed I'm nailing you
Like I've been in jail for two (I'm ready to go right now)
Years and then they let me loose
Give me the green light, give me just one night (you got you one, Legend, sometimes you gotta step from behind that piano)
I'm ready to go right now (let 'em know what's going on), I'm ready to go right now (even Stevie Wonder got down sometimes)
We can go all night, give me the green light (I'm ready to go)
I'm ready to go right now (my man Nate can't wait), I'm ready to go right now (participate)
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
(Ready to go) I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now (let's go)
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
I see you move, I'm checking your smile
Working your back like it's going out of style
Shake just a little bit faster
Shake just a little now girl
Dying to meet you, so let's mess around
Got an obsession with us getting down
Come just a little bit closer
I just need permission, so
Give me the green light, give me just one night
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
We can go all night, give me the green light
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now (let's go)
A-one, two, three, green light, but if it's what it seems like
The you moving baby, lets me know that it's gon' be right (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
A-one, two, three, red light, I wanna see what you dance like
But if I be your buddy, get you studied, is your head right? (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
Do I have a girlfriend, technically no
If you'll be my girlfriend then I'll make it so
You'll be my only true lover
No competition, no other (no other)
Maybe it's just the thrill of the chase
But I've got a feeling that I'm winning this race
Baby I'm gettin' closer, I just need permission, so
Give me the green light, give me just one night
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
We can go all night, give me the green light
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now (let's go)
A-one, two, three, green light, but if it's what it seems like
The you moving baby, lets me know that it's gon' be right (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
A-one, two, three, red light, I wanna see what you dance like
But if I be your buddy, get you studied, is your head right? (I'm)
I'm ready to go right now (I'm), I'm ready to go right now
So I went hard like Medusa staring at me
I told her let's go, let's blow this lame nigga factory
She said, "What kind of girl do you think I are?
The kind that you meet in a bar?
You think you can get whatever you want 'cause you some kinda star"
No I'm a comet, I just want you woman
Hey, if I were you, it would be me that I go home with
Three, the one and only, one thing you ain't considered
I heard you when you told your girl, "Ooh he can get it," admit it
You did it, let's hop a cab and split it
I'm kiddin', we both going to where you livin'
Ha, I got you gigglin' like I'm piglet
Oh that's the ticket?
I hope you're more like Anita Baker than Robin Givens
No, I don't know that lady so let me quit it
I'm just style freein', freestylin' which y'all seldom do
This is what I'm telling you (I'm ready to go right now)
To the bed I'm nailing you
Like I've been in jail for two (I'm ready to go right now)
Years and then they let me loose
Give me the green light, give me just one night (you got you one, Legend, sometimes you gotta step from behind that piano)
I'm ready to go right now (let 'em know what's going on), I'm ready to go right now (even Stevie Wonder got down sometimes)
We can go all night, give me the green light (I'm ready to go)
I'm ready to go right now (my man Nate can't wait), I'm ready to go right now (participate)
I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
(Ready to go) I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now
Lyrics submitted by lovexhatexburn
Green Light Lyrics as written by Fin Greenall Andre Benjamin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love John Legend's voice against this beat. It's sooo perfect! For some reason it reminds me of when I met my boyfriend though...lol