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.
So what I said is what I said and what you said is what you meant.
And when you left my house in the morning
You wrote your message on the cement.
You put the letters and the numbers on the people's feet.
You took all of the dealings and feelings and wrote them on the street.
And everybody, everybody, everybody knows.
And when I went outside and I saw it I froze.
You put my secret and your secret on the people's feet.
Ah, you remembered what I said, and you wrote it on the fucking concrete.
So what we do is what we do for me and you not everyone.
But outside in the night you were busy writing down what we had done.
You seemed alright last night, but now I know that I was wrong.
And everybody, everybody, everybody knows.
And when I went outside and I saw it I froze.
You put my secret and your secret on the people's feet.
Ah, you remembered what I said, and you wrote it on the fucking concrete.
And I guess you know how people talk,
But it's only words and it's only chalk.
And I'll feel better maybe when we get some weather.
And everybody, everybody, everybody knows.
And when I went outside and I saw it I froze.
Ah, you remembered what I said, and you wrote it on the street - No no no no.
I guess you know.
But it's only words, and it's only talk,
Oh it's only words and it's only chalk.
I guess you know how people talk.
And when you left my house in the morning
You wrote your message on the cement.
You put the letters and the numbers on the people's feet.
You took all of the dealings and feelings and wrote them on the street.
And everybody, everybody, everybody knows.
And when I went outside and I saw it I froze.
You put my secret and your secret on the people's feet.
Ah, you remembered what I said, and you wrote it on the fucking concrete.
So what we do is what we do for me and you not everyone.
But outside in the night you were busy writing down what we had done.
You seemed alright last night, but now I know that I was wrong.
And everybody, everybody, everybody knows.
And when I went outside and I saw it I froze.
You put my secret and your secret on the people's feet.
Ah, you remembered what I said, and you wrote it on the fucking concrete.
And I guess you know how people talk,
But it's only words and it's only chalk.
And I'll feel better maybe when we get some weather.
And everybody, everybody, everybody knows.
And when I went outside and I saw it I froze.
Ah, you remembered what I said, and you wrote it on the street - No no no no.
I guess you know.
But it's only words, and it's only talk,
Oh it's only words and it's only chalk.
I guess you know how people talk.
Lyrics submitted by McFadge
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I adore this song