Killah Priest is a tangential associate of the Wu-Tang Clan. The Brooklyn n… Read Full Bio ↴Killah Priest is a tangential associate of the Wu-Tang Clan. The Brooklyn native made his first recorded appearances on records by such Wu side projects and solo albums as the Gravediggaz, Ol' Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers, and, most importantly, Genius/GZA's seminal Liquid Swords. His contributions became legendary and paved the way for the release of his acclaimed debut album, Heavy Mental, in the spring of 1998.

Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville, Killah Priest became infatuated with hip-hop as a child, listening to old-school and new school acts like Eric B. & Rakim alike. He also was influenced by local rappers, like GZA and Onyx's Suave, who would often play local parties. Killah Priest began working on his rhyming and eventually earned a considerable reputation in Brooklyn , but instead of pursuing his musical career further, he took a sabbatical in order to educate himself, primarily about religion and history.

Killah Priest returned to rapping in 1995, appearing on several Wu projects. All of his cameos were noteworthy, but his role on Liquid Swords earned special attention. By the end of 1996, he formed his own side project, the Sunz of Man. In 1997, GZA suggested to Geffen that they sign Killah Priest, and the label took his advice.

Killah worked on the album with True Master and 4th Disciple, two producers associated with the Clan. The resulting album, Heavy Mental, was dense with religious imagery and filled with evocative sounds. It received excellent reviews upon its March 1998 release and was a respectable commercial success, debuting at number 24 on the pop charts.

Killah Priest issued his second album, View from Masada, in the spring of 2000, further bolstering his status as one of the most compelling solo artists in the Wu-Tang stable. After that he has released more projects such as Priesthood and Black August.

When Will We Learn
Killah Priest Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When are we ever gonna learn?
One day we all gonna burn
Life in the fast lane
Are we ever gonna change?
Same shit, different day
The price that a thug pay

I heard a wise man once say, "Thugs pray"

But still slugs spray from the double barrels
Fallin’ pharoahs over the graves of the sleepin’ prophets
Release the pain from the deepest closet

It's like a secret that we keep in bondage
Mothers weapin’ from they projects
First it be that soul, send to haunt the empty halls
Memories painted on the wall

Like The Lamb's Blood on the doors, of the black Hebrews
Nowadays the same people on subway trains sellin’ street news
A ghetto movie, with no sequels
But I still show you previews

That will free you, from your evil
An old man, cookin’ her-on, over hot tea spoons
Old G's are all evil, usin’ dope needles
Wearin’ fan parafanil's

We live in the black hole, where no one can hear us
The valley of the dry bones, without reflections in the mirrors
The world fearers, first make 'em feel us
Come on

When are we ever gonna learn?
One day we all gonna burn
Life in the fast lane
Are we ever gonna change?
Same shit, different day
The price that a thug pay

When are we ever gonna learn?
One day we all gonna burn
Life in the fast lane
Are we ever gonna change?
Same shit, different day
The price that a thug pay

The Solomon couldn't say it better
It's all vanity, and sanity
We come from broken families
My own pop's abandoned me, black becomely

The spirits of Lords upon me, I grew up hungry
Now we chase money and live grungy
The fears want me, to bring me to the hills of this country
So they can jump me, feel me up, in land and dump me

Damn right I said it bluntly
I ain't scared of none of y'all monkeys
At school my teachers used to flunk me
Hopin’ one day I turn to junkey

But only God can judge me, words of Makaveli
Black Israeli, hear me? Told you y'all niggas gonna feel me
Killah Priest AK Masada, sincerely yours

When are we ever gonna learn?
One day we all gonna burn
Life in the fast lane
Are we ever gonna change?
Same shit, different day
The price that a thug pay

When are we ever gonna learn?
One day we all gonna burn
Life in the fast lane
Are we ever gonna change?
Same shit, different day
The price that a thug pay

So check out my darkest secrets, my truest confessions
Come to you as a blessing, parental viewing in this aggression
Is advised, tune in to the wise, zoom in your eyes
Step up closer, to the light, like that child on Poltergeist

Wisdom be ultra right
Explosive to the sight, 3D, virtual reality
Verbal mentality, come with me
Load up your gun with me, run with me
Become one with me, this is channel three

High definition, ghetto TV, DVD
Cable networks, stick your fingers
In the bullet holes in my sweatshirt
Take it out and taste the blood, so you can see that its real
A View From Masada, give kids, chill

When are we ever gonna learn?
One day we all gonna burn
Life in the fast lane
Are we ever gonna change?
Same shit, different day
The price that a thug pay

When are we ever gonna learn?
One day we all gonna burn
Life in the fast lane
Are we ever gonna change?

Same shit, different day
The price that a thug pay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Killah Priest's song When Will We Learn are heavily driven by themes of social injustice, political disillusionment and gang violence. The song opens with a question about humanity's collective ability to learn from past mistakes and evolve towards a better future. The lyrics repeatedly emphasize the price that gang members pay for such a life, where shootings, drugs and violence are a constant reality. The chorus asks if there will ever be a change in this culture and if it will continue down the same path, leading to their inevitable demise.

The song also touches upon themes of religion and spirituality, as Priest references an old man cooking heroin over hot tea spoons, symbolizing the darker side of a world that can leave people feeling hopeless and searching for escape. The lyrics also reference the Black Hebrews, alluding to the Biblical stories of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and the symbolic significance of the lamb's blood on their doors. These references tie into Priest's examination of the larger historical and structural forces that have oppressed and disadvantaged marginalized communities.

The song is ultimately a criticism of the systemic forces that perpetuate the cycle of hopelessness and poverty that often lead to gang activity, drug use, and violence. Priest urges listeners to become aware of these issues and fight against them. Articulating his message through lyrics that contemplate the fragile nature of life, Priest seeks to connect with listeners and evoke empathy for those caught in the cycle.

Line by Line Meaning

When are we ever gonna learn?
When will we finally understand and change our ways?

One day we all gonna burn
One day we will face the consequences of our actions

Life in the fast lane
Our busy lives distract us from focusing on what is truly important

Are we ever gonna change?
Will we ever evolve and become better versions of ourselves?

Same shit, different day
We continue to repeat the same mistakes and patterns

The price that a thug pay
The consequences of a criminal lifestyle

I heard a wise man once say, "Thugs pray"
Even those who engage in bad behavior still seek guidance from a higher power

But still slugs spray from the double barrels
Violence is still prevalent despite the presence of religion

Fallin’ pharoahs over the graves of the sleepin’ prophets
Even great leaders can fall, and the voices of the wise are often ignored or silenced

Release the pain from the deepest closet
We need to confront and let go of our past traumas and emotions

It's like a secret that we keep in bondage
Our internal struggles are often hidden and can hold us back

Mothers weapin’ from they projects
The pain and suffering in poor communities is all too common

First it be that soul, send to haunt the empty halls
After death, the spirit lingers and can bring an eerie feeling to empty spaces

Memories painted on the wall
The past can be immortalized through memories and physical tokens

Like The Lamb's Blood on the doors, of the black Hebrews
A reference to the biblical story of Passover, where the Israelites were saved from death by marking their homes with lamb's blood

Nowadays the same people on subway trains sellin’ street news
People in disadvantaged communities often have to resort to extreme measures to earn a living

A ghetto movie, with no sequels
The struggles of poor communities often go unnoticed and unresolved

But I still show you previews
Killah Priest aims to bring attention to these issues through his music

That will free you, from your evil
Killah Priest hopes to inspire people to overcome their struggles and live a better life

An old man, cookin’ her-on, over hot tea spoons
Reference to drug use in impoverished communities

Old G's are all evil, usin’ dope needles
Drug addiction can consume even the most seasoned criminals

Wearin’ fan parafanil's
Killah Priest highlights the use of designer brands to symbolize wealth and status in poverty-stricken areas

We live in the black hole, where no one can hear us
Feeling invisible and unheard in society

The valley of the dry bones, without reflections in the mirrors
Describing a place of hopelessness and despair

The world fearers, first make 'em feel us
We must demand attention and respect in order to create change

So check out my darkest secrets, my truest confessions
Killah Priest opens up about his own struggles and experiences

Come to you as a blessing, parental viewing in this aggression
Killah Priest hopes to provide inspiration and guidance to his listeners

Is advised, tune in to the wise, zoom in your eyes
Pay attention and focus on what is important

Step up closer, to the light, like that child on Poltergeist
Embrace the truth and clarity, even if it can be scary

Wisdom be ultra right
The value of knowledge and understanding

Explosive to the sight, 3D, virtual reality
Killah Priest's message is powerful and impactful

Verbal mentality, come with me
Killah Priest encourages his listeners to join him in his mission for change

Load up your gun with me, run with me
Metaphor for standing up and fighting for what is right

Become one with me, this is channel three
Killah Priest's music is a platform for spreading awareness and inspiring action

High definition, ghetto TV, DVD
Killah Priest provides a window into life in disenfranchised communities

Cable networks, stick your fingers
Reference to negative media coverage of poor communities

In the bullet holes in my sweatshirt
Killah Priest has experienced violence and instability firsthand

Take it out and taste the blood, so you can see that its real
Killah Priest challenges his listeners to confront the harsh realities of life

A View From Masada, give kids, chill
Killah Priest's music provides a unique and important perspective for young listeners

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FREDDIE GORMAN, IVY HUNTER, IVY JO HUNTER, MARILYN MC LEOD, STEPHEN BOWDEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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