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 see my old shoes dusty in the closet
And my thoughts run back to you
Not to long ago when those old shoes were new
I see those old shoes drying by a fire
Yours are there right next to mine
I still hear the rain and I still can taste the wine
And it's hard to believe but those old shoes used to fly
Away from the crowd to our own secret cloud in the sky
And though it's old news that our love has ended
how can I believe we're through
When those old shoes keep walking me right back to you
musical interlude
And it's hard to believe but those old shoes used to fly
Away from the crowd to our own secret cloud in the sky
And though it's old news
That our love has ended
How can I believe we're through
When those old shoes keep
Walking me right back to you
And my thoughts run back to you
Not to long ago when those old shoes were new
I see those old shoes drying by a fire
Yours are there right next to mine
I still hear the rain and I still can taste the wine
And it's hard to believe but those old shoes used to fly
Away from the crowd to our own secret cloud in the sky
And though it's old news that our love has ended
how can I believe we're through
When those old shoes keep walking me right back to you
musical interlude
And it's hard to believe but those old shoes used to fly
Away from the crowd to our own secret cloud in the sky
And though it's old news
That our love has ended
How can I believe we're through
When those old shoes keep
Walking me right back to you
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Old Shoes Lyrics as written by Richard Adler Jerry J. Ross
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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