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.
On the outside, you think I'm alright
There's a smile on my face, everything's okay
But on the inside there's a different story
I've stumbled down this road and I've got so far to go
I'm a broken man
On my knees again
Longing for a touch from you
I need your hand to
Restore me, I need your mercy
Take me to the place I used to be
Use all the pain and the hurt
To do a greater work and restore me
I wore my mask, running away from my past
Hiding all my scars, thinking I'd gone too far
But he knew my pain and he loved me just the same
He promised, I'd be free if I fell on my knees and cried
Restore me, I need your mercy
Oh, take me to the place I used to be
Use all the pain and the hurt
To do a greater work and restore me
Restore unto me the joy of my salvation
So I'll sing again, the song you wrote for me
Give me a clean heart, I want a brand new start
Like the moment when I first believed
Restore me, I need your mercy
Oh, take me to the place I used to be
Use all the pain and the hurt
To do a greater work and restore me
Please Jesus, oh yeah
Give me another chance
I want to be a new man
Please restore me, yeah, yeah, yeah
There's a smile on my face, everything's okay
But on the inside there's a different story
I've stumbled down this road and I've got so far to go
I'm a broken man
On my knees again
Longing for a touch from you
I need your hand to
Restore me, I need your mercy
Take me to the place I used to be
Use all the pain and the hurt
To do a greater work and restore me
I wore my mask, running away from my past
Hiding all my scars, thinking I'd gone too far
But he knew my pain and he loved me just the same
He promised, I'd be free if I fell on my knees and cried
Restore me, I need your mercy
Oh, take me to the place I used to be
Use all the pain and the hurt
To do a greater work and restore me
Restore unto me the joy of my salvation
So I'll sing again, the song you wrote for me
Give me a clean heart, I want a brand new start
Like the moment when I first believed
Restore me, I need your mercy
Oh, take me to the place I used to be
Use all the pain and the hurt
To do a greater work and restore me
Please Jesus, oh yeah
Give me another chance
I want to be a new man
Please restore me, yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Restore Me Lyrics as written by Ginny Owens Anthony Evans
Lyrics © ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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