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.
You want a piece of my mind, there is no peace to find
This is all of your doubt repaid in kind
I am alone in crowded rooms, I am a ghost in forgotten tombs
Widow maker, you're no company to keep
'Cause you can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world for the rest of your life
You can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world
Nobody notices, nobody cares
The curtain falls to no one, no where
Nobody notices, nobody cares
As the curtain falls
Soulless, spineless
Cut from the beggar's cloth
You fill your skull with their shit 'til it runs from your mouth
Heartless, carcass
I've seen more life in dead men's eyes, I've heard more truths alone with the night
And I'd rather believe in nothing than believe in a fucking lie
I'd sooner fail one thousand times than regret I've never tried
'Cause you can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world for the rest of your life
You can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world
You can't fool us all
You howl at the world, but speak a dead language
You're selling your soul, but no one is buying
You pray to your gods of fashion and industry
Heads in the clouds, but you live on your fucking knees
Nobody notices, nobody cares
The curtain falls to no one, no where
Nobody notices, nobody cares
As the curtain fucking falls
Soulless, spineless
Cut from the beggar's cloth
You fill your skull with their shit 'til it runs from your mouth
Heartless, carcass
I've seen more life in dead men's eyes, I've heard more truths alone with the night
No peace to find
This is all of your doubt repaid in kind
I am alone in crowded rooms, I am a ghost in forgotten tombs
Widow maker, you're no company to keep
'Cause you can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world for the rest of your life
You can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world
Nobody notices, nobody cares
The curtain falls to no one, no where
Nobody notices, nobody cares
As the curtain falls
Soulless, spineless
Cut from the beggar's cloth
You fill your skull with their shit 'til it runs from your mouth
Heartless, carcass
I've seen more life in dead men's eyes, I've heard more truths alone with the night
And I'd rather believe in nothing than believe in a fucking lie
I'd sooner fail one thousand times than regret I've never tried
'Cause you can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world for the rest of your life
You can fool some people, sometimes
But you can't fool the world
You can't fool us all
You howl at the world, but speak a dead language
You're selling your soul, but no one is buying
You pray to your gods of fashion and industry
Heads in the clouds, but you live on your fucking knees
Nobody notices, nobody cares
The curtain falls to no one, no where
Nobody notices, nobody cares
As the curtain fucking falls
Soulless, spineless
Cut from the beggar's cloth
You fill your skull with their shit 'til it runs from your mouth
Heartless, carcass
I've seen more life in dead men's eyes, I've heard more truths alone with the night
No peace to find
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