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’m seven years old,
and my bow-tie’s askew
Gonna get some body of Jesus Christ
In a brown velvet suit
All the girls are dressed like angels
How sweetly they sang
Oh be not afraid of
us delicate meringues
The trailing skirts of God.
The trailing skirts of God
Have passed on by
It’s five years later and
I’m on my knees again
I am here to confirm what my
parents began
And I promise to abstain from intoxicating liquor
But the flesh, it is weak,
and my faith was never stronger
The trailing skirts of God
Have passed on by
But oh how I cling on
Cos it’s been a rich seam of song
And though it’s make-believe
Can I bring myself to leave
This lie’s been burning too long
Sometimes in my teens
Up in Kellyer’s bedroom
Skipping on Saturday evening mass for some solvent abuse
As the world spun around me,
and I eased to the floor
Must remember to get that sermon,
and keep the wolf from the door
The trailing skirts of God
Have passed on by
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I say good-day and adieu
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I say good-day and adieu
and my bow-tie’s askew
Gonna get some body of Jesus Christ
In a brown velvet suit
All the girls are dressed like angels
How sweetly they sang
Oh be not afraid of
us delicate meringues
The trailing skirts of God.
The trailing skirts of God
Have passed on by
It’s five years later and
I’m on my knees again
I am here to confirm what my
parents began
And I promise to abstain from intoxicating liquor
But the flesh, it is weak,
and my faith was never stronger
The trailing skirts of God
Have passed on by
But oh how I cling on
Cos it’s been a rich seam of song
And though it’s make-believe
Can I bring myself to leave
This lie’s been burning too long
Sometimes in my teens
Up in Kellyer’s bedroom
Skipping on Saturday evening mass for some solvent abuse
As the world spun around me,
and I eased to the floor
Must remember to get that sermon,
and keep the wolf from the door
The trailing skirts of God
Have passed on by
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I say good-day and adieu
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I’ve drifted far from you
In this bloodless coup
I say good-day and adieu
Lyrics submitted by niteflite01
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About Paul's feelings towards religion.
The song speaks for itself really; "And though it's make-believe, can I bring myself to leave? This lie has been burning too long."
Thats my favourite line of the song! Pretty much sums up my feelings towards catholocism too.