Telephone

I think this song is about a solider that was killed while out on a mission to stand up against the establishment. He gets the call to act, and each verse takes you up to the part he departs from his girl to carryout his mission. Badu is telling him to do what he has to do, and that she will be there for him in life or death. She understands that he might have to die for his cause, and she saying make it happen when its her turn to take arms. Save a place for me. Its a song that reminds you that its never to say I love you to someone, because you'll never know when it might be the last time.

It's an ode to Ol Dirty Bastard. RIP Russell - we miss u.

Actually I think it was written after Erykah has been talking to J Dilla's mother after his death. His mom says that in his last days, Dilla was going in and out of consciousness and he was having conversations with different people no one else could see, including ODB who gave him directions for the afterlife. So I guess it is meant to be an ode to both ODB and J Dilla in that way, but it was written a day after Dilla's funeral. I think towerykr's interpretation is also very apt and that there is a universal message here of losing a loved one but the idea that there are spiritual guides to the afterlife.

this gives me chills....

right on! that is what I would have wrote! well put