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.
In the water, they sort it out
They were waist to neck in December somehow
In the water, they twist and shout
They were born again, so they can start living now
In the water, they saw the face
Of the man who was haunted, chained and disgraced
In the water, they asked them both
"How did you get the gold without digging any holes?"
Never had it any other way
Drowning in the grace
Never had a chance to break apart our heart for them to see
It's really a disgrace
"Hide your daughters", the old men say
You were young once before, you know how we get our way
Feel the horror with no delay
We all see what once was beautiful has turned and old and grey
Never had it any other way
Drowning in the grace
Never had a chance to break apart our heart for them to see
It's really a disgrace
I can't fake it enough
Can't say it enough
Can't do it enough
I can't make it enough
Can't fake it enough
I don't want it enough
So everyone'll wait
Never had it any other way
Drowning in the grace
Never had a chance to break apart our heart for them to see
It's really a disgrace
I can't say it enough
Can't sing it enough
So I'll find another way
And we sing this morning that wonderful and grand ol' message
And I don't know about you, I never get tired of it
The seven years
They were waist to neck in December somehow
In the water, they twist and shout
They were born again, so they can start living now
In the water, they saw the face
Of the man who was haunted, chained and disgraced
In the water, they asked them both
"How did you get the gold without digging any holes?"
Never had it any other way
Drowning in the grace
Never had a chance to break apart our heart for them to see
It's really a disgrace
"Hide your daughters", the old men say
You were young once before, you know how we get our way
Feel the horror with no delay
We all see what once was beautiful has turned and old and grey
Never had it any other way
Drowning in the grace
Never had a chance to break apart our heart for them to see
It's really a disgrace
I can't fake it enough
Can't say it enough
Can't do it enough
I can't make it enough
Can't fake it enough
I don't want it enough
So everyone'll wait
Never had it any other way
Drowning in the grace
Never had a chance to break apart our heart for them to see
It's really a disgrace
I can't say it enough
Can't sing it enough
So I'll find another way
And we sing this morning that wonderful and grand ol' message
And I don't know about you, I never get tired of it
The seven years
Lyrics submitted by uNo2BLACK, edited by foundthevelvetsun7
In the Water Lyrics as written by Jesse Lacey
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the “hide your daughters” line is extremely haunting knowing he was allegedly grooming barley teenagers.
jessie begins by describing fish in the water. by the line “how did u get the gold..” he is describing what it is like to be so talented and lucky without having had to pay the way our forefathers have had to.moving into the 2nd verse he begins to praise God for the blessings he’s been given.