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.
you're the element of surprise that none of us were prepared for
the dead body behind the curtain that we couldn't help but stare towards
this afternoon you were an only child and a friend to me
this evening your not breathing you're just the seed of a memory
memories of better days
turn the pages back to a faded photograph of
memories of yesterdays
the years'll pass by but they'll never bring me back to you
my memory remembers presently everything from that night
my senses always sensor any awful images or sights
but i didn't get to see through the eyes his poor mother did
i just ask why she had to be the one to discover him
all i ask is a better day
a better way
to carry the weight of you
i sing this song to remember the days
when i wasn't afraid
to carry the weight of you
to the friend that i love who has different roots of blood
you are the earth that makes mud that comes from rain that made the flood
we cycle in and out of what our lives are capable of
and through it all i thank you for teaching me below and above
i had a friend who was way to young to die
i guess death is one of those things some people do to life
memories in f minor(interlude)
well i'll work on appreciating things that i have i promise
you can trust me, but i can't trust myself becoming honest
sometimes you are the flight of the birds
and other times you're watching the flight of the birds
and other times you're yourself
the dead body behind the curtain that we couldn't help but stare towards
this afternoon you were an only child and a friend to me
this evening your not breathing you're just the seed of a memory
memories of better days
turn the pages back to a faded photograph of
memories of yesterdays
the years'll pass by but they'll never bring me back to you
my memory remembers presently everything from that night
my senses always sensor any awful images or sights
but i didn't get to see through the eyes his poor mother did
i just ask why she had to be the one to discover him
all i ask is a better day
a better way
to carry the weight of you
i sing this song to remember the days
when i wasn't afraid
to carry the weight of you
to the friend that i love who has different roots of blood
you are the earth that makes mud that comes from rain that made the flood
we cycle in and out of what our lives are capable of
and through it all i thank you for teaching me below and above
i had a friend who was way to young to die
i guess death is one of those things some people do to life
memories in f minor(interlude)
well i'll work on appreciating things that i have i promise
you can trust me, but i can't trust myself becoming honest
sometimes you are the flight of the birds
and other times you're watching the flight of the birds
and other times you're yourself
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Friend died, most likely commited suicide but may have been murdered - death wasn't natural, anyway ("I guess death is one of those things some people do to life").