Sign Of The Times
Immortal Technique feat. Cornel West Cetan Wanbli & Lockjaw Nakai Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Verse 1: Immortal Technique]
Imagine the word of God, without religious groupies,
Imagine a saviour, born in a Mexican hooptie,
Persecuted single mother in a modern manger,
You'd crucify him again, like a fucking stranger,
Tears of the anger are worth more than Diamonds or Rubies,
Imagine being locked up since Juvie,
Imagine changing your life and still going out like Tookie (Damn..),
Imagine Niggas talking shit, when they never knew me (Fuck!),
Imagine a movie, that depicted the pain in your life,
Like them kids in Afghanistan, chasing the kite,
For most of the world, that's what it's like,
Imagine if the woman you supposed to love for the rest of your life,
Is set to marry someone else at the end of the night,
They say you fight the greatest Jihad in your heart and your mind,
And fight the hardest when you start from behind,
So I dream the impossible all the time,
Fuck a Masonic design, America's future is mine,
Repeat that to yourself, 'cause if culture's a crime,
Then numbers tatted on your arm, aren't too far behind,
They can only conquer you after they murdered your mind,
So Rise Up! Muthafucka like the sign of the times (Rise),
I feel my body weakening, but my spirit is fine (Yeah!),
Ready to go to war with devils at the drop of a dime (Come On!),
And fight with my Rebel Army, until the stars are aligned!

[Native American Chorus]

[Verse 2: Immortal Technique]
Nostradamus was a white man's prophet,
Who predicated European's Supremacists logic,
Because the pilgrims and the Conquistador columns,
Killed more innocent people than Hitler and Stalin (Yes),
I guess the fortune-tellers skipped an anti-Christ or two,
Brothers give this to the O.G.s doing life with you,
And pray for the problems, with the Pope psychology,
So the Vatican will author an apology (For What!?),
For destroying the people's liberation theology,
Snatching the spirit of Jesus from people in poverty,
Business decisions, like keeping people in prison
But had the opposite effect, incarcerating religion,
That type of crooked politics imposed on the populace,
Is obvious, if you read the Northwood documents,
Forget the compliments, for what I recorded (Yeah),
And live for Revolution, instead of always dying for it!
Remember a bullet can never stop me (Never!),
My legions are led by the spirit of Haile Selassie, Watch Me!,
Even if I'm shot in the Shakra, I will prosper,
Doppler effect, bumping music out a helicopter,
Telling the Persians "dig up Zoroaster!",
And Tell them I came back, as the son of The Ahura Mazdā,
Fish out the Philistine, Dagon, from the shores of Gaza,
And call Quetzalcoatl flying over La Raza,
This is my message to the older Gods,
I sacrifice you all to the Revolution like the Romanovs,
Lost in the desert, like the Hebrews of Israel,
The blood-clot system, try to kill me like sickle cell,
But I survived and I'm alive to fight another day,
Cocooned in a coma, I can still hear my mother pray!
Sister crying out to God, "Please let my brother stay!"
Walking towards the light, but something is pulling me the other way!

[Cornel West]
Immortal Technique




Rise up young brother
It is not your time to die...

Overall Meaning

The song "Sign of the Times" by Immortal Technique feat. Cornel West, Cetan Wanbli, and Lockjaw Nakai discusses the struggles of marginalized groups that are often unheard in society. The song calls for revolution and change in the political and social systems of the United States. Immortal Technique paints a picture of religious groups persecuting a single mother and casting away the savior she gave birth to, referencing the crucifixion of Jesus. The lyrics emphasize the hardships endured by those who have been imprisoned since youth, as well as ex-convicts who face social ostracization despite their efforts to change their lives. The chorus, sung by Native American vocalists, adds depth to the message of the song, as it brings to light the colonialization and genocide inflicted upon Native Americans in the United States.


Furthermore, the lyrics touch upon the dangers of religious fanaticism, as shown by the reign of terror by the conquistadors, who killed more innocent people than Hitler and Stalin combined. Immortal Technique calls out the hypocrisy of the Vatican's policies that strip the spirit of revolution from the impoverished, in order to maintain their grip on power. The song also speaks of the struggle to find one's place in the world, to rise up from the constraints of society and become an agent of change.


Line by Line Meaning

Imagine the word of God, without religious groupies,
Imagine a world where people could simply believe in God without the influence of those who manipulate religion for their own gain.


Imagine a savior, born in a Mexican hooptie,
Imagine a savior figure being born in a low-income and rundown area, rather than a grandiose setting.


Persecuted single mother in a modern manger,
A mother who is struggling and marginalized, forced to raise her child in a difficult situation, much like Mary and Jesus in the manger.


You'd crucify him again, like a fucking stranger,
If this savior appeared today, people would likely reject and condemn them, just as Jesus was rejected and crucified by society in his time.


Tears of the anger are worth more than Diamonds or Rubies,
Tears of sadness and rage in response to the current problems and injustices in the world are more valuable than material possessions such as diamonds and rubies.


Imagine being locked up since Juvie,
Imagine being incarcerated since one's youth.


Imagine changing your life and still going out like Tookie (Damn..),
Imagine completely turning your life around and trying to do good, yet still being punished as severely as Stanley Williams (Tookie) was.


Imagine Niggas talking shit, when they never knew me (Fuck!),
Imagine people spreading rumors and talking badly about someone they don't even know.


Imagine a movie, that depicted the pain in your life,
Imagine a movie that accurately portrayed the difficult experiences and struggles one has gone through in their life.


Like them kids in Afghanistan, chasing the kite,
Referencing the novel 'The Kite Runner', which depicts the dangers and difficulties faced by children in Afghanistan as they try to pursue their passions and dreams.


For most of the world, that's what it's like,
For the majority of the world, life can be incredibly difficult and painful.


Imagine if the woman you supposed to love for the rest of your life,
Imagine if the person you expected to be with forever (in a romantic relationship) ended up marrying someone else right before your eyes.


Is set to marry someone else at the end of the night,
The person you thought was yours is now about to marry someone else, leaving you heartbroken and alone.


They say you fight the greatest Jihad in your heart and your mind,
One must battle their inner demons and struggles in order to achieve true and meaningful change in the world.


And fight the hardest when you start from behind,
You must push yourself harder when you are starting at a disadvantage in order to overcome obstacles and succeed.


So I dream the impossible all the time,
Despite the odds and challenges, one must continue to dream of achieving the impossible.


Fuck a Masonic design, America's future is mine,
I reject the idea of a predetermined and controlled future, and instead believe that everyone has the power to change and shape it for the better.


Repeat that to yourself, 'cause if culture's a crime,
If fighting for one's culture, heritage, and identity is seen as a crime, then we must continue to fight against oppressive systems that seek to erase or silence these things.


Then numbers tatted on your arm, aren't too far behind,
The horrors of the past (such as the Holocaust) are not so far removed from us that they couldn't happen again.


They can only conquer you after they murdered your mind,
The true defeat comes when one's mind and spirit are broken and destroyed.


So Rise Up! Muthafucka like the sign of the times (Rise),
We must stand up and fight for what is right, even if the current situation is difficult and challenging.


I feel my body weakening, but my spirit is fine (Yeah!),
Despite physical weakness or illness, one's inner spirit and drive to fight for justice remains strong.


Ready to go to war with devils at the drop of a dime (Come On!),
I am prepared to fight against any and all oppressors and oppressions at any moment.


And fight with my Rebel Army, until the stars are aligned!
I will continue fighting with my comrades until true justice and equity are achieved and the world is in a better place.


Nostradamus was a white man's prophet,
The prophecies of Nostradamus have largely catered to and been interpreted by white people.


Who predicated European's Supremacists logic,
Nostradamus's prophecies have often been used to promote and justify white supremacist ideologies.


Because the pilgrims and the Conquistador columns,
These groups were responsible for violently colonizing and destroying indigenous lands and peoples in the Americas.


Killed more innocent people than Hitler and Stalin (Yes),
Their atrocities were just as severe (if not worse) as those committed by Hitler and Stalin, yet are often overlooked or downplayed.


I guess the fortune-tellers skipped an anti-Christ or two,
Nostradamus may have missed predicting the rise of some of the most evil people in history.


Brothers give this to the O.G.s doing life with you,
Serve as an informant to the old-school gangsters who are serving a life sentence alongside you.


And pray for the problems, with the Pope psychology,
The Vatican and the Pope have contributed to the psychological problems faced by many people, and it is important to fight against these harmful beliefs and actions.


So the Vatican will author an apology (For What!?),
The Vatican must take responsibility for the harm it has caused and apologize for its actions.


For destroying the people's liberation theology,
The Vatican has suppressed and destroyed movements for true liberation and justice, often in the name of religion.


Snatching the spirit of Jesus from people in poverty,
The Vatican has co-opted and twisted the message of Jesus, stripping it of its original intent and using it to suppress and control impoverished communities.


Business decisions, like keeping people in prison
The decision to keep people in prison is often financially motivated, rather than based on the well-being and rehabilitation of the prisoners.


But had the opposite effect, incarcerating religion,
The act of imprisoning people only leads to the further spread and growth of radical ideas and religious practices.


That type of crooked politics imposed on the populace,
Corrupt politicians use their influence and power to oppress and exploit the general public.


Is obvious, if you read the Northwood documents,
It is clear and evident when one reads official documents and reports that outline the corrupt actions of those in power.


Forget the compliments, for what I recorded (Yeah),
Do not praise me for speaking the truth or standing up for what is right - this should be the norm and not something exceptional.


And live for Revolution, instead of always dying for it!
Rather than merely sacrificing themselves for the cause, people should focus on actually living and building a better world through revolution.


Remember a bullet can never stop me (Never!),
I am driven and steadfast in my fight for justice, and cannot be defeated or silenced by physical violence alone.


My legions are led by the spirit of Haile Selassie, Watch Me!,
My followers and allies are inspired by the spirit and legacy of Haile Selassie, and will continue to fight against injustice.


Even if I'm shot in the Shakra, I will prosper,
Even if I am severely wounded or killed, the movement for justice and liberation will continue to thrive and make progress.


Doppler effect, bumping music out a helicopter,
Even the sound of music can be powerful and inspiring in inciting change, and can be spread through any means necessary (even a helicopter).


Telling the Persians "dig up Zoroaster!",
Encouraging and inspiring people to revisit and explore their heritage and history, much like Zoroaster and ancient Persian culture.


And Tell them I came back, as the son of The Ahura Mazdā,
Reclaiming and reinterpreting religious and historical figures to better represent and empower marginalized communities.


Fish out the Philistine, Dagon, from the shores of Gaza,
Retrieving and reclaiming ancient artifacts and history that have been stolen, destroyed, or lost over time.


And call Quetzalcoatl flying over La Raza,
Acknowledging and celebrating indigenous symbols and cultural icons, and their continued impact and relevance today.


This is my message to the older Gods,
This is a call to older, established powers or authorities to listen to and respect the voices and demands of the younger generation.


I sacrifice you all to the Revolution like the Romanovs,
Just as the Romanov family was sacrificed in the Russian Revolution, older powers and systems must be dismantled and removed in order for true change and progress to occur.


Lost in the desert, like the Hebrews of Israel,
Feeling hopeless and stranded, like the ancient Hebrews who wandered the desert for 40 years.


The blood-clot system, try to kill me like sickle cell,
The oppressive and unjust systems and structures in society attempt to kill or destroy marginalized communities, much like sickle cell disease does to red blood cells.


But I survived and I'm alive to fight another day,
Despite the hardships and obstacles, I am still here and ready to continue the fight for justice and liberation.


Cocooned in a coma, I can still hear my mother pray!
Even in a state of unconsciousness or incapacity, one can still feel the love and support of family and loved ones.


Sister crying out to God, "Please let my brother stay!",
The desperation and sorrow of loved ones who do not want to lose someone fighting for change.


Walking towards the light, but something is pulling me the other way!
Feeling torn between the temptation to give up or take a break, and the need to keep fighting for what is right.


Rise up young brother
Encouraging and inspiring young people to take action and fight against oppressive systems.


It is not your time to die...
Reassuring that despite the dangers and difficulties, one's life is valuable and worth fighting for.




Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@pauloremes-lighteroftheway9684

In war, no one, wins
To Exist as Jesus, Before, is to
Be Free of Sin, After The Storm
Tempered, in Suffering to Feel
No Alarm, is to Hold Power, With-in!
Dying to Live, giving to Give,
"The Latter Rains are Beginning to Come in!"
Back to Life, Again!
Back to Life Again!



All comments from YouTube:

@danieltucker9118

I don't care if Eminem is the greatest word smith or Nas is the greatest story teller; Immortal Technique is the greatest "rapper" of all time. No other artist educates while entertaining even remotely close to Tech.

@h4mpygreen230

it's like word-smithing

@Kommon_Zense

Wait! Withdraw your opinion! Listen to all of K-Rino and look up his bio! For real! You can punch me if he isnt #1. Im in New Mexico haha

@totalspiritawareness1577

Agreed

@lakersrdbest

Agree check out Lowkey and Akala🙂🔥🔥🔥im sure you hear of them too right?

@eddiesuttle9028

Facts and i love Eminem

10 More Replies...

@ronin9823

I’ve been listening to technique since I was 12, I’m 21 now and my daughter loves this song. She loves the native drummers because I used to be a drummer. I never sang but I regret not doing it, the closest I’ve ever felt to the creator👏🏽

@oiitzME1266

I've been listening to Tech since I was around that age too, his songs really shaped the way I see the world today

@lucianoloya5215

This song is so powerful.

@nightcrowred

Go to his website and you can download this album free.

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