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 put a bullet in my head
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
I dream of your death
Lay you down to rest
I won't look back in fond memory
But time marches on like a soldier
Are you a killer? Oh, I think I know what you are
A thief in the night
And though it's taken me so very long
To figure you out
You're throwing stones, your glass castle is falling down
On top of your good times
I'm not interested in working this out
You put a bullet in my head
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
And that's what you are
A sad plastic fucking mess
Don't come to me with how your tired, used up and
Just barely getting by
Because I would walk on by and not even
Not even kick you when you're down
Though you would deserve it
Because you are lower than
The lowest dog
But this is the part where I say
Goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
Say goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
You've never had to crawl
You've never had to see
What it feels like to be so trapped underneath
The weight of someone's world
Comes crashing down on me
I was longing to be free
I put the bullet in you and me
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
I dream of your death
Lay you down to rest
I won't look back in fond memory
But time marches on like a soldier
Are you a killer? Oh, I think I know what you are
A thief in the night
And though it's taken me so very long
To figure you out
You're throwing stones, your glass castle is falling down
On top of your good times
I'm not interested in working this out
You put a bullet in my head
Turned black thoughts to red
This could all end in tragedy
And that's what you are
A sad plastic fucking mess
Don't come to me with how your tired, used up and
Just barely getting by
Because I would walk on by and not even
Not even kick you when you're down
Though you would deserve it
Because you are lower than
The lowest dog
But this is the part where I say
Goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
Say goodbye
And let the sands of time
Blow over us
You've never had to crawl
You've never had to see
What it feels like to be so trapped underneath
The weight of someone's world
Comes crashing down on me
I was longing to be free
I put the bullet in you and me
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
This is my farewell to you and I
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
Woah oh oh oh
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
This will all end in tragedy
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this song is absolutely ace, when i herd it it reminded me of the first time i herd lip gloss and black.