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.
They say her pretty face is enough to launch a ship
Mix that with charm and style
How you gonna miss
With all the admiration the world is at her feet
She's living for attention when she's spotted on the street
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
Dinner an a movie
I'll just show my face in town
Rumors fly so fast that I don't try to live'em down
Gets old answering questions why and trying to explain
Why I prefer to stay at home with friends and entertain
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
To the outside world it's paradise
They'd love to be in my shoes
They don't seem to realize that it's not like in the news
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
I just read in the papers that I bought some birds today
Flying all around my house
Just havin' their own sweet way
It makes me feel so foolish 'cause they called my house a cage
But there's nothing I can do
Just puts me in a rage
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that we lead
Mix that with charm and style
How you gonna miss
With all the admiration the world is at her feet
She's living for attention when she's spotted on the street
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
Dinner an a movie
I'll just show my face in town
Rumors fly so fast that I don't try to live'em down
Gets old answering questions why and trying to explain
Why I prefer to stay at home with friends and entertain
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
To the outside world it's paradise
They'd love to be in my shoes
They don't seem to realize that it's not like in the news
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
I just read in the papers that I bought some birds today
Flying all around my house
Just havin' their own sweet way
It makes me feel so foolish 'cause they called my house a cage
But there's nothing I can do
Just puts me in a rage
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that I lead
Don't believe it
Don't believe what you read
Don't believe it
About the life that we lead
Lyrics submitted by Ice
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Indigo
Of Mice & Men
Of Mice & Men
This track is about is about questioning why the sky would choose to be blue if it had the choice to be anything else, “blue also meaning sad,” states frontman Aaron Pauley. “It's about comforting a loved one in a time of loss by telling them you feel blue, too.”