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.
In times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes
On and on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on it goes
And there's always been laughing, crying, birth, and dying
Boys and girls with hearts that take and give and break
And heal and grow and recreate and raise and nurture
But then hurt from time to times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And there will always be stop and go and fast and slow
Action, reaction, sticks and stones and broken bones
Those for peace and those for war
And God bless these ones not those ones
But these ones made times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes on and on
On and on and on and on and on on and on and on it goes
But somehow I know it won't be the same
Somehow I know it'll never be the same
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes
On and on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on it goes
And there's always been laughing, crying, birth, and dying
Boys and girls with hearts that take and give and break
And heal and grow and recreate and raise and nurture
But then hurt from time to times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And there will always be stop and go and fast and slow
Action, reaction, sticks and stones and broken bones
Those for peace and those for war
And God bless these ones not those ones
But these ones made times like these
And times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes on and on
On and on and on and on and on on and on and on it goes
But somehow I know it won't be the same
Somehow I know it'll never be the same
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i love this song hes sings some really mellow down to earth i dont care no worry music and i love it and this song to me means that yhou have tpo stop and smell the roses and if you dotn youll look back and regret that you didnt