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.
You jump in front of my car when you, you know all the time that
Ninety miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive.
You tell me it's alright, you don't mind a little pain.
You say you just want me to take you for a ride.
You're just like crosstown traffic, so hard to get through to you.
Crosstown traffic, I don't need to run over you.
Crosstown traffic, all you do is slow me down
And I'm tryin' to get on the other side of town.
I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run,
Tire tracks all across your back, uh-huh, I can see you had your fun.
But a darlin', can't you see my signals turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic j am straight up ahead.
You're just like crosstown traffic, so hard to get through to you.
Crosstown traffic, I don't need to run over you.
Crosstown traffic, all you do is slow me down
And I got better things on the other side of town.
Yeah now crosstown traffic, look out, look out, baby, let me through.
Crosstown traffic yeh, look out.
Crosstown traffic yeh, look out, look out, look out.
Crosstown traffic yeh, look out, watch that street.
Ninety miles an hour, girl, is the speed I drive.
You tell me it's alright, you don't mind a little pain.
You say you just want me to take you for a ride.
You're just like crosstown traffic, so hard to get through to you.
Crosstown traffic, I don't need to run over you.
Crosstown traffic, all you do is slow me down
And I'm tryin' to get on the other side of town.
I'm not the only soul who's accused of hit and run,
Tire tracks all across your back, uh-huh, I can see you had your fun.
But a darlin', can't you see my signals turn from green to red
And with you I can see a traffic j am straight up ahead.
You're just like crosstown traffic, so hard to get through to you.
Crosstown traffic, I don't need to run over you.
Crosstown traffic, all you do is slow me down
And I got better things on the other side of town.
Yeah now crosstown traffic, look out, look out, baby, let me through.
Crosstown traffic yeh, look out.
Crosstown traffic yeh, look out, look out, look out.
Crosstown traffic yeh, look out, watch that street.
Lyrics submitted by kevin
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oh man, I've got to hear this song. I believe it was orginally a jimi hendrix song.
Yup. Hendrix.