Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed for his loud, fast-paced flow, and his stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs.
Ghostface Killah was raised in the Stapleton housing projects in Staten Island, New York. In his autobiographical song "All That I Got Is You", Ghost tells the story of his childhood. He raps about how he grew up in a three bedroom apartment without his father, who left him at the age of six. Apparently, his mother had nine children.
His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing.
He was also a close friend of the three founding members of Wu-tang clan
The Soul Controller
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been a long, long
A long time coming
A change gon' come
Yo, yo these streets got me backed down how can I escape?
How can I survive without bubbling weight?
It's prepared for the stand off, once you hand off
Your biggest dream was to rock your 850 and beam
You and the Gods buy a crib in the white part of Queens
But at the same time, niggas on the block is ill
Some'll rock you to sleep, hop, for selling cross pills
Being watched all day like enemy's prey
Faces, you never seen before us in your hallway
Brothers you knew for years is mad pussy and scared
Back in the days U.F.O.'s couldn't walk up in here
It's time to motor, travel like a foul order
Clear my head, stay sober, the soul controller
Oh, it's been a long, long
A long time coming
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
Said I'm too, tired of living
But I'm, but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there
In that great big ol' sky
Sink deep into the fog, big buffalo large
Taj Mahal just got banged, shanked for eighty dollars
It's hard to keep up, with these key-ons, that smoke dust
In the U.S. Mint they want to rock the place and call the rush
All these shameless niggas armed with cherry-red Bally's
On the twenty-fifth, everybody rich is getting married
Killed for power beans, your brother own schools in Medina
Vaseline lips is cracked 'cause they all had dreams
They overdue, these Gods own a mosque in Peru
Tropical trees and weaves where they grew bamboo
Olympic minds quick flash like a leak on
A hundred shares short to own Nissan, watch em get they feast on
Royal blue lies inside the eyes of heaven
Curse the head, who speak foul and jinx number seven (seven)
Clear my head and stay sober, the soul controller
Oh, it's been a long, long (stay sober, the soul controller)
A long time coming
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
Yo, yo we sit and play the wall like nine super heroes
Late for the man choose and hit socks and stereos
The kid's nice, warning you twice, run your garments
Jet to Providence, switch up and back down your Parliament
Ironman is laced with a plate inside the dome piece
Go off in airports, biographies, prophecies
Watch me set it, real key-ons hold down the desert
And walk with a famous name like Supreme Magnetic
Carbon copy, I love my car, it's near choppy
Malachi off the funky pain with the wax poppy on instrumentals
Niggas get lost like S.S. Minnows
Turned out like rentals, keep gold around the denim
It's been a long, long
A long time coming
A change goin' come
Oh, yes it will
Oh it's been a long
A long time coming
Change gonna come
Yes it will
The lyrics of Ghostface Killah's "The Soul Controller" tell a story of a life of crime on the streets and the struggles that come with it. The first verse speaks about the difficulties of living a life of drug dealing, with the risks and fears of betrayal always present. The second verse jumps from topic to topic, from violence on the streets to materialism to the dreams of prosperity and success. The chorus, which samples Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," acts as a beacon of hope, reassuring that change is on the horizon.
The verses of the song paint vivid pictures of what it's like to live in a neighborhood plagued by crime and filled with danger. The use of imagery such as "being watched all day like an enemy's prey" and "sink deep into the fog, big buffalo large" highlight the sense of unease and anxiety that permeates life on the streets. The chorus, with its message of hope, conveys a sense of resilience and determination that are necessary to make it through tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa oh, oh
Starting the song with a soulful cry
It's been a long, long
Acknowledging the long time waiting for a change
A long time coming
Emphasizing the duration of time for a change
A change gon' come
Anticipating a future transformation
Yo, yo these streets got me backed down how can I escape?
Feeling trapped in dangerous streets with no way out
How can I survive without bubbling weight?
Struggling to make a living without selling drugs
It's prepared for the stand off, once you hand off
Expecting a confrontation once drugs are exchanged
That white rock, and then give birth to a knot
Making money from selling crack cocaine
Your biggest dream was to rock your 850 and beam
Aspiring to drive a fancy BMW car
You and the Gods buy a crib in the white part of Queens
Aspiring to live in a wealthy neighborhood with fellow gang members
But at the same time, niggas on the block is ill
Aware that gang violence still takes place in the neighborhood
Some'll rock you to sleep, hop, for selling cross pills
Some will deceive and rob you for selling fake pills
Being watched all day like enemy's prey
Feeling like a target of constant surveillance
Faces, you never seen before us in your hallway
Encountering unfamiliar and potentially dangerous people in your neighborhood
Brothers you knew for years is mad pussy and scared
Discovering that even long-time acquaintances can be cowardly and unreliable
Back in the days U.F.O.'s couldn't walk up in here
Recounting a time when the neighborhood was safer and more secure
It's time to motor, travel like a foul order
Moving away from the neighborhood in order to escape danger
Clear my head, stay sober, the soul controller
Trying to maintain a clear focus and avoid drugs / alcohol to stay in control of one's own soul
Said I'm too, tired of living
Feeling exhausted and worn-out from life's struggles
But I'm, but I'm afraid to die
Fearing the unknown fate that comes with death
'Cause I don't know what's up there
Not knowing what lies beyond death
In that great big ol' sky
Metaphorically referring to heaven or the afterlife
Sink deep into the fog, big buffalo large
Losing oneself in confusion, feeling overwhelmed
Taj Mahal just got banged, shanked for eighty dollars
Referring to a violent crime that took place with a low financial profit
It's hard to keep up, with these key-ons, that smoke dust
Finding it difficult to stay on top of things in the presence of unreliable drug users
In the U.S. Mint they want to rock the place and call the rush
Referring to drug use and the desire to make a profit from it
All these shameless niggas armed with cherry-red Bally's
Describing the flashy and dangerous conditions of the streets
On the twenty-fifth, everybody rich is getting married
Suggesting that money is seen as the most important factor in life
Killed for power beans, your brother own schools in Medina
Implying a moral bankruptcy where killing for drugs has more value than owning a school
Vaseline lips is cracked 'cause they all had dreams
Referring to the physical effects of drug addiction on people's lips and highlighting the deprivation caused by trading dreams for drugs
They overdue, these Gods own a mosque in Peru
Stating that those in the gang have overdue payments for their intended religious community building project
Tropical trees and weaves where they grew bamboo
Referring to a lush and exotic setting that is used to build the religious structures
Olympic minds quick flash like a leak on
Acting swiftly and reflexively as a result of heightened awareness
A hundred shares short to own Nissan, watch em get they feast on
Observing those with money act quickly to make even more profit when they become aware of an opportunity
Royal blue lies inside the eyes of heaven
Referring to the perception that even heaven values wealth and power
Curse the head, who speak foul and jinx number seven (seven)
Calling out actors who use negative language and suggest bad luck by specifically calling out the number seven in a possible reference to a cultural belief that the number bears ill fortune
Yo, yo we sit and play the wall like nine super heroes
Positioning oneself statically in order to maintain a sense of control over one's environment
Late for the man choose and hit socks and stereos
Playing music loudly and delegating responsibility to others in order to avoid conflict and danger
The kid's nice, warning you twice, run your garments
A friend warns others to run and hide their clothes as a protective measure
Jet to Providence, switch up and back down your Parliament
Heading to Providence to change direction and return home quickly
Ironman is laced with a plate inside the dome piece
Referring to a friend who takes drugs and suggesting that those drug use will cause permanent damage to his brain
Go off in airports, biographies, prophecies
Getting high in various locations and indulging in deep thoughts which could include mystical and spiritual topics
Watch me set it, real key-ons hold down the desert
Asserting oneself in a confident manner in order to control the dynamics of energy in the desert
And walk with a famous name like Supreme Magnetic
Claiming association with a popular figure in order to gain credibility and respect
Carbon copy, I love my car, it's near choppy
Admiring a car that is on the verge of falling apart
Malachi off the funky pain with the wax poppy on instrumentals
Referring to a musical artist who is involved in drug use
Niggas get lost like S.S. Minnows
Numbing, losing consciousness and experiencing dissociation, like the characters of a television show
Turned out like rentals, keep gold around the denim
Being highly used and quotidian, keeping a modest level of expensive status symbols in a pragmatic fashion
Change gonna come
Repeating the sentiment that there is a hope for a better future despite everything that's going on
Yes it will
Reiterating the important phrase while acknowledging hope in the future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Dennis David Coles, Robert F. Diggs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeneral J.U.-ICE
Always listened to Fish, Daytona 500, Winter Warz, Motherless Child, The Faster Blade, and Assassination Day on constant repeat. But The Soul Controller felt like to me it was on a higher level...spiritual even. I felt hypnotized by the song as a kid and well into my mid 30's the song still has that same effect on me today.
YoungOG84
Jeneral J.U.-ICE I feel u G...this shit mystic....i feel like I'm in Egypt or sumn when I zone out blowin a fat L to this.
YoungOG84
The Jeneral J.U.-ICE today's music don't hit your soul like this shit.
matthewdisles
100% agree. Same experience for me. In college, I had a hip hop radio show with some homies, and I played this song every show during my set.
- Oiduakni -
I understand this exactly.
Godscience7
Facts, listen to Swordsman on gza album, has the same feeling to me spiritual
Mikel Truss
This is pure art, Wu Tang changed the game!
DannnnyDannnn
When I picked up that Iron Man disc as a young teenager, the version I had didn’t have this bonus track. In fact, I didn’t even know this track existed until reading about it on another comment today marking the 25th anniversary of this classic.
What a jewel to be blessed with a quarter of a century later. Wu Tang Forever and a day. Congratulations to Ghostface Killah. We love and appreciate the art you continue to bless us with brother.
YoungOG84
This shit sounds like I'm ridin through the Arabian desert on a horse with Islamic garments on.
Jorge
It’s actually not a bonus track it was on every release but it got removed due to sample issues. Marvel was the Cd only bonus track