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 keep to myself
what I might share with others
but they don't seem to understand
I open my mouth
to rediscover
that I don't have the words at my command
holding out
for a world so much better
but I'm a stranger in a stranger's land
all my friends have sold out
couldn't handle the pressure
counting their blessings trying to salvage what they can
Children say - children say
we open our minds as one
but one more day - slips away
why don't the dreams of the young never come to be
When I overhear
my parents conversations
well I'm struck by the things they say
it seems they traded the years
for mere complications
who ever thought it could end this way
they close the door
but they can't lock it
'cause something of their childhood remains
and they've felt it before
when the man in their pocket
counted the cost of their material gains
Children say - come what may
be strong for the friends you've known
but one fine day - (not) far away
will we remember the love we used to own
Children say - children say
we open our minds as one
as one more day slips away
why don't the dreams of the young never come to be
Well you knew what I was saying
but did you know what it meant
when you saw that look in my eye
did you know it was heaven sent
was it all a waking dream
all that time we must have spetn
well I guess it must have been
somehow that feeling came and went
Children say - come what may
be strong for the friends you've known
but one fine day - (not) far away
will we remember the love we used to own
Children say - children say
we open our minds as one
as one more day - slips away
why don't the dreams of the young never come to be
Children say - children say
we thought it would never go
as one more day - slips away
who ever thought we could be so lonely
what I might share with others
but they don't seem to understand
I open my mouth
to rediscover
that I don't have the words at my command
holding out
for a world so much better
but I'm a stranger in a stranger's land
all my friends have sold out
couldn't handle the pressure
counting their blessings trying to salvage what they can
Children say - children say
we open our minds as one
but one more day - slips away
why don't the dreams of the young never come to be
When I overhear
my parents conversations
well I'm struck by the things they say
it seems they traded the years
for mere complications
who ever thought it could end this way
they close the door
but they can't lock it
'cause something of their childhood remains
and they've felt it before
when the man in their pocket
counted the cost of their material gains
Children say - come what may
be strong for the friends you've known
but one fine day - (not) far away
will we remember the love we used to own
Children say - children say
we open our minds as one
as one more day slips away
why don't the dreams of the young never come to be
Well you knew what I was saying
but did you know what it meant
when you saw that look in my eye
did you know it was heaven sent
was it all a waking dream
all that time we must have spetn
well I guess it must have been
somehow that feeling came and went
Children say - come what may
be strong for the friends you've known
but one fine day - (not) far away
will we remember the love we used to own
Children say - children say
we open our minds as one
as one more day - slips away
why don't the dreams of the young never come to be
Children say - children say
we thought it would never go
as one more day - slips away
who ever thought we could be so lonely
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Children Say Lyrics as written by Michael David Lindup Mark King
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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