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 went up the levee to pack some sacks
And I thought I'd bring me some money back.
Big boat up the river and she can't come down.
My woman on the levee wearing a frown.
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman
There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river blowing loud and fast
If she don't get to deep water she'll never land
And my woman on the levee shaking her hand,
She thinks she's gonna quit me for another man
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman
There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river blowing loud and fast
And my woman on the levee feeling mighty sad
She thinks I got the money that I once had had
But when I get her home it's gonna be too bad.
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman
There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down
And I thought I'd bring me some money back.
Big boat up the river and she can't come down.
My woman on the levee wearing a frown.
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman
There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river blowing loud and fast
If she don't get to deep water she'll never land
And my woman on the levee shaking her hand,
She thinks she's gonna quit me for another man
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman
There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river blowing loud and fast
And my woman on the levee feeling mighty sad
She thinks I got the money that I once had had
But when I get her home it's gonna be too bad.
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Big boat up the river and she can't come down
Somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman, somebody tell that woman
There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down
Lyrics submitted by pieligero
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Who are we mistaken
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