[Verse 2] Forgive them that tear down my soul And bless them that they might grow old And free them so that they may know That it's never too late For the many times, what seemed like a memory I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in Oh, I found the ways Ooh, why it had to be mired in denial, and so afraid
[Chorus] If we ever find it's true That we have the strength to choose Oh, freedom, or the chains We have together
[Outro] Oh, I won't be told anymore (If we ever find it's true) That I've been brought down in this storm (That we have the strength to choose) And left so far out from the shore (Oh, freedom, or the chains) That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (We have together) Oh, no, I won't be told anymore (If we ever find it's true) Ooh, that I've been brought down in this storm (That we have the strength to choose) Oh, and left so far out from the shore (Oh, freedom, or the chains) That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (We held together)
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The title of the song along with lyrics in chorus draw a parallel with the island of Madagascar off the coast of eastern Africa and a general feeling of being outcast from the society at large. The lyrics are largely a commentary on hope and managing seemingly hopeless situations. The sampled quotes drive the point home from various real life (or movie plot) perspectives. The main message clearly being self-reliance and the importance of not listening to the nay-sayers.
The song has a co-writing credit by Martin Luther King Jr. because that was the only way his estate would allow two of his sermons to be sampled.
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