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 turned the volume up this morning
till there was ringing in my ears
i haven't felt this good in years
another villain on the cover
of every major magazine
the victim somewhere in between
see how they twist and shout
and as i'm searching for the story
subscription card falls on the floor
i'm losing interest more and more
to pick it up i'm bending over
out of the corner of my eye
i see a pair of blazing thighs
see how they twist and shout
see how they twist and shout
i straighten up to look her over
and up my back a shooting pain
it's bound to settle in my brain
another villain on the cover
of every major magazine
the victim somewhere in between
see how they twist and shout
see how they twist and shout
till there was ringing in my ears
i haven't felt this good in years
another villain on the cover
of every major magazine
the victim somewhere in between
see how they twist and shout
and as i'm searching for the story
subscription card falls on the floor
i'm losing interest more and more
to pick it up i'm bending over
out of the corner of my eye
i see a pair of blazing thighs
see how they twist and shout
see how they twist and shout
i straighten up to look her over
and up my back a shooting pain
it's bound to settle in my brain
another villain on the cover
of every major magazine
the victim somewhere in between
see how they twist and shout
see how they twist and shout
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I think it's more general than that. He starts off by turning up the volume of the (mass marketed) music real loud, and goes on to indulge in more media (the magazine). But he's losing interest, because it's all villians and sexy advertising; twisting and shouting for his attention, but they're hardly worth noticing, so ubiquitous have they become. It's just a headache to him now.