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.
There's a dimmer light in this room tonight
And you'll be the last one to know when it's off
So with this dimmer light in my room tonight
I wonder if we're gonna make it at all
And there's a brighter sky to this dreadful night
And you and me are the first to watch it fade
So with this brighter sky from my room tonight
I feel, down here, a little more betrayed
How do I get back to where I was, when you were smiling
You were smiling
You were smiling baby
Now there's a tempt to die under this heartless sky
We'll bid farewell without an ear to hear me
A tempt to die, and not put up a fight
'Cause no one ever wanted to end this early
How do I get back to where I was, when you were smiling
You were smiling
You were smiling baby
So there's that bright light, the one that leaded me here
The one that's screaming to be noticed
The one responsible for all of this
So I'll take this other road, after I get up from my knees
Because I'm sick of being lied to
And I'm afraid of where the other one leads
You were smiling baby
And you'll be the last one to know when it's off
So with this dimmer light in my room tonight
I wonder if we're gonna make it at all
And there's a brighter sky to this dreadful night
And you and me are the first to watch it fade
So with this brighter sky from my room tonight
I feel, down here, a little more betrayed
How do I get back to where I was, when you were smiling
You were smiling
You were smiling baby
Now there's a tempt to die under this heartless sky
We'll bid farewell without an ear to hear me
A tempt to die, and not put up a fight
'Cause no one ever wanted to end this early
How do I get back to where I was, when you were smiling
You were smiling
You were smiling baby
So there's that bright light, the one that leaded me here
The one that's screaming to be noticed
The one responsible for all of this
So I'll take this other road, after I get up from my knees
Because I'm sick of being lied to
And I'm afraid of where the other one leads
You were smiling baby
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i dont even think this is even about God. Iv read an interview with dead poetic, and they say ya know "wer a band of christians not a christian band". i think as christians we would like to think thats what theyr singing about, and its what we try and assume coz they are christians. but this song makes way more sense if he was singing it to a girl. Y would he say "baby" if he was singing it to God. It makes way more sense about a broken relationship with some girl. And i thing thats what this is really about, even tho it would be cool if they were singing about God, its probly just mor realistic to assume theyr not.