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're a pretty butterfly
You keep on passing by
You never land inside my hands
Your home is in the sky
And there's a lesson waiting to be learned
The fire starters always get the best
And the good guys never get the girl
No shooting stars cannot fix the world
And I've made the same mistakes
But I won't this time
No I won't this time
And you're a pretty butterfly
And I believed all your lies
Blinded by your sideways smile
And the kindness in your eyes
But there's a limit to your flight
I can offer you a better life
But you keep on flying from the light
And I've lost my faith in wrong and right
And I've made the same mistakes
But I won't this time
No I won't this time
I know exactly what you do
I made damn sure I studied you
You won't pick me
I'm just a breeze underneath your wings
So I pray each night you'll change your mind
And maybe I'm worth the fight
But I am wrong every time
You only know how to fly
You only know how to fly
You only know how to fly
You keep on passing by
You never land inside my hands
Your home is in the sky
And there's a lesson waiting to be learned
The fire starters always get the best
And the good guys never get the girl
No shooting stars cannot fix the world
And I've made the same mistakes
But I won't this time
No I won't this time
And you're a pretty butterfly
And I believed all your lies
Blinded by your sideways smile
And the kindness in your eyes
But there's a limit to your flight
I can offer you a better life
But you keep on flying from the light
And I've lost my faith in wrong and right
And I've made the same mistakes
But I won't this time
No I won't this time
I know exactly what you do
I made damn sure I studied you
You won't pick me
I'm just a breeze underneath your wings
So I pray each night you'll change your mind
And maybe I'm worth the fight
But I am wrong every time
You only know how to fly
You only know how to fly
You only know how to fly
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It’s pretty straightforward, actually. It’s about a girl who’s in love with a man who doesn’t love her back.
“But there’s a lesson waiting to be learned/the firestarters always get the birds/and the good guys never get the girl” she admits he’s not a good person and the world is unfair.
“And I’ve made the same mistakes/but I won’t this time” she’s slowly getting over him.
“You’re a pretty butterfly/and I believed all your lies/blinded by your sideways smile/and the kindness in your eyes.” More confirmation he’s not a good person.
“You won’t pick me/I am just a breeze underneath your wings” he’s using her, basically.
“But I am wrong every time/you only know how to fly” he’s not interested buddy! She’s calling him out 100%, getting over him. Ez