Swordsman
GZA Lyrics

When a motherfucker steps out his place
When someone oversteps their boundaries

And gets slapped in his motherfuckin face
And faces consequences for their actions

Just because the motherfucker tried to base
Just because they tried to emulate or copy

The G.O.D., the G.O.D
The greatness of the Wu-Tang Clan and their leader, the G.O.D (Genius of Diction)

And while I see his whole clique pass us by
While I see their entire group ignore us and move on

Motherfuckers think they qualify
They believe they are capable or worthy

And for those niggas want to try
And for those who attempt to compete

Yo
Listen up

I'm not caught up in politics
I am not heavily involved in political matters

I'm no black activist on a so-called scholar's dick
I am not a black activist who seeks validation from scholars

I come through with the Wu and drop math
I come with the Wu-Tang Clan and bring knowledge and wisdom

And versatile freestyle bombs and phonographs
And versatile, improvised rhymes and music

And deliver, all things in number and weight
And communicate all things with accuracy and significance

Searched to death, on how living things relate
Investigated thoroughly, how living things interact

Cause at a young age, I was molded in a religion I relied on
Because I was influenced by a religion at a young age

And got caught up in superstition
And became trapped in irrational beliefs

Scared to split pole, duck black cats
Afraid of superstitions like splitting poles and encountering black cats

Once in a while, threw salt over my back
Attempted to ward off bad luck

But with knowledge of self from off the shelf
But with self-awareness gained through education

Made things seemed complicated now small like elves
Made things that once seemed complex, now seem simple and insignificant

So turn off the lights, light a candle, and have a seance
So let's create a mystical atmosphere by lighting a candle and conducting a seance

Pull the lid off the Dean Martin scandal
Expose a scandal involving Dean Martin

Witches, warlocks, spooks and holy ghosts
Mentioning supernatural beings and entities

RZA let's defraud the hoax
RZA, let's expose the fraud and falsehood of superstitions and mysticism

We were on the same ship when the slaves were checked
We were all enslaved, and faced the same hardships

I had to pull your card, you was on the top deck
I had to reveal your true nature, as someone who was better off during slavery

So I plotted my escape, I saw the thin line between love and hate
So I planned my escape and realized how closely related love and hate can be

And fast from the hog on the plate
And stay away from being enslaved and dominated

I suffered brutal pain, from whips and chains
I experienced severe physical trauma and abuse while enslaved

Punishments that were set to wash the brain
Punishments intended to brainwash and control slaves

So look listen observe and also respect this jewel
Therefore, pay attention and appreciate this valuable knowledge I share

Drawed up, detect and reflect this
Absorb and reflect on what was taught

Light I shine, because my powers is refined
I shine like a light because I have refined my knowledge and skills

Through the truth, which manifest through eternal minds
Through the truth, which comes from the wisdom of ages

Purified gases and masses the same elements
Pure substances and materials that make up the universe

That helped spark civilization classes
Which led to the development of different levels of human societies

I see brothers quote math plus degrees
I see people using and quoting advanced knowledge and education

Look at professor ass niggas can't feed they own seeds
But these educated people can't even provide for their own children or family