The founders of the Wu-Tang Clan were RZA, GZA, and Ol' Dirty Bastard, who had previously formed the group Force of the Imperial Master (later known as All In Together Now after the release of a popular single by that name). The group attracted the attention of some notable figures in the industry, including Biz Markie, but did not manage to secure a record deal. After the crew dissolved, GZA and RZA (then known as Prince Rakeem) embarked on their solo careers with Cold Chillin' Records and Tommy Boy Records respectively, but to little success. Their frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to Wu-Tang Clan's revolutionary business plan. According to The Wu-Tang Manual, at the group's inception, RZA promised the members that if he had total control of the Wu-Tang empire, it would conquer the hip hop world within a dynastic cycle, after which he would relinquish his total control.
Wu-Tang Clan was gradually assembled in late 1992 from friends and accomplices from around Staten Island, New York, with RZA as the de-facto leader and the group's main producer. Two of the cousins, GZA (pronounced Jizza) and RZA (pronounced Rizza), created their new Wu-Tang aliases by mimicking the sound that the words "genius" and "razor" would make when scratched on a turntable.
"Wu-Tang" comes from the name of the Taoist holy mountain Wu Dang in northwest Hubei Province in central China; it was also the site of the Ming Dynasty Purple Imperial City built during the reign of the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century. RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard adopted the name for the group after seeing the kung fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang, which features a school of warriors trained in Wu-Tang style. The group's debut album loosely adopted a Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang theme, dividing the album into Shaolin and Wu-Tang sections and using dialogue excerpts as skits.
The group have also developed various backronyms for the name (as hip hop pioneers like KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane did with their names), including "We Usually Take All the Niggas' Garments," "Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game" and "Wisdom, Universe, Truth, Allah, Nation, and God".
Method Man has also mentioned that the "Wu" is the sound a sword makes when cutting through the air, and "Tang" is the sound it makes against a shield.
The Clan first became known to hip hop fans, and to major record labels, in 1993 (see 1993 in music) following the release of the independent single "Protect Ya Neck", which immediately gave the group a sizeable underground following. Though there was some difficulty in finding a record label that would sign Wu-Tang Clan while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed, releasing their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in late 1993. This album was popular and critically-acclaimed, though it took some time to gain momentum. Though hip hop had long had a gritty texture, the surreal aggression and minimalist production of 36 Chambers nevertheless had a huge impact on the genre, and was to prove massively influential over the next decade. By the beginning of the 21st century, the album had become a regular fixture on "Best Albums of the 90s" lists as well as a frequent choice for "Best Albums of All Time" lists. The success of Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) established the group as a creative and influential force in early 1990s hip hop, allowing GZA, RZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa to negotiate solo contracts.
www.wutang-corp.com
The Chase
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
留我愣在原地消失太快
像后照镜流淌的风景留我载着疑问
任那时间走过Tik Tok Tik Tok
爱情走过Tik Tok Tik Tok
曾经说过的话现在听来像笑话
我要追追追追追回那段爱情
追回那些风景追回我和你好吗
追回那些曾经追回那一天我们相遇
你像刀切开我们曾有的一切
不留一点余地承诺是风
最伤人的不过这一句你值得比我更好的人
任那时间走过Tik Tok Tik Tok
爱情走过Tik Tok Tik Tok
曾经深爱过的我们到底在干嘛
我要追追追追追回那段爱情
追回那些风景追回我和你好吗
我要追追追追追回那些事情
追回那些曾经追回那一天我们相遇
我也许太笨也许太蠢
但至少我不必一辈子跟遗憾去拉扯
我要追追追追追回那段爱情
追回那些风景追回我和你好吗
我要追追追追追回那些事情
追回那些曾经追回那一天我们相遇
The lyrics of Wu-Tang Clan's song "The Chase" reflect the desire to retrieve lost love and memories. The song begins with the line "你说分就分什么我们不适合" (You said we should separate, why are we not suitable), expressing the confusion and disbelief at the sudden breakup. The singer is left standing still as time passes quickly, symbolized by the line "留我愣在原地消失太快" (Leave me standing still as everything disappears quickly).
The lyrics continue with a reference to a flowing landscape seen through a rearview mirror, expressing a sense of nostalgia and uncertainty: "像后照镜流淌的风景留我载着疑问" (The landscape flowing through the rearview mirror leaves me with questions). The repetition of "Tik Tok Tik Tok" emphasizes the passing of time and the urgency to reclaim lost love. The lyrics also mention that the once-deep love now sounds like a joke, emphasizing the pain and disillusionment experienced after the breakup.
Throughout the song, the desire to chase and retrieve past love and memories is emphasized: "我要追追追追追回那段爱情" (I want to chase, chase, chase, chase, chase back that love). The mention of the knife cutting through everything the two once had further emphasizes the emotional pain and the lack of any leftover promises. The lyrics express a longing to reconcile and regain what was lost, asking if it is possible to chase back the love, the memories, and the day they first met.
Overall, "The Chase" is a song that captures the feelings of heartbreak, nostalgia, and the longing to reclaim lost love and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
你说分就分什么我们不适合
You said we should break up because we're not compatible
留我愣在原地消失太快
You left me standing still as you disappeared so quickly
像后照镜流淌的风景留我载着疑问
Like the scenery flowing in the rearview mirror, I carry doubts
任那时间走过Tik Tok Tik Tok
Let time pass by, Tik Tok Tik Tok
爱情走过Tik Tok Tik Tok
Love has also passed by, Tik Tok Tik Tok
曾经说过的话现在听来像笑话
The words we once said now sound like a joke
我要追追追追追回那段爱情
I want to chase, chase, chase, chase, chase back that love
追回那些风景追回我和你好吗
Chase back those sceneries, chase back you and me, is that possible?
我要追追追追追回那些事情
I want to chase, chase, chase, chase, chase back those things
追回那些曾经追回那一天我们相遇
Chase back those moments when we first met
你像刀切开我们曾有的一切
You severed everything we once had like a knife
不留一点余地承诺是风
Leaving no room for compromise, promises become like the wind
最伤人的不过这一句你值得比我更好的人
The most hurtful thing is when you say you deserve someone better than me
曾经深爱过的我们到底在干嘛
What are we, who once deeply loved each other, doing now?
我也许太笨也许太蠢
Maybe I'm too silly, maybe I'm too stupid
但至少我不必一辈子跟遗憾去拉扯
But at least I don't have to drag regrets throughout my life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rgw1380rw
The God took us on an adventure that was swift and visual with just words and aggression of a man desperate to get away .
miaboi
i hope u keeps doing songs like this
Sen Nkiruka
If you think Rza is wack. You don’t know Hip Hop. Plain and simple
Evangelio Fergadis
rza is the god of hip hop
Amaziah Peunish
Wu-Tang Clan Forever !!!
Mr
daaame i rember i use to rap along to this an pretend i was runnin lol
Remy LeBeau
it doesn't matter; the RZA himself has said this. nuff said
SUPERSTRANGEUNIVERSE
different styles
idiaftn12
shots fired out the backka me practically hit my tire yo i smell smoke i hope my engine aint on fiyah
Remy LeBeau
in your secta from shoulin to the holy city of mecca