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.
Sammy was a skin living in a danger zone
people were fighting with him everyday
his number one defense was throwing his knuckles up
and showing the world the price they had to pay
An eye for an eye, and everything in between
an eye for an eye, and we’ll pay the prince
an eye for an eye, you defied your maker
an eye for an eye and we’ll all be blind
one fine day he was told of the one true life
that he was called to something more than just another fight
so throw down your dukes Sammy tell them what you know
that if you fight then you will die and reap what you’ve sown
Hang him from a tree and burn his house down
if that’s the way you want it then we’ll be in the ground
people were fighting with him everyday
his number one defense was throwing his knuckles up
and showing the world the price they had to pay
An eye for an eye, and everything in between
an eye for an eye, and we’ll pay the prince
an eye for an eye, you defied your maker
an eye for an eye and we’ll all be blind
one fine day he was told of the one true life
that he was called to something more than just another fight
so throw down your dukes Sammy tell them what you know
that if you fight then you will die and reap what you’ve sown
Hang him from a tree and burn his house down
if that’s the way you want it then we’ll be in the ground
Lyrics submitted by TheHorseDontCare
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i'm not sure these lyrics are all right, but still, amazing song. when i saw them live it was amazing. they turned off the lights and played amazing grace and then everyone circle pitted.
I don't think these lyrics are correct, I'm listening to it now
these lyrics are not fully correct, here are the proper ones directly from the lyrics book:
Sammy was a skin living in a danger zone the people were fighting with him everyday his number one defense was throwing his knuckles up and showing the world the price they had to pay.
An eye for an eye and everything in between, an eye for an eye and we'll pay the price an eye for an eye you defied your maker an eye for an eye and we'll all be blind and we'll all be blind
one fine day he was told of the one true life that he was called to something more than just another fight so throw down your dukes Sammy tell them what you know that if you fight then you will die and reap what you've sown.
hang him from a tree and burn his house down if that's the way you want it then we'll all be in the ground.