This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
You might know of the original sin
And you might know how to play with fire
But did you know of the murder committed
In the name of love? Yeah, you thought, what a pity
Dream on white boy (white boy)
Dream on black girl (black girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams are washed away
There was a time when I did not care
And there was a time when the facts did stare
There is a dream and held by many
Well, I'm sure you had to see it's open arms
Dream on white boy (white boy)
Dream on black girl (black girl)
Then wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams have washed away
You might know of the original sin
You might know how to play with fire
But did you know of the murder committed
In the name of love? Yeah, you thought, what a pity
Dream on white boy (white boy)
Dream on black girl (black girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
Dream on black boy (black boy)
Dream on white girl (white girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams have washed away
Dream on black boy (black boy)
Dream on white girl (white girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams have washed away
Dream on, play with fire
White boy, black girl
Dream on, in the name of love
Black boy, white girl
Dream on, white boy, black girl
Black boy, white girl
Dream on
In the name of love, yeah
You thought what a pity
Yeah
Original sin
And you might know how to play with fire
But did you know of the murder committed
In the name of love? Yeah, you thought, what a pity
Dream on white boy (white boy)
Dream on black girl (black girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams are washed away
There was a time when I did not care
And there was a time when the facts did stare
There is a dream and held by many
Well, I'm sure you had to see it's open arms
Dream on white boy (white boy)
Dream on black girl (black girl)
Then wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams have washed away
You might know of the original sin
You might know how to play with fire
But did you know of the murder committed
In the name of love? Yeah, you thought, what a pity
Dream on white boy (white boy)
Dream on black girl (black girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
Dream on black boy (black boy)
Dream on white girl (white girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams have washed away
Dream on black boy (black boy)
Dream on white girl (white girl)
And wake up to a brand new day
To find your dreams have washed away
Dream on, play with fire
White boy, black girl
Dream on, in the name of love
Black boy, white girl
Dream on, white boy, black girl
Black boy, white girl
Dream on
In the name of love, yeah
You thought what a pity
Yeah
Original sin
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Original Sin Lyrics as written by Michael Hutchence Andrew Charles Farriss
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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its a shame the lead singer died, without him INXS aren't the same.
I agree. One of their best. Great song! And a great vocalist doing back-up. Daryl Hall was asked to do some background vocals (listen during the chorus) and adds to the already incredible talents of a great band. I'm sure the song is referencing the biblical "original sin" of Cain vs Abel, but who cares! Great song and lyrics seem to stray from the biblical theme...thankfully. Simply a great band making a great song. Why get to involved in interpreting the lyrics of this one.
OMG, Daryl Hall is in the background? That's so awesome.
fantastic song. INXS's Best
Does anyone know what the robotic voice says at the very beginning of the song?
The band says the song was there attempt to make social commentary and crack the American market - complete with Nile Rogers producing. It seems clear its referring to America's original sin - as in slavery. Michael Hutchins said at the time that unlike Australia in the early 80s, America was waking up to bar and new post-racist day.
@jason10207 Uggh! Spell check! BRAND NEW and post-racist day.
gr8 track
Given that I was in an interracial relationship at the time, this song always had special meaning for me, even if it wasn't one of my favorites.
I love music from the colonies. It's so ethnic. Rule Britannia; God Save the Queen.
You ah. We have not been under the british since the americans saved our hides from the japs. Don you know nuthn?? You limeys did shit for us............
gnskov is correct that this song probably refers to the story of Cain and Abel in the Old Testament as a slightly incorrect reference to "original sin." Supposedly Cain had a mark put on him and his children for killing his brother Abel pretty soon after Adam and Eve got out of the Garden of Eden.
It's the first murder in the bible and some religions claim that the "Mark of Cain" was a dark skin that Cain and all his descendants were cursed with. They used this story to discriminate against certain people because of their skin color and put laws in place against interracial marriage and other things. Basically, using the bible as an excuse for their own discrimination and bigotry.
I forgot what a good song this was until I heard it again recently.
Although actually "Original Sin" means something different in Christian Theology. (It means that everyone is sent to hell unless baptised since they inherit Adam's sin automatically, no matter what.)
All this Christian theology/mythology is BS, IMO, but this song points out that people should be treated equally and that interracial relationships shouldn't be a big thing.
I've long wondered about this song. Now I've seen lots of commentary about this or that aspect of it, but still find it a mystery. INXS being an Australian band, I would think "white boy, black girl" refers to Australian aborigines--although presumably if could work just as well for African-Americans, or South Africans, heck, maybe even Gypsies in some places. (In Ireland, at one time, even being "black Irish" (that is, some Spanish ancestry) could make you an outcast.)
But what is that line about a murder committed "in the name of love"? Is that about a real event?
a chapter in the book about "the murder committed" could be Romeo and Juliet
@aurora borealis Cain murdering Abel isn’t “Original Sin”, Original Sin is The apple, the snake & 2 humans, aka, “knowledge”, aka, “Sex”.