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.
I can feel a difference
Today, a difference
All of us in our tents
Fearing god like a mistress
We lay on the rocks in the sun
Watching you and your mama row in
I sat up and blinked when you appeared
So pale you were nearly clear
Later I stumbled to my bed
All alone in the branches
I laid in the dark thinking about
All of my friends and their changes
And I do not know
If you know
just what you have done
You are the sweetest one
I have ever laid my eyes upon
It's a beautiful town
With the rain coming down
Blackberry, rosemary
Jimmy Crack Corn
You've got the run of the place
Now that you're running around
And may kindness
Kindness, kindness abound
In this hour of our lives
Hour of effortless plenty
How do we know which parts of our hearts want what
With such base generosity?
Taking so many photographs, so amazed
We've never seen a baby so newlyborn
And when the bulbs do flash as bright as morning
The crowd keeps on gathering like an electric storm
The phantom of love moves among us at will
Each phantom-limb lost has got an angel
So confused like the wagging bobbed-tail of a bulldog
Kindness, kindness prevails
Kindness prevails
Ties and rails, ties and rails fall into line bearing kindness
Where will you go, if not here?
What will you say when you write to us?
And this is a world of terrible hardship everywhere
And I search for words to set you at ease
But there, in the looking-glass, a kite is soaring
Stilling my warring heart and my trembling knees
Clean as a breeze, bright as the day
All of the people gather to say
"Sweet Esme
Sweet Esme, oh, oh, oh"
I believe love will always surround you
Brave as a bear with a heart rare and true
But if you are scared, if you are blue
I have prepared this small song for you
"Sweet Esme
Sweet Esme, ooh"
"Sweet Esme
Sweet Esme, ooh"
"Sweet Esme, Esme
Sweet Esme, Sweet Esme, ooh"
Today, a difference
All of us in our tents
Fearing god like a mistress
We lay on the rocks in the sun
Watching you and your mama row in
I sat up and blinked when you appeared
So pale you were nearly clear
Later I stumbled to my bed
All alone in the branches
I laid in the dark thinking about
All of my friends and their changes
And I do not know
If you know
just what you have done
You are the sweetest one
I have ever laid my eyes upon
It's a beautiful town
With the rain coming down
Blackberry, rosemary
Jimmy Crack Corn
You've got the run of the place
Now that you're running around
And may kindness
Kindness, kindness abound
In this hour of our lives
Hour of effortless plenty
How do we know which parts of our hearts want what
With such base generosity?
Taking so many photographs, so amazed
We've never seen a baby so newlyborn
And when the bulbs do flash as bright as morning
The crowd keeps on gathering like an electric storm
The phantom of love moves among us at will
Each phantom-limb lost has got an angel
So confused like the wagging bobbed-tail of a bulldog
Kindness, kindness prevails
Kindness prevails
Ties and rails, ties and rails fall into line bearing kindness
Where will you go, if not here?
What will you say when you write to us?
And this is a world of terrible hardship everywhere
And I search for words to set you at ease
But there, in the looking-glass, a kite is soaring
Stilling my warring heart and my trembling knees
Clean as a breeze, bright as the day
All of the people gather to say
"Sweet Esme
Sweet Esme, oh, oh, oh"
I believe love will always surround you
Brave as a bear with a heart rare and true
But if you are scared, if you are blue
I have prepared this small song for you
"Sweet Esme
Sweet Esme, ooh"
"Sweet Esme
Sweet Esme, ooh"
"Sweet Esme, Esme
Sweet Esme, Sweet Esme, ooh"
Lyrics submitted by mutinyinheaven_x
Esme Lyrics as written by Joanna Newsom
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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esame means examination in italian.
im not sure if that's where she drew the name from. either way the song is beautiful