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.
I think the sky is gonna clear
because the hills turn green as summer nears
but a lightening storm, a lightening storm
can even happen when the air is warm
and I can hear that nothing
calling out to me
I can feel that nothing
reaching out for me
It's all so new, it's all so new
but my boots seem to know what to do
I know it's strange, it's very strange
It feels like something's been per-arranged
And yet I hear that that nothing
calling out to me
I can feel that nothing reaching out to me
Kasper, I love your mother
I can see her in your eyes
and I owe you what I owe her
or it'll burn me up inside
Kasper, I'm a man now
though sometimes I feel like a kid
At least I don't feel like nothing
the way that I once did
Looking down the avenues
but every little bend is out of view
Hold my breath and count to ten
see if I can ever take another again
I can hear that nothing calling out to me
I can feel that nothing
reaching out for me
Kasper, I love your mother
I can see her in your eyes
and I owe you what I owe her
or it'll burn me up inside
Kasper, I'm a man now
though sometimes I feel like a kid
at least that I don't feel like nothing
the way that I once did
Is that a light
Is that a light
coming through
the gray and white?
Is that a light
Is that a light
coming through
the gray and white?
because the hills turn green as summer nears
but a lightening storm, a lightening storm
can even happen when the air is warm
and I can hear that nothing
calling out to me
I can feel that nothing
reaching out for me
It's all so new, it's all so new
but my boots seem to know what to do
I know it's strange, it's very strange
It feels like something's been per-arranged
And yet I hear that that nothing
calling out to me
I can feel that nothing reaching out to me
Kasper, I love your mother
I can see her in your eyes
and I owe you what I owe her
or it'll burn me up inside
Kasper, I'm a man now
though sometimes I feel like a kid
At least I don't feel like nothing
the way that I once did
Looking down the avenues
but every little bend is out of view
Hold my breath and count to ten
see if I can ever take another again
I can hear that nothing calling out to me
I can feel that nothing
reaching out for me
Kasper, I love your mother
I can see her in your eyes
and I owe you what I owe her
or it'll burn me up inside
Kasper, I'm a man now
though sometimes I feel like a kid
at least that I don't feel like nothing
the way that I once did
Is that a light
Is that a light
coming through
the gray and white?
Is that a light
Is that a light
coming through
the gray and white?
Lyrics submitted by actoroutofwork
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I feel that this song is a person saying to their friend/brother/boyfriend (Kasper) about how they feel like they might be fine "I think the sky is gonna clear" but their bad moods or depression can happen at any tie, even when they think they're OK. Or this part could mean bad things in general can happen out of the blue when you're least expecting it. When they says the nothing is calling out to them, it could either mean his depression, the numbness he feels when depressed or how he imagines he will feel once he commits suicide. Finally when he asks "Is that a light coming through the grey and white?" he has killed himself and is seeing the light that people describe from when they are brought back to life, which some people believe to be heaven.
I think that the singer has lost his girlfriend or wife - possibly in childbirth. And Kasper is their son, who he is now responsible for.
“Kasper, I love your mother I can see her in your eyes and I owe you what I owe her or it'll burn me up inside”
He’s dealing with his sadness and grief, and has been feeling numb, but is starting to come out of it - but the depression could also suck him back down at a moment’s notice.
“ I think the sky is gonna clear because the hills turn green as summer nears but a lightening storm, a lightening storm can even happen when the air is warm”
“And yet I hear that that nothing calling out to me I can feel that nothing reaching out to me“
It’s new being without her, but he’s been going on numbly.
“It's all so new, it's all so new but my boots seem to know what to do I know it's strange, it's very strange It feels like something's been per-arranged“
He also doesn’t quite feel ready for the responsibility - but at least he’s starting to feel something again.
“Kasper, I'm a man now though sometimes I feel like a kid at least that I don't feel like nothing the way that I once did.”
He’s not sure what to do, or where things are going - all the paths forward bend out of view, and he wonders if he’ll ever feel like he can breath, again; and if he’ll be able to keep going on.
“Looking down the avenues but every little bend is out of view Hold my breath and count to ten see if I can ever take another again”
And the end is like the beginning: “Is that a light Is that a light coming through the gray and white?“
Is that light starting to break through the clouds? Is he actually starting to heal - or will another storm show up out of nowhere, and send him back to feeling nothing again?