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.
Opening poem by Sylvia Plath:
But toward the region where
Our thick atmosphere diminishes
And God knows what is there
A point of exclamation marks that sky
In ringing orange
Like a stellar carrot
Its round period displaced in greens
Suspends beside it a first point
The starting point of evil
Against the new moon's curve
Martin Barnard:
So that I see
And know I gave reason
The time to believe
It's all in my head
The sun that I see
Is just an illusion
And I live close to the edge
This time taking time
This sun, sun is high
Sang a tune, sang a tune, sang a tune
Everybody talks to you
Everybody talks to you
Turning like it ought to
Turning like a wise will
Saying like it hasn't
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
Calling her name
Called in nirvana
Time and again
Alone that I work
Take this and more
And time in together
And why are you close to the edge
They say just to add
The wilder world is a trap
I see just to add you to that
For he was the sun
The comet rushing along
And she, new to that
Turned her back
Does everybody talk to you
Everybody talks to you
Turning like it ought to
Taking it away
(Sample)
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
(Sample)
But toward the region where
Our thick atmosphere diminishes
And God knows what is there
A point of exclamation marks that sky
In ringing orange
Like a stellar carrot
Its round period displaced in greens
Suspends beside it a first point
The starting point of evil
Against the new moon's curve
Martin Barnard:
So that I see
And know I gave reason
The time to believe
It's all in my head
The sun that I see
Is just an illusion
And I live close to the edge
This time taking time
This sun, sun is high
Sang a tune, sang a tune, sang a tune
Everybody talks to you
Everybody talks to you
Turning like it ought to
Turning like a wise will
Saying like it hasn't
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
Calling her name
Called in nirvana
Time and again
Alone that I work
Take this and more
And time in together
And why are you close to the edge
They say just to add
The wilder world is a trap
I see just to add you to that
For he was the sun
The comet rushing along
And she, new to that
Turned her back
Does everybody talk to you
Everybody talks to you
Turning like it ought to
Taking it away
(Sample)
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
Soul see, soul set
(Sample)
Lyrics submitted by msephton
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