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.
Old Hank was a drifter passing through
He stayed long enough to cry the blues
Acquainted with the bottle
He knew the good Lord too
Hank was drifter passing through
Lefty was an oil rigger's son
He felt every word he ever sung
And when it came to singin', Lord
He showed them how it's done
Old Lefty was an oil rigger's son
They broke the ground
On the road that we go down today
Like a train whistle passing
Their voices are starting to fade
There are some who sing their praises
Others tip their hats
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
Marty painted pictures with a song
El Paso made the whole world sing along
With the story of Felina and the cowboy in her arms
Marty painted pictures with a song
Waylon was the outlaw of our time
Not afraid to lay it on the line
He went against the grain
And he always spoke his mind
Waylon was the outlaw of our time
They broke the ground
On the road that we go down today
Like a train whistle passing
Their voices are starting to fade
There are some who sing their praises
Others tip their hats
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
There are some who sing their praises
Others tip their hats
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
We all know we owe 'em more than that...
Yeah, we do
He stayed long enough to cry the blues
Acquainted with the bottle
He knew the good Lord too
Hank was drifter passing through
Lefty was an oil rigger's son
He felt every word he ever sung
And when it came to singin', Lord
He showed them how it's done
Old Lefty was an oil rigger's son
They broke the ground
On the road that we go down today
Like a train whistle passing
Their voices are starting to fade
There are some who sing their praises
Others tip their hats
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
Marty painted pictures with a song
El Paso made the whole world sing along
With the story of Felina and the cowboy in her arms
Marty painted pictures with a song
Waylon was the outlaw of our time
Not afraid to lay it on the line
He went against the grain
And he always spoke his mind
Waylon was the outlaw of our time
They broke the ground
On the road that we go down today
Like a train whistle passing
Their voices are starting to fade
There are some who sing their praises
Others tip their hats
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
There are some who sing their praises
Others tip their hats
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
But it seems like we owe 'em more than that
We all know we owe 'em more than that...
Yeah, we do
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Owe Them More Than That Lyrics as written by Roger Springer Tony Martin
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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