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.
Caught you shopping for a new party dress
We can take you down now
Just invite ourselves
What's the occasion?
Who are all of your guests?
We won't tell a soul now
Noone else will know
So just how many invitations were sent
We're still R.S.V.P.
You forgot us obviously
I knew exactly what her silence meant
We were not important
To her soiree assortment
How can she brush off the casanovas
That we know we've grown to be
Standing in the shadows
All these people that I don't know
Crashing the party
Is a way of making new friends
As she plays piano
Melodies fall out the window
Crashing the party
Makes me such a big man
She never knew we ate all the food
And took things from her room
She never knew we took mother's jewels
And daddy's shoes
Called you over for some television
There's nothing to do now
Nothing going on
All these people parked outside of my home
They broke down the doors now
As if we'd invited them
Cases of beers
Cause teenage tears
While we watched The Wonder Years
-chorus out-
We can take you down now
Just invite ourselves
What's the occasion?
Who are all of your guests?
We won't tell a soul now
Noone else will know
So just how many invitations were sent
We're still R.S.V.P.
You forgot us obviously
I knew exactly what her silence meant
We were not important
To her soiree assortment
How can she brush off the casanovas
That we know we've grown to be
Standing in the shadows
All these people that I don't know
Crashing the party
Is a way of making new friends
As she plays piano
Melodies fall out the window
Crashing the party
Makes me such a big man
She never knew we ate all the food
And took things from her room
She never knew we took mother's jewels
And daddy's shoes
Called you over for some television
There's nothing to do now
Nothing going on
All these people parked outside of my home
They broke down the doors now
As if we'd invited them
Cases of beers
Cause teenage tears
While we watched The Wonder Years
-chorus out-
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget
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