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.
We all want some one to shout for
Yeah, everyone wants somebody to adore
But heroes aren't what they seem
When you've been, where we've been
Have I done something to trigger
The funny looks and the sniggers
Are they there at all
Or is it just paranoia
Everybody's got there box
And doing what they're told
You push my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns
Don't care if it's marketing suicide
We won't crack or compromise
Your derisory divides
Will never unhinge us
And there's a couple of hundred
Think they're Christopher Columbus
But the settlers had already settled
Here long before you
Just because we're having a say so
Not lining up to be Play-Doh
In five years time will it be
Who the fuck's Arctic Monkeys?
'Cause everybody's got there box
And doing what they're told
You push my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns
Don't care if it's marketing suicide
We won't crack or compromise
Your derisory divides
Will never unhinge us
All the thoughts that I just said
Linger round and multiply in the head
Not that bad to start with
I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed
It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
And bring on the backlash
It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell him to take out his tongue
Tell him to take out his tongue
It's not you it's them that's the fake
I won't mess with your escape
Is this really your escape, yeah?
Yeah, everyone wants somebody to adore
But heroes aren't what they seem
When you've been, where we've been
Have I done something to trigger
The funny looks and the sniggers
Are they there at all
Or is it just paranoia
Everybody's got there box
And doing what they're told
You push my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns
Don't care if it's marketing suicide
We won't crack or compromise
Your derisory divides
Will never unhinge us
And there's a couple of hundred
Think they're Christopher Columbus
But the settlers had already settled
Here long before you
Just because we're having a say so
Not lining up to be Play-Doh
In five years time will it be
Who the fuck's Arctic Monkeys?
'Cause everybody's got there box
And doing what they're told
You push my faith near being lost
But we'll stick to the guns
Don't care if it's marketing suicide
We won't crack or compromise
Your derisory divides
Will never unhinge us
All the thoughts that I just said
Linger round and multiply in the head
Not that bad to start with
I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed
It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
Tell 'em to take out their tongues
And bring on the backlash
It's not you it's them that are wrong
Tell him to take out his tongue
Tell him to take out his tongue
It's not you it's them that's the fake
I won't mess with your escape
Is this really your escape, yeah?
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I like it, I bet it gets slated though and people will say they are acting up and being petulant, I don't think so, think it's just honesty.
Good on them.