Completely Random Lyrics: Most High by Anthony B

"So give thanks to The Most High

He's always around

Jah you never yet let me down

You never yet let me down

Give praise to The Man Who seat up on throne

He never yet let me down

Jah you never yet let me down

So mek wi hail Alpha & Omega, the begin without end

Follow the Commandments, one through ten

Dem sword no mighty like paper and pen

So mi nuh si babylon outta road, and beg friend

Cause everywhere mi turn, mi si danga

Di youth dem now nah no behaviour

BUT STILL SHOW LOVE WHEN YOU MEET STRANGA

CAH YUH MIGHT JUST MEET UPON DI SAVIOUR

And wi marching to Zion, the Holy Mountain-

To take a dip in di Holy Fountain

BLESSINGS SO MUCH, WI CANNOT COUNT DEM

And grateful for everything Jah Jah send

Rastaman nah bow fi vanity

So hail Queen Omega side a mi

Rasta fighting for plurality

Di only way fi save humanity

Wi haffi start face reality

Ah no time fi no partiality

Tell mi mommy and tell mi daddy

Di Most High love everybody!

So mi no inna Big Bang Theory

No tell mi nuttin Google or Siri

I ah give credit to di Almighty-

THE CREATOR OF YOU & ME!"

Completely Random Thoughts: MOISTURIZE YOUR CIRCUITRY!

"Beauty For Ashes" by Midnite [I Grade Records - 2014]

So it was my intent to attempt the ridiculous and write a Lyrics! feature for Vaughn Benjamin (as if narrowing that down to ten favourites is just… something I could do in an afternoon or something like that) and I'd actually started on an album that I had been listening to a lot lately, "Cipheraw" (Vault Review coming soon) (or something like that) and I got some material from it and it really helped me get started re-writing a review for that album and I went through a few others as well - trying to spread it out. Still, I have to say that it was "Beauty For Ashes", Midnite's pillaring set from earlier this year for I Grade Records and the Zion I Kings which has most caught my attention as, definitely, two of my favourite verses that Benjamin has ever done were written for that album. And I knew that in the back of my head but listening to the album brought it back crystal clear. I should also say that there're so many more from that album and, from a quality standpoint, I may even prefer one or two that I’m not going to mention but these two have just trapped my entire brain and absolutely refuse to let me go! 

The first is Benjamin's first full stanza from 'When Jah Arise' (although I suppose you could call it his second if you like), a tune which features him alongside another dominant lyricist, Lutan Fyah.

"Almighty Jah who is partial to none

Reigneth upon all!

Receiveth rainwater for the body - 

INSTALL!

MOISTURIZE YOUR CIRCUITRY

Stand tall and don't fall

Recall the reason that the sun serves us all

AND THE EARTH IS THE LORD!"

This is fairly simple when compared to some of the wordy acrobatics Benjamin performs on other tunes (like 'All i's On You', still the best song on the album in my opinion) ["Twenty million hits with diverse fused news, a ruse to diffuse a social current that is in marching shoes"] [WHAT!] but it hits me so hard because, if you follow it, it is nothing but directions to prosperity. The first two lines, like the final one are statements and between them Benjamin tells you what to do. The one which stands out most, obviously:

"MOISTURIZE YOUR CIRCUITRY" 

Is halting! Not only is there a musical pause of sorts just ahead of it but if you were to "moisturize your circuitry" … doesn't  that sound so nice! The song makes you thirsty! And I think that was the intent of Benjamin's to have listeners focus on the smallest details, like a glass of water, which can be amongst the most fulfilling. And the, sequentially, from the very next song on the album, there's this:

"It's these kind of things to be careful with

Rasta seen countenance fall and broken spirit

Just uplift out of it how Jah create and insist

And the legislative whip was the laws of uplift

Whip is governmental title inna politics 

Whip was also inna slavery, ah perform wickedness

Dem psychology trigger nerve and how dem touch it

Personal responsibility to each human unit of livity

THAT MEAN EVERY SIMPLE ONE INNA I-MANITY

Simple respect make a people in prosperity 

The ebb and the flow, the give and take of living, moving currency

King Selassie I speak out against isolationist policy

Human sovereignty where people still retain their dignity

And play a part inna how things run inna fi dem community

Situation where none can shut up loyalty

Gonna do the best they can to enhance the country

And some of them will face the sun

Some of them with tenacity

There's a fusing of culture and diversity"

This one I love for so many reasons but the prevailing one is that I think that it is THE passage of the album which tells you everything that you need to know about "Beauty For Ashes" (but you know you need to listen to the other twelve songs on this album, right?). For me, what was so impressive lyrically about that album was how Benjamin, essentially, took one topic -- UNITY -- and dissected it and ripped it apart and reassembled it in thirteen songs. Bringing people together is one of the major topics of discussion in Reggae music, you'll find more albums focusing almost entirely on the subject and probably thousands of individual songs as well. But strictly from the written aspect, I don't know that anyone has ever done it like Vaughn Benjamin did it on "Beauty For Ashes". There are genuine gems here but these days I look closest at:

"THAT MEAN EVERY SIMPLE ONE INNA I-MANITY"

Alone, that doesn't make any sense, it isn't a complete thought but when you place it in the frame of the words ahead of it and behind it, it starts to GLOW! That is particularly true when you attach it to these two: 

"King Selassie I speak out against isolationist policy

Human sovereignty where people still retain their dignity"

He's saying that no one is to be excluded! And, in total, you can say that the album is one about standing up for "every simple one inna I-manity". All of us! Surely I'm still in the process of breaking down this album and I'll likely only be finished when I stop breathing (or lose my hearing) but right now 'Same Boat We' and 'When Jah Arise' are proving to be ample sources of downright DELICIOUS mental food. 

Completely Random Lyrics: 'Never Stop Hail Rastafari' by Lutan Fyah

'Never Stop Hail Rastafari'

"Then I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come!

Everliving, ever faithful, ever sure

His blessing caan dun

I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come!

Everliving, ever faithful, ever sure

This ya blessing caan dun

With every spiritual blessing -

I tell yuh there's a heavenly place

And Haile Selassie has made us -

Is the love He gives, glory to His grace

The youths dem fi set to sanctify -

Wholly acceptable without a play

His redemption is Rastafari, King Emmanuel great

Wisdom is then bound to I with life and prudence

Then make it know to the children

It is HE that made us and not ourselves 

Give thanks fi life with all reverence 

And I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come!

Hey, it's a blessing unto I

Oh this yah loving caan dun

Then I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come!

Everliving, ever faithful, ever sure

Hey you slanderers be no hypocrite among yourself

You weeping defeated angels 

Living for the riches, yes you'll suffer for the wealth

Remember Jah love is with the saints

Now, I'm standing on Holy Ground

Rastafari remove my feet from the miry clay

I see the heathen get busted -

My nature is guaranteed

I tell yuh seh the wicked won't be trusted in times like these

Hey, wi no tek no hearsay, nor no loose lip

Mi tell yuh righteousness wi got, wi gone use it

And if dem sick, seh Rasta don't lose it

Or try to abuse it

Don't confuse it

Then I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come!

Everliving, ever faithful, ever sure

Then I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come!

Everliving, ever faithful, ever sure

This yah blessing caan dun

So plead my cause oh Jah

It dem that try with I

Come fight against dem that fight against I and I and I…

Take hold of my Shield and Buckler -

And stand up for myself

This is not about material wealth

MANKIND SHOULD KNOW DEMSELF

I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come

Everliving, ever faithful, ever sure

This blessing caan dun

I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come

Everliving, ever faithful, ever sure

This yah blessing caan dun

I'll never stop hail Rastafari

Thy kingdom come

Everliving, ever faithful

Blessing can dun…"

Taken from the album, "You Bring Blessings"

Lyrics!: Bugle

If you were to combine the brilliant edginess of someone like an Agent Sasco with the streamlined point-making of Tanya Stephens and maybe just a hair of the implied sinister of Mad Cobra, the style you might create might be very similar to Bugle. Like the first two names in that blend, Bugle’s songwriting appears to have been the child of an intense amount of work and study, but like its third name, his development has not driven him far outside of his organic road as well. And though more 'mainstream' attention will likely never come his way (and I don't think he'd accept it if you offered it to him), amongst more passionate fans, Bugle has quietly become one of Reggae's more dependable hitmakers. Is there a secret to his success? Maybe, and today we look at some of his most seriously sizzling sublime sets of syllables. Lyrics! Bugle

"Mi a duppy conqueror, so a mi no frighten

No soft-hearted, so a mi no frighten

No tell people 'sorry' when wi do things pon purpose -

Dem head mussi slack and waan tighten

Nah go seh mi a brightest, mi neva go a award

But all nuff a dem ah gwan, dem a coward

When wi ah do road, di bwoy dem ah do yard

Dem seh mi a easy, nah know mi will go hard

Still I nah mek dem drain I meds

And gwan show love like Selassie I said

Nah mek dem drain my medi -

Cah none a dem no ready

Stay focused, ah dat a my pledge!"

-'Mi Nuh Frighten'

"What have I done to you?

Why you wanna treat me like a criminal?

I'm not a criminal 

What have I done to you

Whay you wanna come to my funeral and mean that literal

Through mi exercise everyday and mi start get fit

Hypocrits ah look fi mi wid extension clip

But as long as mi have life, mi nah quit

This a real life, it's not no movie, nah no skit

What dem ah pray fi si, dem nah go si

Mi inna no cemetery

SO DI PRAYER WEH DEM AH PRAY NO NECESSARY

Yes mi glad seh Jah Jah mek mi know mi adversary

Everyday dem ah hope and ah wish - to si mi perish

CAUSE DI OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS WHAT DEM CHERISH

Dem no waan fi si mi pon di terrace

NAH GO DOWN, I'M PUTTING UP RESISTENCE LIKE BERES [BOOM!]

Dem seh a bag a things dem neva need fi seh

When it come to di test, you hear seh dem neva mean fi seh

What dem seh dem shouldn't dream fi seh

But memba seh hearsay, dat a weh people seh

Things dem put mi through, only Father God know it grieve mi

Caan believe, who mi think, was mi friend, deceive mi

Thanks to mi parents who conceive mi

EVERYBODY ELSE CAN GO DEM FUCKIN WAYS AND LEAVE MI"

-'What Have I Done?'

"When you ah dig ditch, dig a few
Dig one fi mi and dig one fi you
MEMBA SEH NUTTIN WEH YOU AHGO DO NO NEW
You is abomination
Tell yuh lips, a nuh true
Tell mi why you waan mi fall like di rain
Tell mi why you waan mi to derail like a train
Hey, and tell mi why yuh pleasure is my pain
Tell mi why to bring down my name to shame a yuh game

Tell dem wi rise above di water
Pagans ah laugh but wi have di last laughter"
-'Above The Water'

"New way ah try dun di world -
It nuh dun left you
When you ah run dung
It ahgo run left you 
Ah try gain di world fi yuh soul
So you sell out yuhself fi di gold
Don't have di prettiest car, but mi still ah roll
When mi ah left Kingston, a mi pay mi toll
Could, might not wear the prettiest Nike
But mi wash it, mi keep it clean, it still white!

Thank God fi another year
Thank You, mi still deh here
Mi caan afford di Hennessey, so mi ah drink mi beer"
-'Thank God Fi Another Year'

"When, you think you have life hard, nuff people ah have it harder
Cause nuff time nuff youth well want a shave and caan check di barber
Grannie tell mi seh her money magga
So, she haffi feed pon cassava 
You nuh know weh yuh man go through fi own weh him have - don't grudge him fi him Prada
Di world neva build inna one day, things take time
EVERY MAN GOT PROBLEMS, CAUSE MI GOT MINE
A no everything weh glitter a gold, it might look fabulous -
But everything doh fine

Cause wi are only human, like everybody else
Wi are only human, sometime wi need some help"
-'Only Human' w/Popcaan

"Baby mi woulda deh wid you, but guess wah - it no healthy
Because mi know seh it wouldn't help mi
You waan hype up, mi laidback
You waan loud up, mi doh play that
And mi woulda deh wid you, but guess wah - it no healthy
Because mi know sey it wouldn't help mi
You waan be star, but mi a observer
MI WAAN SOUL FOOD, YOU WAAN BURGER

It no mek sense wi try, mi no comfortable
And to how mi si things, wi no compatible
This unuh work out cause mi selective
And wi have different objectives
We destined to strive, but you always slow mi drive
You no have no adrenaline
You - mi haffi avoid
YOU MIGHT EDUCATED BUT YOU NUH WISE
Your eyes on di hype
BUT MINE ON DI PRIZE!"
-'Nuh Compatible'

"Who know best, di best, cah wi surpass better

Nuff a dem, they're trying to be perfect like a job-letter

Believe inna God, Him keep mi warm like a sweater

When di heathen try fi swallow mi, a plague of alligator

Even though dem nah have no locks, dem dread

And if you waan fi know yuh friend, pretend like yuh dead

And si how much thing - dem woulda serve all yuh head

Cause dem well waan eat yuh flesh up like it is a loaf a bread

Never let dem get you down in this game, stay ahead

CAUSE DEM ALWAYS SPREADING RUMOUR LIKE DEM THINK IT IS A BED

WHEN DEM SEH 'WAR', SEH 'PEACE'

Because dem a di least

IF WI FIGHT FIRE WID FIRE, THEN EVERYONE AHGO DEAD

If you blame life you blame Who give it

So don't blame life, blame di way how you live it

Fadda God neva sleep, HIM wake

HIM nah mek mistake

So blame it on di friends dem in ya surrounding weh fake

Everybody have a choice to be what dem want to

No blame it on mi because yuh past ah haunt you

Mi poor, but mi happy

You rich and nuh have no fun

AND YOU NEVA REALIZE MI MUSIC HAVE MORE POWER THAN YUH GUN

Now, everybody have a testimony

But all dem worry about is money

Dem still nah set no goal

How dem so cold?

So how dem have dem name pon payroll"

-'Don't Blame Life'

"Dem seh when you do di crime, you need fi do di time

But a nuff time, when dem do di crime, dem neva do di time

I try show dem a point -

Dem seh pointless

So mi still ah wonder if this just mindset

But Jah nah give wi more than wi can bear

So mi know mi burden nuh heavy than mi can wear

I guess wi just a wasting in a book that can tear

Waan wi coward, so inna wi dem instill fear

Dem no waan fi si when wi ah try

A nuh just di certain people dem nah supply

One thing mi sure bout:

Dem really can act high

DEM SEH SPEECH OF FREEDOM SO WHY DEM ATTACK I?"

-'Crime'

"You can catch a plane to almost anywhere you want to

But you caan catch a flight to heaven

And anyweh you can drive, you take a ship, you still arrive

But you caan take one to heaven

You pay fi anything you want

Even yuh heart, you can transplant 

But you caan pay yuh way into heaven

You lef Earth, you go to Mars

The Moon and in the stars, but no spaceshuttle can carry you go to heaven

You can take the elevator to the top of di skyscraper

No mek no sense you try, cah you still caan scrape di sky

No know weh you a think, but no link-

Can mek you visit The Most High on Mount Zion I 

You can take a cab or even walk to Shirley gate

But none a that can mek you si di pearly gates

No tell mi bout no friends

No Lamborghini, nah no Benz

CAUSE HEAVEN NUH DRIVEWAY, YOU CAAN PARK IN DI SIDEWAY

No US, bout nuh Europe, Heaven nah have nuh exchange rate

DI ONLY CURRENCY ACCEPTED BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS FAITH

A man build a car, a house, a plane, a ship -

You seh him great

BUT WHAPPEN TO DI MAN WEH BUILD DI MAN WEH YOU SEH GREAT?

Who give you di fire, di land, di water?

Mek wi have son and daughter

YOu think di part deh deep?

Mi waan you listen to di part yah

A nah plan-made, a nuh man-made

The Real Don made natural disaster

HIM heal you wid HIM eyes, no need no injection or plasma!"

-'Heaven'

"EXERCISE EVERY DAY AND I'M STILL NOT FIT

MY KIDS ARE HUNGRY AND I AIN'T GOT SHIT

WHAT I'M GONNA DO?

WHAT I'M GONNA DO?

WHAT I'M GONNA DO?

What would you do?"

-'What I'm Gonna Do'

A Random Fyah

Lutan Fyah

After elabourating on it concerning Perfect Giddimani in our look at his brand new album , "Over The Top" for House Of Riddim, I've also been applying it to others: This notion of exactly how well or poorly history is likely to remember certain people. In Perfect's case it was a matter of his music and, more importantly, his style being overlooked or placed in the frame of so many others despite his many prevailing differences and in the case of Lutan Fyah, it is a similar one.

'Length of Days'

People such as Sizzla Kalonji, Buju Banton and Vaughn Benjamin are already celebrated for it and we are already at a point where we can divide up the career of Vybz Kartel and see the first half of it in this way as well: They are/were fantastic lyricists and, at their respective bests are in a category all of their own. If you read our work to any degree, you know that I consider Lutan Fyah to be at this level as well and have four years -- he once enjoyed a stretch of a very productive couple of years or so during which, despite the fact that I paid as much attention to his output that as I did anyone else at the time, I did not hear a substandard verse from Lutan Fyah, regardless of the track -- and he has been on a similar tear recently.

 "All people shall come to meet and greet -

And to look upon the face of The King From The East

Gifts and praises unto Thee

The Light of The World and The Prince of Peace

Story of my life increase

Say love who you got so close at least

Take this message to Rome and Greece [!]: 

LET RIGHTEOUSNESS INCREASE!

I've made my monument

And earned my ornament

I'm living the life of a king

The life of a king!" 

-'Life of A King'

The issue in his instance is an even deeper one than it is for Perfect. If you listen to about ten Perfect songs, it should be crystal clear that you aren't dealing with someone who falls into any line besides the one he drew for himself, but for Lutan Fyah, there is nothing as ostensible which separates him and his music. He is not, has never been and will never be the most dynamic and/or melodic of artists, but when you dig just a little deeper, you see the way in which this man absolutely dissects the spoken word and his style is one which is very straight forward and resounding but, again, he doesn't seem to get the credit for it, consistently, right now, so maybe history will be sure to remember Lutan Fyah as, at least, one of the greatest writers of his era and, at best (and "at correctly"), one of the greatest of all time. 

"So when you think 'that's all', 'it's over' and you can't take the pain no more -

Call upon Jah 

You gotta know, that He'll be there for sure

Even when time gets hard and so rough

You better put The Most High none before 

Call upon Jah 

Say Rasta never bow

Remember there's no easy way to go

Slowly but surely -

Mi know seh Jah Jah great, HIM nah go left we lonely 

Cah when di world tumble down on me

Jah Jah ease di pressure and take di pain for me

You better achieve your goal, nuh seh you caan dweet

Jah busy but HIM nah sleep!

Food haffi run and every man waan eat

Jah busy but HIM nah sleep!

Conquer your fears, tell  yuh go ahead and achieve

Jah busy but HIM nah sleep!

Tell yuh seh Jah busy but HIM nah sleep"

-'Jah Nah Sleep'

Perhaps it is similar to the situation as I believe it to be with the great Ras Batch. Batch is also someone who makes a very straight-forward brand of music, but he does it in a way in which, as I’ve personally experienced, seems to almost always have a time-delayed approach and I'm convinced that long after his own recording days have concluded that Batch will be celebrated as an artist much, much more than he was during his prime years. Of course should that happen, it would answer my question, but I don't see it as being so. The differences between the two, as writers, is that Batch will introduce concepts with more complexities than will Lutan Fyah, who almost seems to go out of his way to streamline his ideas at times, but both definitely exhibit a great amount of passion for the actual skill of writing lyrics. 

"How di guns get so prevalent?

Inna di ghetto our life was so diligent

Mi no si di sense - fi a man ah kill him brother over dividends

DEM GREATEST FEAR IS GHETTO YOUTHS WITH INTELLIGENCE

I wanna know who is di supplier 

Cause fi dem I got this burning fire

Dem yah youth can't afford a good lawyer

Every year dem fast without prayer"

-'Streetside Ghetto'

Whatever the actual set of circumstances  - it will be extremely interesting to see how history treats the legacy of Lutan Fyah. However, fans of today like ME and YOU are not ready to turn him over just yet as he continues to be simply one of the most impressive wordsmiths Reggae music has ever seen.

Also, be sure to check out a new mixtape from Lutan Fyah, "From Then To Now" (which is apparently the first of a wicked and all-encompassing series of releases charting the entire career of the chanter) courtesy of our old friend Zalemmm from Bass Culture and the Reggae-Unite Blog. BOOM!

Lyrics!: Thirty Two

So, for me today is that day when you get to acknowledge how old you are and everybody acts as if that's a good thing. But I have to tell you, it’s terrible and I’m really, really sad that my youth has essentially faded far, far away (biggup Natural Black). However [!] that isn't to say that I can't… do something really ridiculous for the moment. Therefore, in celebration of the completion of thirty-two of the most absurd years in the history of the world, today we have thirty-two really random, but really nice (some of them) visions of verbiage from some of the very best wordsmiths in the world. 

 #1 

"Pon di battlefield I'm a rebel -

With a cause, never pause

Babylon a devil

Pon di battlefield, I'm rebel with a cause

Observe di laws with no flaws

Haile Selassie I di leader, deh pon di battlefield yah

Humble as a lamb, mi just ah follow di procedure

Rastaman a healah

Beast get trampled under heel yah

Mi buss up every seal weh dem seal yah

Read a couple chapter dem

Reflect upon di factour dem

FOCUS ON DI ACRONYM -

TO OPEN UP MI CHAKRA DEM

Seat inna di Lotus, mi ah soak up all di oxygen

Kemetic Yoga mi bring over from di continent

Afrika - that's where wi wanna be

We're living inna poverty -

Cause a di economy

Capitalistic and di materiality

Wi no si reality

Only periodically!"

-'Liberal Opposer' by Kabaka Pyramid [BOOM!] 

#2

"Bun dung di joint three more centimeter

Clean out ya head out of negative thought ya

Perversion and brutality nah go have no future

Put a stop to all di rob out of di resource in ya

Preacher wid di jumpy graveyard redeemer

When The Lion of Judah dun impact dem juggler -

Sufferah and struggler

Economic disadvantage from di robe and rape ya

LEGACY DEM HAVE ALL DI SAME BEHAVIOUR!

Legacy wi have, wi alla seh wi love Jah

Oh Jah - wi owe Jah much better

A much better earth ya because wi live yah

Di spaceship builder because it can't get off yah

Bundle up a challenge fi come test The Creator

Escape di deluge of Noah and Elijah

OUT OF STAR LION - ICKARUS AND RAFIJAH

No talk bout wid di fame, now wid di mental structure

ALL DEM YOUTH YAH DUN BELONG TO JAH!

Love Jah more inna di house of behaviour

Important to your system like a carburetor!"

-'House of Behaviour' by Midnite

#3

"Mind who you lime round

Spend time round

They could be the same one putting you down 

Mind who you smoke with, crack joke with

Cause, dem corrupted

Hey mi tell you, you betta mind you liming wid

Cause nuff ah sell you out just fi di highest money bid

You open up your doors and you show dem where you live

The same one who turn around and rob your crib

So mi seh, stay far from John Wayne and watch fi Billy The Kid

Dem believe that dem smart and dem inquisitive

But trample dem, tell dem di Black Woman no give a frig

DI RIGHTEOUS MAN NO CARE BOUT WHAT DI WICKED MAN DID

The truth it must reveal and what it is, is what it is

But fi dem admit dem wrong, dem seh dem heart it too big 

You diss Selassie I, yuh owna grave a what you dig

YOU BORN AS LION, SO TELL MI HOW YOU TURN PIG?

Di life a wah you live, well it is your prerogative

But Ickarus come ask you what do you give -

To the community, do you preach about unity?"

-'Mind Who U Lime Round' by Ickarus

#4

"I & I adore Jah Rastafari

Lift HIM high

Open yah eye, no bodda try Jah who HE is yah rightly

No bodda schematize, no strategize, no equalize -

About His Imperial Majesty 

No bodda try degrade His dignity

The heavens declare out of di worldly

HE is Haile

Devote Jah Rastafari praise HIM rightly 

To be in Jah sight, be holiness and to The Lord, God Almighty"

-'Sang Real' by Midnite

#5

"Too much of the babylon brutality in our community

What happen to the poor it no happen  to the rich in this society

Too much of the babylon brutality in our community

My people, I’m begging you to hold on steady

I can't take the pressure any longer

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO GET STRONGER

Stop them now, before it's too late

And I don't mean to hesitate

When I hear the sound of a gun

My blood run cold

My blood run cold

When I hear the sound of a gun

My blood run cold

My blood run cold"

-'Babylon Brutality' by Admiral Tibet

#6

"CONQUER DI BEST A BEST DEM!

DISMANTLE DI REST A DEM!

BECAUSE DEM AH OCCUPY DI YOUTH DEM SPACE!

FROM JAH JAH SEH SO DEN!

LOCK OFF DEM OXYGEN!

NO MORE WICKEDNESS COULD NEVER TAKE PLACE!

You tell mi seh yuh smart 

Element smarter 

You waan fi play yuh part, but not even a quarter

Destruct di man dem and also di daughter

Mek mi tell you this yow: Time is the master

Yagga yow!

Mi nuh know what dem check seh

You could do certain things and get weh

You haffi go pay for di damage you left deh or -

Else yuh likkle life ah get tek weh!" 

-'Conquer Dem' by Natural Black

#7

"The saga bed!

I rather live but nuff a dem rather dead!

Mi come fi tell unuh bout di saga bed!

What dat dem go tek upon dem head

Dem neva hail Selassie I

Inna war dem go give in 

And look at di beautiful dat wi live in

And tell dem dun wid di ism and schism

LISTEN WORDS NUH ONLY DANCE TO DI RIDDIM!

Good vibes, good energy mi giving

Know yaself now sister and bredrin

Neva bow to dem evilous regime

One order, no run out, ah run in!

Can't wi all just get along

Change yuh dutty ways fi a better land

Divineness alone deh pon di Motherland

HAILE SELASSIE I SET DI ORDER, NOT ANOTHER MAN!

Give praises, no think seh dat yuh bigga dan

[HAIL THE KING!]

Haile Selassie I, HIM a The Higher One

[HAIL THE KING!]

So victorious, one out of a million!

[HAIL THE KING!]

RASTAFARI!

GOVERN AND DOMINION!" 

-'Saga Bed' by Jah Mason

#8

"Can't mix intelligence with negligence

Binghiman dat no mek sense

Can't mix intelligence with negligence

Yow a Bobo Hill, go hold a reverence

Can't mix intelligence with negligence

Mi no business bout ya dollars and cents

Can't mix intelligence with negligence

Negativity fi knock over fence

Twenty-one subjects - you pass dem all

But yet yuh shopping meditation no pass di mall

And you know what it takes to pass di wall

Tell mi why you lost di ball

Wondering what's running through your brain

Some people say you're insane

Whenever you play di game

People get hurt down di lane

Di children dem no fool again

You seh you ahgo St. Kitts and Bermuda dem

Spread di message to woman dem -

Or else you caan maneuver dem

Give thanks for those royal soldiers

I'm talking bout us loyal soldiers

THEY'RE NOT JUST BANNER-HOLDERS

THEY'RE LIKE THE KNOWLEDGE WITHIN THE FOLDERS!"

-'Can't Mix Intelligence' by Natural Black

#9

"Jah cause Your light to shine up on us all

So humble and so meek, Rastafari hear us when wi call

Jah cause Your light to shine up on us all

So humble and so meek, Rastafari hear us when wi call

It's not where you from, it's where you at

Babylon ah plan and dem ah plot

Represent it, no matta if you White or if you're Black

NEED CONSCIOUSNESS AND WI NEED IT NON-STOP

Hey, Fyah Mason keep it like that

Well royalness, nuff love in stock

Reach into the mind and reaching to di mass" 

-'Jah Cause the Light' by Jah Mason

#10

"How excellent is thy name throughout the Earth

Jah live inna you and mi

STOP TREAT PEOPLE LIKE DIRT

Listen my punchline and my verse -

From yuh badmind, grudgeful ways, you must revert

Under dem blouse and skirt

CLAIM SEH DEM A BIG MAN, FIND OUT DEM A BIG PERVERT! "

-'Evilous Ways' by Jah Marnyah 

#11

"Nuff a dem caught up inna di judgment and dem don't know where fi run to

Rastafari is love!

Oh Rasta is love

Oh Rasta is love

I & I praise and love The Emperor, The Prince of Peace

Yet babylon instigate dem hate through mental slavery

Let us love, not to hate to deal with it right yes, yes

Mi nah go slide, nah go slip, nah mix up inna mess

SO GI DEM A VAN DAMME THUMP, A BRUCE LEE KICK INNA CHEST

Si dem ah send treat

Si dem ah plot war

Dem can't escape dis ya judgment not at all" 

-'Rasta Is Love' by Jah Marnyah

#12

"DEM VEX WHEN MI HAIL RASTAFARI

DEM AH SCREW, DEM AH BEND

WHEN MI HAIL THE BLACK KING AS THE MOST HIGH

JAH POWERS MANIFEST!

DEM VEX WHEN MI HAIL RASTAFARI

DEM AH SCREW, DEM AH BEND

WHEN MI HAIL THE BLACK KING AS THE MOST HIGH!

Better must come one day

Standing firm, keep it real inna The Most High way

Haffi make hay, whether sunrise or the clouds are grey

Many mountains to climb and pickney waan feed

Obstacles inna di way, remove dem at speed

Everyone got feeling and every man can feel  

Jah Jah see us through

Rasta see us through 

Love ah carry through

When the times things sticky like glue

Haffi set di pace, man ah go through di gate

Repatriate

MAMA AFRIKA, HERE WI COME!

Roots over rum

Love over gun

Bread over crumbs

Time fi wi start live together

Strengthen each other

Care for each other

More strength for my brothers and sisters"

-'Dem Vex' by Jah Marnyah

#13

"Yes, I'm ready to stand up and fight

Yes, I'm ready to stand up and fight for what I know is right

So all gideon soldiers unite

Been held in the dark, but Rastafari has lead all his children to light

Only the poor, only the poor suffer the pressure the most

Only the poor, only the poor  -

SO CROSS MI HEART!

WI READY, READY, READY, READY, READY WHEN THE REVOLUTION START!

CROSS MI HEART!

THE GHETTO YOUTHS READY, READY, READY WHEN THE REVOLUTION START!

CROSS MI HEART! 

YOU BETTER READY, READY, READY, READY WHEN THE REVOLUTION START!

Yes we can, and we will cause we must

Never give in, til the wicked give up and the poor man a cup

We have suffered too long down here, down here

So Rastafari ah bawl and shout out clear!

This is just a part

Only the poor, only the poor suffer the pressure the most

Only the poor, only the poor!

SO CROSS MI HEART!

WI READY, READY, READY, READY, READY WHEN THE REVOLUTION START!

CROSS MI HEART!

THE GHETTO YOUTHS READY, READY, READY WHEN THE REVOLUTION START!

CROSS MI HEART! 

YOU BETTER READY, READY, READY, READY WHEN THE REVOLUTION START!"

-'Cross Mi Heart' by Junior X

#14

"Jah is alive and I know

King Selassie I is alive - 

Of this I'm sure

What's that I hear di wicked dem talkin?

Saying that Rastafari die

Fools lack in wisdom and overstanding

All they know to do is just criticize

Propaganda di media keep spreading -

All evil rumours and lies

No longer is evil plan working

GHETTO YOUTHS NO WORSHIP NO GOD INNA NO SKY

I feel His love and I know He's the only one

Di root of David, The Conquering Lion

I read and see it clear inna Revelation

I'M SO PROUD TO BE A RASTAMAN!"

-'Jah Is Alive' by Jah Defender

#15

"Remember seh God nah sleep

All weh you ah gwan wid and you feel seh nobody nah seet

Remember seh God nah sleep

Whenever you feel fi rob and rape and kill and whenever you waan cheat

Remember God nah sleep

WHEN YOU HOLY ON A SUNDAY, BUT YOU DIRTY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK

Memba God nah sleep

Every time you bound fi mek a wrong move

Memba dis before you sweet

Remember He's The Lord of Lords, The King of All Kings

Just remember that he knoweth and he seeth all things

All sins

Alla di details 

The small things

Is like the super camera on di film of all films

And I'm talking di wicked and di heartless

ALLA WHO ARE SEEKING COVER INNA DI DARKNESS

See when yuh hiding, nuh think seh dat HIM caan catch you

HIM only wait yuh take yuh last breath!" 

-'God Nah Sleep' by Assassin

#16

"Slowly but surely -

Mi know seh Jah Jah great, HIM nah go leave wi lonely

Cah when di world tumble down on mi

Jah Jah ease di pressure and tek di pain for mi

You betta achieve yuh goal

No seh you caan dweet

JAH BUSY BUT HIM NAH SLEEP

Food haffi run and every man waan eat

JAH BUSY BUT HIM NAH SLEEP

Conquer your fears, tell yuh go ahead and achieve

JAH BUSY BUT HIM NAH SLEEP

Tell you seh Jah busy, but HIM nah sleep

So when you think that's all, it's over

And you can't take di pain no more

Call upon Jah

You've gotta, that He'll be there, for sure

Even when time gets hard and so rough

You better put The Most High, none before 

Call upon Jah

Seh Rasta never bow, remember there's no easy way to go

Yes I feel so free, as I give praises to The Most High

Who send His blessing unto I

It's the truth and I don't know why

So much stumbling block as mi try to survive

I guess they never knew I got the strength to survive

I've got to find the food to feed my kids and my wife

No like and recycle and overdrive

Papa tell mi one thing mi build that's in mind"

-'Jah Nah Sleep' by Lutan Fyah

#17

"Jah is I sword and shield

Haile [!] give I everything I need

HIM alone is rightful divine government

Yes Jah, trod this earth as flesh

As the evidence of life conquer death

HIM alone I livity must represent

The final frontier, the real battlefield is within our consciousness

The prize to be won, the victory to be gained is within our heart!

THE LOVE WE REFLECT, THE HATE WE REJECT IS TESTAMENT TO WHETHER THE MOST HIGH IS PRESENT

And reigning on the throne!

Or if the enemy convince us we can go it alone

HIM MEK ALL OTHER GOVERNMENT - IRRELEVANT -

Irrespective of material things

All other church and state - will have to abdicate

In the presence of The King Of Kings

The war we have to fight is for truth and rights -

The chains of oppression will be breaking

No weapon could stand a chance

With Haile Selassie I leading the advance!

The truth of I plan

The strength of I hand -

Are granted by The Mercy

Forgiveness from wrong and salvation are granted by The Grace

CONFUSION BECOME CLEAR, ILLUSIONS DISAPPEAR AND THE MORE I GET TO KNOW OF HIM

Revelation now has been made!

Cause I have seen HIS face!"

-'Divine Government' by Jah9

#18

"Now she's blessed with the gift of love

She's got soul, soul!

So comely with a heart of gold

She's more than what I bargained for!

And she's tired of being told she's not beautiful

Through she nuh look like the model inna di fashion magazine and she nuh play no role

No, she's tired of being told she's not beautiful

Through she nuh pose fi no video clip

And she nah dress up inna tights and slip

She's like a rainbow, real and fine

Woman of quality, sealed and signed

She's like the water that run through the stream of my life 

Deserve to be a wife

For all of the struggle that you've been through -

You fight with all you've got deep within you

All the pain, and the trials and the issues

Yes, all the best in life I've got to wish you" 

-'She's Got Soul' by Lutan Fyah

#19

"There is tension building inside I 

And I'm trusting I spirit to guide I

Even if no one else overstands -

I have got to do what it demands

I eyes and ears might deceive I

Friends and family might leave I

But is a righteous tension ah brew

So I must prepare for what I might have to do 

I don't have a problem in the world

Solution oriented, simple island girl

Passionate, compassionate, with patience as a science 

And also love and unity promoting self-reliance

Balancing I emotion, tempering I temperament 

Maintaining I composure and learning when to vent

But as injustice grips the masses more and more

The pressure makes them numb, but instead makes me sure -

That there is tension building inside I 

And I'm trusting I spirit to guide I

Even if no one else overstands

I have got to do what it demands

I eyes and ears might deceive I

Friends and family might leave I

But is a righteous tension ah brew

So I must prepare for what I might have to do

Misleaders use semantics to manipulate us

Meaning less promises to keep us inna state of -

Catatonic apprehension, empty hands up to di sky

The art of misdirection is to disguise the lie

Telling us decisions made are for our good

By those who we elect -

When in actuality they merely reflect -

An ulterior agenda to profiting their terms

SO THE PEOPLE ONLY MATTER WHEN THE PEOPLE HELP THEM EARN

So dem corrupt system get burn"

That's why there's tension building inside I 

And I'm trusting I spirit to guide I

Even if no one else overstands

I have got to do what it demands

I eyes and ears might deceive I

Friends and family might leave I

But is a righteous tension ah brew

So I must prepare for what I might have to do

But I'm never gonna give Jah up

No matter what

Imagine di morning you awake to find the soldiers on your street

Tanks on every boulevard, police on every beat

Choppers hovering but a stillness in the air

How will you be feeling?

Relieved or filled with fear?

Then the radio announces that the leader's gonna speak 

Adrenaline explodes as your attention speaks

He says, 'you may already notice the plans for your protection

Put in place to neutralize potential insurrection

But have no fear, the force is here, with teargas, bombs and guns

So no undesirables will compromise the flow of funds

Tell me where will you be standing?

What will you plan to do?…

WHEN YOU REALIZE THE ENEMY IS YOU!

Which side of the law are you?

Are you with the masses or are you the protected one?

Tell me which side of the law holds your place

Do they defend you or can they stick that gun in your face?

Tell me where does your allegiance lie

DOES THE STRUGGLE ENTERTAIN YOU OR DOES IT MAKE YOU CRY?

Is it clear where your conscience will reside

ONE DAY YOU MAY HAVE TO DECIDE!"

-'Tension' by Jah9

#20

"Jah Jah preserve!

Jah Jah preserve!

Preserve I and I to stand

When they get inna strange land

Dem steady inna plain-sight illusion

So many tired, mek dem still ah gaze whoa

Hear dem seh they only going through a phase 

Yet dem down deh on dem knees and seh dem said dem prayers

SEH DEM WAAN DEM LIFE TO BETTA, BUT DEM NEVA CHANGE

And watch how they seeking whoa

When - IT IS THEY OWNSELF THEY NEED YEAH 

NEVER REALIZE IT'S A TOOL TO KEEP DEM IN -

Illusions of fear - THE MIND IS THE PRISON

Now over and over same road they're trodding

Their feelings create and manifest from within

How - can they ever forward and still believe dem ah sin

So far removed WATCH HOW BABYLON AH GRIN"

Most high preserve

The Most High preserve

Preserve I & I to stand

When they get caught inna strange land

Steady inna plain-sight illusion

Go down - go down

Go down - go down

Wi no waan no more corruption deh around now

And a more time dem illusions haffi drown out

Come mek wi find love and then mek wi surround now

Well inna di struggle lion haffi mek a loud sound

No time to sleep, yow a time to wear yuh crown

Well I seh raise up and then stand up your ground

No trepidation, now walk and tell di town

Si dem ah look, ah look already fi go bow down

Well I seh no surrender - a Zion bound!

I seh di righteous ahgo rebound

AND WATCH HOW BABYLON AH FROWN!"

-'Jah Preserve' by Reemah

#21

"When I hear the songbirds I think of you

When I see the flowers filled with dew

When I see the rain clouds on the hills

I know my Father wills

When I know my prayers are overdue

I can see your image on the mood

When I know your trust I have misused 

I STILL FEEL MY VOWS BEING RENEWED

And I know! 

I never ever walk alone!

In Your presence build his home!

And mi know from mi likkle and mi grow!

And I know!

I never ever walk alone!

In Your presence Rasta build his home!

And mi know from mi likkle and mi grow!"

-'I Know' by Danny I

#22

"Life is just a state of mind, within a state of mind

Within an endless space of time

You've got to try get yours

Try get mine

We've got to help each other by

Or you won't make it in life

Or I won't make it in life

Or you won't make it in life no

Or I won't make it in life

UNCHANGEABLE! 

Ever since the days of old

UNCHANGEABLE!

Life remains unchangeable

Changes that don't change

So it ahgo, so it arrange

Changes that don't change

So it ahgo, so it arrange

Changes that don't change

Child into man, night into day

Changes that don't change

Seed into fruit, clouds into rain"

-'Unchangeable' by Danny I

#23

"Walk wid The Prince of Peace

Selassie I the leader!

Praises be to The King of Kings - Alpha & Omega

Ohhh, Selassie I the leader

Ohhh, Alpha & Omega 

Guiltiness is on their face

And bloodshed on their shoulders

Turn from your sinful ways

Before lightning strike all over

Whole heap a atrocity weh you cause pon ghetto youth

Then you have di audacity fi come gimme gun fi shoot

And ah chat how you lock di city, well this is di ugly truth

When you bring all di guns, come give me, well mi give it to my recruits

Big revolution

When time di guns dem turn

Turn pon di old politician weh bring it come in di first place

A shoulda fund education, fi mek di youth dem learn

Instead ah buy ammunition, and you waan come run a next term

Go run up under yuh bed bwoy, put yuh hand pon yah head

Mi terrible and mi dread

Corrupted politician fi dead bwoy

Whappen to Coral Garden?

Dung a Tivoli Garden?

Come in like yuh pree every garden

Now revolution reach every garden

GO PUT THIS UP IN THE GLEANER

MI WANT IT REACH EVERY READER

IF YOU NO LIVE LIKE HAILE SELASSIE

YOU NO FIT FI BE CHRONIXX LEADER!"

-'Alpha & Omega' by Chronixx 

#24

"Dem ah sell information

Every minute dem gone dung a station 

Dem know who dem ah blackmail

Dem ah run dem out like seh dem a frog tail

Mi know seh smaddy ah pay dem 

Find out seh dem gone di other way dem

Every day dem ah watch bout

Likkle more you si di bwoy dem gone chat bout

Yow, hey

Big surprise!

Dem neva know seh dat wi know dem a spies

Ah tell lies that disguise"

-'Big Surprise' by Sizzla Kalonji

#25

"Look how many years - Black people ah cry

Look how many years - dem ah kill and ah lie

Look how many years - dem slave I & I

Til Emperor Selassie I save I & I

Look how many years - Black people ah cry

Look how many years - babylon kill and lie

Look how many years - dem slave I & I

Tell you seh The Most High save I & I

Children suffering, ain't got no Dad no Mom

No food, no clothes, no where to live - where it's coming from?

Those with di money making guns and bombs

Sizzla tell dem find better and do wid dem money

Jah call on you

Babylon falling, you will see it all and you -

Take a look again children, they suffering in Somalia

Things dready see

Get ready see 

Caan get no bread you see

SICK AND THEY AIN'T GOT NO MEDICINE!

Don't take my people for a game

Cause you will run up inna flames

You hurt my people, babylon, oh what shame

I cleanse my people in Selassie I name

Babylon nothing ain't cool

You're so wicked

Babylon you are so cruel 

Smaddy you ah look fi ride like mule

Gotta tell you this:

Black people a nuh fool!"

-'Look How Many Years' by Sizzla Kalonji

#26

"Wicked babylonian yah time has come

Fire bun!

Rastaman ah chant dem down

There is nowhere to hide

There is nowhere to run 

Fire bun!

Rastaman ah chant dem down

King Selassie I protect all HIS daughters and son

Fire bun!

Rastaman ah chant dem down

REPATRIATION: The Black Freedom

Fire bun!

Rastaman ah chant dem down

I'll neva forget - the Black people you slaved

We work so hard and we neva get paid

You kill us off with yah guns and blade

From the sacred The Most High, dem locks you go shave 

Fire un di colonial system 

99% Black youth in di prison 

Dutty babylonian you corrupt and you sin

Hail King Selassie I: The Almighty King"

-'Chant Dem Down' by Sizzla Kalonji

#27

"I say world -

Come share with me your troubles

Let me help you conquer all your enemies

I say world -

Come share with me your sorrows

Let me help you bring your foes to their knees

From Mama Afrika, I si dem try to destroy you

Down to Jamaica, I see dem abuse you too

I stand as a warrior

Ready to fight the powers that be

And together we will win til dem check history

TIL THE LAST TEAR IS SHED!

TIL INJUSTICE IS DEAD!

TIL THE LAST HUNGRY BELLY IS FED

I'LL FIGHT FOR MY WORLD

TIL THE LAST WAR IS WON

SUFFERATION IS GONE!

TIL WI SING VICTORY SONG!

I say world, I know you're hurting

Your screams of pain they pierce my very soul

I say world, I know you're yearning!

For a light to lead you from the dark and cold

So here am I now

I'm ready to fight with you

And for the children's sake

I'll fight harder too

I'll stand as a solider reporting for duty

And together we will win til dem check history!" 

-'I'll Fight [Hey World]' by Etana

#28

"I am your Queen

You're the King beside of me

you're my strength

You are here to guide me

Wanna be your warrior

Break down every barrier

With my love as my weapon

I can walk the world with a fear

I can hold my head, without a care

And I can fight the world -

Every grudgeful boy and every badmind girl

WITH YOUR LOVE AS MY WEAPON

Dem caan stop di way-

I feel for you, my love has no boundary

Dem caan bully di way-

Mi feel, I fight for you and you fight for me

Dem caan stop di way-

Dem wish and dem hope and dem fight and dem pray

DEM CAAN STOP THIS WARRIOR LOVE

Living in a house with a bed and a broke down fridge

I was there and mi cook di cabbage

WHEN THINGS SEEMED TO GO FROM BAD TO WORSE

A KISS FROM YOUR LIPS SEEMED TO BREAK THE CURSE

Now that we're living glorious, there's no way I'll forget when it was just -

You and I trying hard to get by

BEHIND EVERY STRONG MAN THERE IS A GOOD WOMAN

That's who I live to be

YOU SEEM TO PLEASED WITH WHO I AM, CAUSE YOU'RE THE STRONGEST MAN I'VE EVER SEEN!

I'm a whole lotta woman, full of everything that love is worth

FOR YOU TO HAVE ME ON YOUR MIND ALWAYS, YOU MUST BE CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF THE EARTH!

The loving that we have, it will lead us to Jah

Mek HIM bun dung di wicked wid di living fyah 

And the Rod of Correction will give us direction away from the heathen and bless us with children!"

-'Warrior Love' by Etana

#29

"I am the Queen of the concrete jungle

Lion on the scene, it's dangerous oh

I am the Queen of the concrete jungle

Lion on the scene, it's dangerous oh 

They were underestimating, now they're rating

They were on the other side, now they're debating

But it's alright -

Cause when I rise

They'll be surprised when the lioness roar

When this lion ROAR! 

I am the Queen of the concrete jungle

Lion on the scene, it's dangerous oh

I am the Queen of the concrete jungle

Lion on the scene, it's dangerous oh 

I'm watching, even when you think I'm sleeping

It's gonna be too late, when you see me coming

Cause when the time is right, all my enemies will be weeping

The world will know my name

The world will know my name!"

-'Queen' by Etana

#30

"In the last days, I say it again and again

We living in the last days, I say it again and again

Yow, if you read your bible - Genesis to Revelation

You will si The Father's works manifestation

No matter how dem destroy Mother of Creation

In the eyes of The Father, there is no condemnation

For the righteous, He has made a preparation

We shall praise The King upon di Holy Hill of Zion

Woe unto dem who gave their praises unto a man

Seeking false God forcefully, false religion

LOVE IS THE LIGHT AND THE LIFE IN JAH JAH KINGDOM

IF YOU NO WALK IN LOVE, YOU NO HOLD NO MEDITATION

THE GIFT OF THE MOST HIGH IS LIFE ETERNAL!" 

-'Last Days' by Queen Omega

#31

"There's nothing to worry about

Cause He'll be there, I have no doubts

In times like these when you find yourself in trouble

Take it easy, take it slow, don't make it double

In times like these when you find yourself alone

No matter where you are, you walk in trouble zone

You feel the sky is falling on your head

Don't worry cause He said that He would be there

He will guide you, trust me

He will brighten up the dark

Shine His glory on you, help you out when times get hard

No matter how big your troubles may be

WITH HIM BY YOUR SIDE, THEY'RE ALWAYS TINY

You need not worry, need not struggle, need not fret

CAUSE ALL HE REALLY WANTS, IS FOR YOU THE BEST! 

There's nothing to worry about

Cause He'll be there, I have no doubts

There's nothing to worry about

Cause He'll be there, I have no doubts

When times get rough and you have no one to turn to

It was written He will always be there for you

In times like these, use the power of your mind

With vibes and smiles, leave your worries all behind"

-'Nothing To Worry' by Sara Lugo

#32

"MY BEHAVIOUR STINK!

MY BEHAVIOUR WELL WRENK!

WHEN I REACH UP IN FETE!

EVERYBODY MUST WET!

MY BEHAVIOUR STINK!"

-'Wrenk' by Lavaman