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'll take you down to that bright city mile
There to powder your sweet face and paint on a smile
That will show all of the pleasures and none of the pain
When you join my explosion and play with my games, hell
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
No unconditional surrender, no armistice day
Each night I'll die in my contentment and the lie, hide in your grave
While you bring me water and I'll give you wine
Let me dance in your tea cup and you shall swim in mine
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors
Let me live in your country, let me sleep by your shores
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days
There to powder your sweet face and paint on a smile
That will show all of the pleasures and none of the pain
When you join my explosion and play with my games, hell
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
No unconditional surrender, no armistice day
Each night I'll die in my contentment and the lie, hide in your grave
While you bring me water and I'll give you wine
Let me dance in your tea cup and you shall swim in mine
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors
Let me live in your country, let me sleep by your shores
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days and dance the nights away
Warchild, dance the days
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There is a great interpretation of this song on the Cup of Wonder website.
I agree with it mostly. However, in the lyrics, I mostly hear the voice of war talking to the people who are about to be conquered or killed.
I think the language the voice is using is basically talking about rape:
-show all of the pleasures and none of the pain. -join my explosion and play with my games. -dance in your tea-cup and you shall swim in mine. -Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors. -Let me live in your country --- let me sleep by your shores.
I think it's all very sexually connotated.
Lastly, no one, not even Cup of Wonder make the obvious connection of the water to wine Jesus connection. I think this has something to say about crusades and such, forcing Christianity on to conquered nations.