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 sure do got a pretty mouth
Why don't you drop my pants, I'll make you squeal like a pig
Feet in the water is not cold enough, you're not woman enough
Inside your daughter is not warm enough, and you're not woman enough, no
Don't compromise what's gold
For the soul you never sold
For the soul you never sold, no
So I follow you down this road
Well you try but you can't let go
So hold on to years ago
Cold as a lover, don't you want to stay?
Breath from another, and I'll have my way
Inside your daughter
You can never hold what you can't let go
'Cause he wants it so
She'd sell her own mother
Just to make a dime before closing time
When he tells her so
Don't compromise what's gold
For the soul you never sold
For the soul you never sold, no
So I follow you down this road
Will you drive? well you can't let go
So long, two years ago
She said she wanted me to hit it
But I said I wasn't with it
Eyes red thighs spread better come get it
While it's hot the goods I got never mind my bad credit
Told me how she was soaking wet and I'm the one who wet it
Can't lie I sweat it, but I knew that if I ran through that
It's up the creek I'm headed
Body was there without nor sight nor vision still embedded
But I knew for fucking sure that in the morning I'd regret it
Had to debt it I jetted
He got me hooked 'til I was shooking in the middle of the game
Teary eyes, touch my thighs, future high you'll be my game
Could have kept it but I left it embedded instead of it dissecting me
Free spirit I feared it but steer it to clear it the stress in me
Possessing me the chemistry mother want me in the ministry
Where misery influenced me corruption claiming custody
And I knew this time that I had to feel the pain
It was needed so I'll see what cause deception in this game
Don't compromise what's gold
For the soul you never sold
For the soul you never sold, no
So I follow you down this road
Will you drive? well you can't let go
So hold on to years ago
I'll try to understand
When you're down on your knees in front of a man
I'll try to understand
Why don't you drop my pants, I'll make you squeal like a pig
Feet in the water is not cold enough, you're not woman enough
Inside your daughter is not warm enough, and you're not woman enough, no
Don't compromise what's gold
For the soul you never sold
For the soul you never sold, no
So I follow you down this road
Well you try but you can't let go
So hold on to years ago
Cold as a lover, don't you want to stay?
Breath from another, and I'll have my way
Inside your daughter
You can never hold what you can't let go
'Cause he wants it so
She'd sell her own mother
Just to make a dime before closing time
When he tells her so
Don't compromise what's gold
For the soul you never sold
For the soul you never sold, no
So I follow you down this road
Will you drive? well you can't let go
So long, two years ago
She said she wanted me to hit it
But I said I wasn't with it
Eyes red thighs spread better come get it
While it's hot the goods I got never mind my bad credit
Told me how she was soaking wet and I'm the one who wet it
Can't lie I sweat it, but I knew that if I ran through that
It's up the creek I'm headed
Body was there without nor sight nor vision still embedded
But I knew for fucking sure that in the morning I'd regret it
Had to debt it I jetted
He got me hooked 'til I was shooking in the middle of the game
Teary eyes, touch my thighs, future high you'll be my game
Could have kept it but I left it embedded instead of it dissecting me
Free spirit I feared it but steer it to clear it the stress in me
Possessing me the chemistry mother want me in the ministry
Where misery influenced me corruption claiming custody
And I knew this time that I had to feel the pain
It was needed so I'll see what cause deception in this game
Don't compromise what's gold
For the soul you never sold
For the soul you never sold, no
So I follow you down this road
Will you drive? well you can't let go
So hold on to years ago
I'll try to understand
When you're down on your knees in front of a man
I'll try to understand
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always another gem to add to the classics...