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 found a new religion yesterday; I'd just cleared immigration; JFK.
A priest got in a cadillac; the shoe shine boy sang gospel,
As God and his accountants drove away.
You'll see him coast to coast on live tv, in a stadium,
Rocked by Satan just the night before.
The collection from the faithful is tax free.
It'll pay for his presidential campaign and his yacht;
And we all bow down, we bow down to the Big Wedge,
And we'll buy ourselves some heaven on earth.
We sell our souls, sell our souls for Big Wedge.
Are we selling out tomorrow for today?
A surgeon checks your plastic on the telephone;
A casio concerto entertains you while you hold.
Your credit rating's good for a Madonna or a Bardot,
A Dali or a Picasso, for his wall.
You're looking good, looking good with Big Wedge.
Are you holding back tomorrow for today?
They're driving in, driving in with Big Wedge.
Are we selling out tomorrow for today?
You'll sell the ground beneath your feet;
You'll sell your oil, you'll sell your trees.
You ideals and integrity, your culture and your history,
Your children into slavery, to labour in their factories,
Your mother and your family.
You'll sell the world eventually.
The IMF and CIA; there's just no difference, they're all the same!
It just depends on what's your point of view.
America, America the big wedge,
And they're buying up your tomorrow with promises;
The promises of Big Wedge and they'll break them,
Like your hearts another day.
When you find out that you've left it just too late,
And find that you're the only one to blame;
That you sold out your tomorrow for Big Wedge.
A priest got in a cadillac; the shoe shine boy sang gospel,
As God and his accountants drove away.
You'll see him coast to coast on live tv, in a stadium,
Rocked by Satan just the night before.
The collection from the faithful is tax free.
It'll pay for his presidential campaign and his yacht;
And we all bow down, we bow down to the Big Wedge,
And we'll buy ourselves some heaven on earth.
We sell our souls, sell our souls for Big Wedge.
Are we selling out tomorrow for today?
A surgeon checks your plastic on the telephone;
A casio concerto entertains you while you hold.
Your credit rating's good for a Madonna or a Bardot,
A Dali or a Picasso, for his wall.
You're looking good, looking good with Big Wedge.
Are you holding back tomorrow for today?
They're driving in, driving in with Big Wedge.
Are we selling out tomorrow for today?
You'll sell the ground beneath your feet;
You'll sell your oil, you'll sell your trees.
You ideals and integrity, your culture and your history,
Your children into slavery, to labour in their factories,
Your mother and your family.
You'll sell the world eventually.
The IMF and CIA; there's just no difference, they're all the same!
It just depends on what's your point of view.
America, America the big wedge,
And they're buying up your tomorrow with promises;
The promises of Big Wedge and they'll break them,
Like your hearts another day.
When you find out that you've left it just too late,
And find that you're the only one to blame;
That you sold out your tomorrow for Big Wedge.
Lyrics submitted by BitterBosh
Big Wedge Lyrics as written by Mike Simmonds Derek William Dick
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great song..that highlights the greed and issues with easy credit that Fish could see in the USA....This song is very topical following the Credit Crunch...even though it was written in 1989!.
We'll buy ourselves some heaven on earth. We sell our souls, sell our souls for Big Wedge. Are we selling out tomorrow for today?
You could say we were selling out our tomorrow for today...and the bill is due!!!
Sort of prophetical lyrics "... you sell the ground beneath your feet; your oil, your trees. You ideals and integrity, your culture and your history,Your children into slavery, to labour in their factories..."
He wrote it in 1989 and has eversince gained relevance! Great song on a great album!