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.
All these cats with holey jeans,
Dirty hair and titty rings
Say, "What's your scene, man? We got these questions...
Is it true that you have sold your soul?"
I say, "Hey man, I don't know
Lend me a quarter won't you?
I'll call my accountant."
Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute
Petty little Ayatollah's
Come around to judge and stone ya
All's we're trying to do is make a fortune
Yeah, we ain't got no government loans
And no one sends a check from home
But get this: we're just doin' what we wanna
So, Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute
Well the guitar player's
Stayin' out in Hollywood and sayin'
He's just trying' to get some sleep
But everyone's complaning
Are you truly deeply cynical?
'Cause boy you know that I loved you so
When no one knew your name
And you were pompous. (Still are)
Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute
Dirty hair and titty rings
Say, "What's your scene, man? We got these questions...
Is it true that you have sold your soul?"
I say, "Hey man, I don't know
Lend me a quarter won't you?
I'll call my accountant."
Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute
Petty little Ayatollah's
Come around to judge and stone ya
All's we're trying to do is make a fortune
Yeah, we ain't got no government loans
And no one sends a check from home
But get this: we're just doin' what we wanna
So, Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute
Well the guitar player's
Stayin' out in Hollywood and sayin'
He's just trying' to get some sleep
But everyone's complaning
Are you truly deeply cynical?
'Cause boy you know that I loved you so
When no one knew your name
And you were pompous. (Still are)
Let's get off this
And get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this
Get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute
Lyrics submitted by typo
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Ayatollahs are Shiite Islamic religious leaders. I think the message of this song would be this: "We're just trying to have fun and make some money. If you think we're too corporate, stop bitching at us and go fix the world's problems yourself."
Fuck off, I just want to be a Rockstar.
Ahahahahahah!!!! I love you!!!!!!!
what is Ayatollah's?
@strwberryf1ds take a look at this: ericpetersautos.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/ayatollahs.jpg
Quite refreshing to hear a current popular artist that isn't sorry for his success. These guys don't appear to be spewing the hypocritical nonsense that so many of today's ultra rich stars do. Wow! I'm really impressed. Love the line about not having a government loan. Yeah! You guys rock!!! Note to the emo's and socially aware out there! If you're so darned sure the earth is going to sink into oblivion because of man-made global warming...start riding a bike!!! Ps...a few recent volcano eruptions over the last two years have spewed more crap into the atmosphere than 200 years of China-like pollution could.
Also, I bet 10 to 1 that the guys in the band Cracker give to charity and don't look for attention when doing so. If you're young and you've been brainwashed by gov't schooling, just sit back and open your eyes and think about what life would be like in the US if not for a thriving capitalistic environment. Do you really think the government can produce a utopian-like world for everyone? Open you minds and resist the status quo thinking that is mired in a craddle to grave dependancy on a righteous (haha) gov't. Rock on, Cracker.
The chords of this song mirror the chords to U2's one. This leads me to connect the theme of this song to Bono, someone that may have been "loved...so/When no one knew (his) your name/And you were pompous. (Still are)"
Of course, it's likely that part of it may have come from an appreciation of U2/Bono, while the rest is not connected to anyone in particular. However, the chords mirroring U2's "One" and the reference to pompous, something even Bono would admit to, are to connected to me.