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.
You say you don't love me
Well that's alright with me 'cause I'm in love with you
And I wouldn't want you doin' things, you don't want to do
Oh you know, I've always wanted you to be in love with me
And it took so long to realize, the way things have to be
I wanted to live in a dream that couldn't be real
And I'm starting to understand now the way that you feel
You say, you don't
You say, you don't
You say you don't love me
Well that's alright with me 'cause I have got the time
To wait in case someday, you maybe change your mind
I've decided not to make the same mistakes this time around
As I'm tired of having heartaches, I've been thinking and I've found
I don't want to live in a dream, I want somethin' real
And I think I understand now the way that you feel
You say you don't, you say you don't
You say you don't
You say, you don't
You say, you don't
You say you don't love me
Well that's alright with me, I'm not in love with you
I just want us to do the things, we both want to do
Though I've got this special feelin', I'd be wrong to call it love
For the word entails a few things that I would be well rid of
I've no need to live in a dream, it's finally real
And I hope you now understand this feelin' I feel
You say, you don't
You say, you don't
You say, you don't love me
You say, you don't love me
You say, you don't love me
Hmm
Well that's alright with me 'cause I'm in love with you
And I wouldn't want you doin' things, you don't want to do
Oh you know, I've always wanted you to be in love with me
And it took so long to realize, the way things have to be
I wanted to live in a dream that couldn't be real
And I'm starting to understand now the way that you feel
You say, you don't
You say, you don't
You say you don't love me
Well that's alright with me 'cause I have got the time
To wait in case someday, you maybe change your mind
I've decided not to make the same mistakes this time around
As I'm tired of having heartaches, I've been thinking and I've found
I don't want to live in a dream, I want somethin' real
And I think I understand now the way that you feel
You say you don't, you say you don't
You say you don't
You say, you don't
You say, you don't
You say you don't love me
Well that's alright with me, I'm not in love with you
I just want us to do the things, we both want to do
Though I've got this special feelin', I'd be wrong to call it love
For the word entails a few things that I would be well rid of
I've no need to live in a dream, it's finally real
And I hope you now understand this feelin' I feel
You say, you don't
You say, you don't
You say, you don't love me
You say, you don't love me
You say, you don't love me
Hmm
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I disagree with sivilla. All in agreeance say 'aye' and all thoe opposed.... FUCK OFF! :)