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.
Search my heart for things I've done
When dragon's teeth are poised for war
Can we be sure of peace at all,
When the spirit moves the world,
Wo oh oh oh oh oh,
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
The prophets blood, we call our own
A pause for thought, come kingdom come,
Will you be swords for Gideon,
When the spirit moves the world,
Wo oh oh oh oh oh
What wrong have I done
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
So when the truth has come to pass,
And our misdeeds are in the past
Will you again, be moved to ask,
When the spirit moves the world
Oh wo oh oh oh oh
What wrong have I done
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
I hear you well, oh Ishmael
When dragon's teeth are poised for war
Can we be sure of peace at all,
When the spirit moves the world,
Wo oh oh oh oh oh,
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
The prophets blood, we call our own
A pause for thought, come kingdom come,
Will you be swords for Gideon,
When the spirit moves the world,
Wo oh oh oh oh oh
What wrong have I done
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
So when the truth has come to pass,
And our misdeeds are in the past
Will you again, be moved to ask,
When the spirit moves the world
Oh wo oh oh oh oh
What wrong have I done
Ishmael, oh Ishmael
I hear you well, oh Ishmael
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