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.
I was one tough nut until the day you made me crack
I was one tough customer until you paid me back
I was one tough cookie 'til I crumbled in your hand
Since that day I'm half a man
I drive my old nine-wheeler down I-two-and-a-half
The other truckers pity me so they try not to laugh
I pull off in Yreka and check into Motel Three
They've always got a little room for me
Chorus:
Half a man; I'm half a man
Sometimes I try to do the best I can
I know that on my own foot someday I'll have to stand
But right now I don't know how
Because I'm only half a man
I play solitaire 'til dawn with a deck of twenty-six
You might think I'm crazy but that's how I get my kicks
I listen to Rush Limbaugh 'cause he helps to ease my pain
He makes lots of sense if you're a man with half a brain
I buy a tenth of whiskey and a cold three-pack of beer
I drink 'til I see single when I gaze into my mirror
I know that through that looking glass is where I'll have to be
Reunited with the better half of me
Chorus
Someday I'll find a woman and a half and take her hand
But 'til then I don't know when
I will be more than half a man
I was one tough customer until you paid me back
I was one tough cookie 'til I crumbled in your hand
Since that day I'm half a man
I drive my old nine-wheeler down I-two-and-a-half
The other truckers pity me so they try not to laugh
I pull off in Yreka and check into Motel Three
They've always got a little room for me
Chorus:
Half a man; I'm half a man
Sometimes I try to do the best I can
I know that on my own foot someday I'll have to stand
But right now I don't know how
Because I'm only half a man
I play solitaire 'til dawn with a deck of twenty-six
You might think I'm crazy but that's how I get my kicks
I listen to Rush Limbaugh 'cause he helps to ease my pain
He makes lots of sense if you're a man with half a brain
I buy a tenth of whiskey and a cold three-pack of beer
I drink 'til I see single when I gaze into my mirror
I know that through that looking glass is where I'll have to be
Reunited with the better half of me
Chorus
Someday I'll find a woman and a half and take her hand
But 'til then I don't know when
I will be more than half a man
Lyrics submitted by hakimike
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