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.
Oh yeah
Alright
Somebody's Heine'
Is crowdin' my icebox
Somebody's cold one
Is givin' me chills
Guess I'll just close my eyes
Oh yeah
Alright
Feels good
Inside
Flip on the tele
Wrestle with Jimmy
Something is bubbling
Behind my back
The bottle is ready to blow
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heart-breaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life-taker
I can't confront you
I never could do
That which might hurt you
So try and be cool
When I say
This way is a water-slide away from me
That takes you further every day
So be cool
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heart-breaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life-taker
Dear Daddy
I write you in spite of years of silence
You've cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I hear
This bottle of Steven's awakens ancient feelings
Like father, stepfather, the son is drowning in the flood
Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heart-breaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life-taker
Alright
Somebody's Heine'
Is crowdin' my icebox
Somebody's cold one
Is givin' me chills
Guess I'll just close my eyes
Oh yeah
Alright
Feels good
Inside
Flip on the tele
Wrestle with Jimmy
Something is bubbling
Behind my back
The bottle is ready to blow
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heart-breaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life-taker
I can't confront you
I never could do
That which might hurt you
So try and be cool
When I say
This way is a water-slide away from me
That takes you further every day
So be cool
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heart-breaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life-taker
Dear Daddy
I write you in spite of years of silence
You've cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I hear
This bottle of Steven's awakens ancient feelings
Like father, stepfather, the son is drowning in the flood
Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heart-breaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a life-taker
Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by amandagisele, GreenrScenry
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Anyone who can't see this as a work of genius to rank alongside Bach, yer fella Mozart, Kurt Cobain, Morrisey or Bob Dylan is an idiot. It's great because it's true. People, write about your dysfunctional families, or don't write at all!
To write a song like this so young proves that genius touches too few, too seldom. But I just recorded a kick-ass cover version on GarageBand in two hours. Thank you, Rivers Cuomo.