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.
Freedom is a state of mind, a mind is a state of being,
Stay the fuck out of my mind and my being.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
I don't cry when the police die, cuz they probably deserved it.
Run around with a badge and a gun, and they goddamned fuck with everyone.
Enforce rules made by fools, violence and fear their tools
They dress to oppress, with the laws they arrest and they leave us powerless.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
We have created a reality based on fear, where the terrorist ,the gangster and the police
can take away your freedom, your sense of security at any time.
But
I don't cry when a gangster dies, cuz he probably deserved it.
Run around with a bag and a gun and they goddamned fuck with everyone.
Enforce rules made by fools, violence and fear their tools
They dress to oppress, thinking fear is respect and they leave us powerless.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
A society which incarcerates it's own population for any minor infraction, of which there are
hundreds of thousands of pages upon pages of laws, and reasons for the district attorneys, under
local jurisdictions and the justice system, to put it's entire force on removing an individual from his
family connection, is one separated from the tribal earth
I don't cry when a terrorist dies, cuz he probably deserved it.
Run around with a bomb and a gun, and they goddamned fuck with everyone.
Enforce rules made by fools, violence and fear their tools
Bomb souls from the sky and a mother, she cries as she watch her babies die.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
Stay the fuck out of my mind and my being.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
I don't cry when the police die, cuz they probably deserved it.
Run around with a badge and a gun, and they goddamned fuck with everyone.
Enforce rules made by fools, violence and fear their tools
They dress to oppress, with the laws they arrest and they leave us powerless.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
We have created a reality based on fear, where the terrorist ,the gangster and the police
can take away your freedom, your sense of security at any time.
But
I don't cry when a gangster dies, cuz he probably deserved it.
Run around with a bag and a gun and they goddamned fuck with everyone.
Enforce rules made by fools, violence and fear their tools
They dress to oppress, thinking fear is respect and they leave us powerless.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
A society which incarcerates it's own population for any minor infraction, of which there are
hundreds of thousands of pages upon pages of laws, and reasons for the district attorneys, under
local jurisdictions and the justice system, to put it's entire force on removing an individual from his
family connection, is one separated from the tribal earth
I don't cry when a terrorist dies, cuz he probably deserved it.
Run around with a bomb and a gun, and they goddamned fuck with everyone.
Enforce rules made by fools, violence and fear their tools
Bomb souls from the sky and a mother, she cries as she watch her babies die.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em got 'em on a short leash.
I don't fault the police, cuz the people that run 'em they divide and deceive.
Lyrics submitted by KiLLOggS
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I dunno why no1 else hasn't said anything bout this song, it rocks!!!!
This song does kick ass...but one thing about this band. They seem to hate too much. But the music is awesome.
You can never hate TOO much
I like this song. I'm fine with the hate-level.
this is probably the first rock/metal/whatever song i heard and really liked, it was on an old metal-hammer cd that i stole from my brother and took on a school trip to germany, and this is one of few songs on that cd i still remember well! I think it makes quite a few fair points.