[Verse 1: GZA]
On a man-made lake, there's a sheet of thin ice
Where unskilled skaters couldn't figure eight twice
That's sixteen uncut direct from the cult
Head-on assault, the result — death by the bolt
In a vault, they spoke about the average loss per mission
That was seen by a king in a prophetic vision
Like a plane crash from a bomb blast
Special broadcast, slot time with Comcast
They kept the jury quiet, and now the riot will form
While satanic man now hang in his dorm
I swing on you fake radio personalities
Who boost your ratings with hypes behind casualties
And fire shots with low-pressure water gun play
Instantly slap you five like it's Palm Sunday
I fashion the first tool, from the elements the Earth use
And built it to a complex
Network of communications
You're up against a hopeless situation
I screened every vehicle through enemy observation
Swarmin' unpredictably, we spread terror
Increase the fog significantly, change the era
Check my wind pattern, it's headin' west
Success is freedom, but failure can mean death
Human sweat and aim shovels, dig up debris and rubble
Permanent damage caused by the W
Now, who cowardlessly urge you to merge through
And think the workers will serve you?
The sonic marvel who just dropped the next novel
Worldwide, rapidly marred in marble
It's a countless amount of emcees I saved
And them same niggas wanna squander those gifts I gave
[Chorus: RES]
Scratch underneath the surface
Where does your purpose lie?
It seems our will is worthless
Like we're pawns beneath the sky
Fate's erased by reason
And passion's just a whim
Feel empty, so I breathe in
Keep myself from givin' in
[Verse 2: Killah Priest]
Love and hatred, moments most sacred
Both species, they lay naked in the tombs of Oasis
Think back on niggas I ate with, spent the day with
Guns we played with, niggas I relate with
We broke bread, I heard through a vine niggas worked for the Fed
Sent out secretly to take my head
I laid back and meditate to the words they said
Skipped town for a month and grew some dreads
Had a friend tell my family I was dead
Returned at the last fall of the autumn leaf
Operate the plan accordingly, in case the Feds are recordin' me
Sign all documents usin' forgery
'Cause just a mere thought of me
I'm like Solomon, spoke bluntly, told the world, "I'm black and comely"
Howls from the grave haunt me
The smell of death's upon me, I dwell in the Hills like Gandhi
Been in the presence of mad peasants and old kings
Who sold everything on a quest for God's Divine
Slept in caves to get a clear mind
Who prayed three times, when the Moon lit and when the Sun rise
I met dwellers in the desert, talked to shepherds
Been in the mouth of many leopards
Felt the death kiss of Satan's mistress
Walked through vacant districts, before religions, I studied pagan scriptures
True philosophers and physicians on the cure missions
Who harden their hearts toward the weak, sick and inflicted
Candles lit, gamble with a bitch
Who made me love her when I touch her
Soft paws hide claws
Bees with sweet honey in their mouth have bitter stingers at their tail
Walk through the chambers of death, take a hole onto Hell
Embracin' her was like embracin' the third well
[Chorus: RES]
Scratch underneath the surface
Where does your purpose lie?
It seems our will is worthless
Like we're pawns beneath the sky
Fate's erased by reason
And passion's just a whim
Feel empty, so I breathe in
Keep myself from givin' in
Scratch underneath the surface