Humble Mumble (feat. Erykah Badu) Lyrics
This is the only song that Andre 3000 did with his lover, and the mother of his children, Erykah Badu. They later broke up soon after this album was released.
The song is about humility, and accepting your place in life. Thus the line, "Humbe as a mumble in the jungle of shouts and screams".
The line from Isaiah states that no weapon formed against the followers of God shall be successful in battle. Andre 3000 is a Chrisitan and a Pacifist, who rejected the violent ways of his rough upbringing in the ghettos of Atlanta.
The lines beginning with "Too Democratic, Republic fuck it", refers to the lack of difference between the two political parties, and their inability to help the middle class.
"Blue-collar scholars, who'll take your dollar and wipe my ass wit it" refers to the union movement, and how they use dues to pay for economic studies that do nothing to help the working class. Both Andre 3000 and Big Boi were union members when they worked for UPS.
(they also did "take off your cool" together on the love below album)
norah jones was on take off your cool not erykah
thye also did "Liberation" on the Aquemini album
i have a well read and insightful friend who once mentioned that this song might be inspired by 'a raisin in the sun' a play written by lorraine hansberry,(the title of which comes from a poem by langston hughes) about a poor, black family in chicago who suddenly come into a bit of money, each wanting to pursue their own dreams etc. she may have been right, the main themes revolve around racism, 'the ghetto trap' and the importance of holding on to dreams in the face of adversity. this song embodies all those things and i wouldnt be surprised if it were inspired by that play, andre is very well read and that's a very important piece of literature in the african-american community.