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.
Woke up today
To everything gray
And all that I saw
Just kept going on and on
Sweep all the pieces under the bed
Close all the curtains and cover my head
And what you wish for
Won't come true
You aren't surprised love
Are you?
If this serenade
(Repeat after me just a little bit closer)
Is not what you want
(And do what I say caught up in a lie)
It just how it is
(It won't change a thing got a little bit colder)
It keeps going on and on
Come out come out wherever you are
Would you do it all over
Right from the start?
And what you wish for
Won't come true
You aren't surprised love
Are you?
And what you wish for
Won't come true
You aren't surprised love
Are you?
Once had this dream
Crashed down in Oz
Not black and white
But where the colors are
I never dreamed that
I could let it go
And I will get
What I deserve
Sweep all the secrets
under the bed
Open the curtains
forget what I said
And what you wish for
Could come true
You act surprised, love
Are you?
To everything gray
And all that I saw
Just kept going on and on
Sweep all the pieces under the bed
Close all the curtains and cover my head
And what you wish for
Won't come true
You aren't surprised love
Are you?
If this serenade
(Repeat after me just a little bit closer)
Is not what you want
(And do what I say caught up in a lie)
It just how it is
(It won't change a thing got a little bit colder)
It keeps going on and on
Come out come out wherever you are
Would you do it all over
Right from the start?
And what you wish for
Won't come true
You aren't surprised love
Are you?
And what you wish for
Won't come true
You aren't surprised love
Are you?
Once had this dream
Crashed down in Oz
Not black and white
But where the colors are
I never dreamed that
I could let it go
And I will get
What I deserve
Sweep all the secrets
under the bed
Open the curtains
forget what I said
And what you wish for
Could come true
You act surprised, love
Are you?
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I've always imagined this song being about almost killing yourself. There's always a point (if you've ever gone through it like i have) where you want to killl yourself so bad, but you wake up one day and things start to go right and you realize that maybe you do have something to live for, maybe you WILL get what you deserve. So keep all the secrets under the bed (the fact that you were going to end it all) and start being a little optomistic. :D BEAUTIFULNESS!!
It's a relationship you really loved that has gone sour, and it's grey. Then you let her go, and you thought you never would. Then start over, hence the references to opening curtains and a new colorful day. And you finally let that person go, and you'll get something better, what you deserve, and what you've wished for.
Just my opinion. I think any songs meanings can be twisted so many ways, and it might be just how I see the song relating to me. I don't know, I'm silly.
Interesting...I don't see the relationship aspect at all in this song. Like botldfizzywater said, I think it's about coming out of a deep depression. At first the person isn't dealing with anything ("close all the curtains and cover my head") and has given up any hope of life getting better ("what you wish for won't come true..."). Then he remembers the dream of waking up in a world that's in color (as opposed to the "everything gray" of depression), wonders how he ever let that world go, and thus is able to see it again.
Just 2 more thoughts: 1) I'm a bit suspicious about what a depressed person might mean by, "And I will get what I deserve." Hmmmm. 2) Why the hell isn't it that easy in real life?
one of my favorite guster songs of Lost and Gone Forever. i think this guy doesnt think that his dreams will come true, but later he has a great dream and it feels so real that he knows dreams do come true. he now has confidence and wants everyone to work for what they wish for to make it work.
This is a great Guster song, and sinc ei am feelin kinda tired and lazy i dont feel like analizing this song.. but this song is on the soundtrack to "Life as a House" i highly suggest all Guster fans to rent that movie... most Guster Fans Love it
I love Life as a house the movie... mainly because of Hayden Christensen but I think all the guster songs they chose to be in it our great.. Rainy day and What you wish for... It was an awesome movie an I agree with Guster (the member) that everyone should rent this
it's "once had this dream, crashed down in OZ...............i never dreamed that i would let IT go".....but good try...
Life as a house is my favorite movie plus this guster song is in it. I cant wait to see them play w/ john mayer in only 3 weeks
I think this song is either 1. directly about the movie"wizard of oz" or 2. comparing something to the movie just listen to the song and think of the wizard of oz.
i definietly see what botldfizzywater says, totally. it says you can always start over and your past doesnt have to hold you back. I think the relation to the Wizard of oz works because in the wizard of oz dorothy was running away from home right before she went to Oz, and realized how much she loved where she was before. not suicide, but it shows that the song is about being at an emotional bottom and then realizing youre okay.