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.
What ya gonna do
Time's caught up with you
Now you wait your turn
You know there's no return
Take your written rules
You join the other fools
Turn to something new
Now it's killing you
First it was the bomb
Vietnam napalm
Disillusioning you
You push the needle in
From life you escape
Reality's that way
Colors in your mind satisfy your time
Oh you, you know you must be blind
To do something like this
To take that little sleep that you don't know
You're giving death a kiss
Poor little fool now
Your mind is full of pleasure
Your body's looking ill
To you it's shallow leisure
So drop the acid pill
Don't stop to think now
You're having a good time, baby
But that won't last
Your minds all full of things
You're living too fast
Go out and enjoy yourself
Don't bottle it in
You need someone to help you
To stick the needle in, yeah
Now you know the scene
Your skin starts turning green
Your eyes no longer see life's reality
Push the needle in
Face death's sickly grin
Holes are in your skin
Caused by deadly pin
Head starts spinning round
You fall down to the ground
Feel your body heave
Death's hand starts to weave
It's too late to turn
You won't want to learn
Price of life you cry
Now you're gonna die!
Time's caught up with you
Now you wait your turn
You know there's no return
Take your written rules
You join the other fools
Turn to something new
Now it's killing you
First it was the bomb
Vietnam napalm
Disillusioning you
You push the needle in
From life you escape
Reality's that way
Colors in your mind satisfy your time
Oh you, you know you must be blind
To do something like this
To take that little sleep that you don't know
You're giving death a kiss
Poor little fool now
Your mind is full of pleasure
Your body's looking ill
To you it's shallow leisure
So drop the acid pill
Don't stop to think now
You're having a good time, baby
But that won't last
Your minds all full of things
You're living too fast
Go out and enjoy yourself
Don't bottle it in
You need someone to help you
To stick the needle in, yeah
Now you know the scene
Your skin starts turning green
Your eyes no longer see life's reality
Push the needle in
Face death's sickly grin
Holes are in your skin
Caused by deadly pin
Head starts spinning round
You fall down to the ground
Feel your body heave
Death's hand starts to weave
It's too late to turn
You won't want to learn
Price of life you cry
Now you're gonna die!
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