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.
The daughter of a man was a mammal
She wore the mark of fire and of flame
Though they're both the same
Born onto the age of the golden
Oh that golden age of endless loss and endless gain
Now because my lips have split
All the little children they are hiding in front, in the middle, and in the behind
And because my nose has froze
But I can keep on smelling
I could smell my little day away
I could smell my whole day away
Now because my teeth don't bite
I could take them out dancing
I could take my little teeth out and show them a real good time
Well a real good time, a good time
A real good time
She wore the mark of fire and of flame
Though they're both the same
Born onto the age of the golden
Oh that golden age of endless loss and endless gain
Now because my lips have split
All the little children they are hiding in front, in the middle, and in the behind
And because my nose has froze
But I can keep on smelling
I could smell my little day away
I could smell my whole day away
Now because my teeth don't bite
I could take them out dancing
I could take my little teeth out and show them a real good time
Well a real good time, a good time
A real good time
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Smells like breakfast in bed...:)