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.
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on
Why do you keep a comin' around
Playing with my heart
Why don't you get out of my life
And let me make a new start
Let me get over you
The way you've gotten over me
Set me free why don't you babe
Let me be why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really want me
But you keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up
You still wanna be just friends
How can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
You keep me hangin' on
You claim you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom
You still wanna hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else
Why don't you be a man about it
You just keep hangin' on
No you don't care a thing about me
You're just keep me hangin' on
Go on, get out of my life
Let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
Go on, get out of my life why don't you, babe
You just keep me hangin' on
Get out of my life, get out of my life
You just keep me hangin' on
Get out of my life why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on
Why do you keep a comin' around
Playing with my heart
Why don't you get out of my life
And let me make a new start
Let me get over you
The way you've gotten over me
Set me free why don't you babe
Let me be why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really want me
But you keep me hangin' on
You say although we broke up
You still wanna be just friends
How can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
(And there ain't nothing I can do about it)
Set me free why don't you babe
Get out of my life why don't you babe
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
You keep me hangin' on
You claim you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
And now that you've got your freedom
You still wanna hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else
Why don't you be a man about it
You just keep hangin' on
No you don't care a thing about me
You're just keep me hangin' on
Go on, get out of my life
Let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me at all
You just keep me hangin' on
Go on, get out of my life why don't you, babe
You just keep me hangin' on
Get out of my life, get out of my life
You just keep me hangin' on
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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