Bob Marley

[nattydread]

400 years

400 years
And it's the same -
The same philosophy
I've said it's four hundred years;
Look, how long
And the people they still can't see.
Why do they fight against the poor youth of today?
And without these youths, they would be gone -
All gone astray

Come on, let's make a move:
I can see time - time has come,
And if-a fools don't see
I can't save the youth:

The youth is gonna be strong.
So, won't you come with me;
I'll take you to a land of liberty
Where we can live - live a good, good life
And be free.

Look how long: 400 years,
Way too long!
That's the reason my people - my people can't see.
Said, it's four hundred long years -
Give me patience - same philosophy.

It's been 400 years,
Wait so long!
How long? 400 long, long years.

[nattydread]

Africa Unite

Africa unite
'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon,
And we're going to our Father's land, yea-ea.

How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man, yea-eah! -
To see the unification of all Africans, yeah! -
As it's been said a'ready, let it be done, yeah!
We are the children of the Rastaman;
We are the children of the Iyaman.

So-o, Africa unite:
'Cause the children (Africa unite) wanna come home.
Africa unite:
'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon, yea,
And we're grooving to our Father's land, yea-ea.

How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man

To see the unification of all Rastaman, yeah.
As it's been said a'ready, let it be done!
I tell you who we are under the sun:
We are the children of the Rastaman;
We are the children of the Iyaman.

So-o: Africa unite,
Afri - Africa unite, yeah!
Unite for the benefit (Africa unite) for the benefit of your people!
Unite for it's later (Africa unite) than you think!
Unite for the benefit (Africa unite) of my children!
Unite for it's later (Africa uniting) than you think!
Africa awaits (Africa unite) its creators!
Africa awaiting (Africa uniting) its Creator!
Africa, you're my (Africa unite) forefather cornerstone!
Unite for the Africans (Africa uniting) abroad!
Unite for the Africans (Africa unite) a yard!

[nattydread]

African Herbsman

All twinklin' lee
Can't see the right rose when the streams abate
The old slave men might grind slow
But it grinds fine, yeah

African herbsman, why linger on?
Just concentrate, 'cause heaven lives on
Greet-I-eth slave men will look with a scorn
With a transplanted heart (yes, how quick they had to part)

The remembrance of today
Is the sad feelin' of tomorrow
(... how quick ...)

African herbsman, seize your time
I'm takin' illusion on the edge of my mind
I'm takin' losers down thru my life
Down thru my life, yeah (yes, how quick they had to part)

(... how quick they had to part)

Dideh part, yes, they part
In remembrance of today
(... how quick they had to part)

African herbsman, why linger on?
Just concentrate, 'cause your heaven lives on
Greet-I-eth slave men will look with a scorn
With a transplanted heart, yes, how (... quick they have to part)
(... how quick they have to part)

In remembrance of today
Brings sad feelings of tomorrow
(Yes, how quick they have to ...) Lead me on, oh, Lord, I pray to you

African, African herbsman ...

[nattydread]

Ambush In The Night

See them fighting for power,
But they know not the hour,
So they bribing with their guns, spare-parts and money,
Trying to belittle our
Integrity now.
They say what we know
Is just what they teach us;
And we're so ignorant
'Cause every time they can reach us
Through political strategy;
They keep us hungry,
And when you gonna get some food,
Your brother got to be your enemy, we-e-ell!

Ambush in the night,
All guns aiming at me;
Ambush in the night,
They opened fire on me now.
Ambush in the night,
Protected by His Majesty.

Well, what we know
Is not what they tell us;
We're not ignorant, I mean it,
And they just cannot touch us;
Through the powers of the Most-I,
We keep on surfacin';
Thru the powers of the Most-I,
We keep on survivin'.

Yeah, this ambush in the night
Planned by society;
Ambush in the night;
They tryin' to conquer me;
Ambush in the night
Anyt'ing money can bring;
Ambush in the night
Planned by society;
Ambush in the night

[nattydread]

Babylon System

We refuse to be
What you wanted us to be;
We are what we are:
That's the way it's going to be. You don't know!
You can't educate I
For no equal opportunity:
Talkin' 'bout my freedom,
People freedom and liberty!
Yeah, we've been trodding on the winepress much too long:
Rebel, rebel!
Yes, we've been trodding on the winepress much too long:
Rebel, rebel!

Babylon system is the vampire, yea!
Suckin' the children day by day, yeah!
Me say: de Babylon system is the vampire, falling empire,
Suckin' the blood of the sufferers, yea-ea-ea-ea-e-ah!
Building church and university, wo-o-ooh, yeah! -
Deceiving the people continually, yea-ea!
Me say them graduatin' thieves and murderers;
Look out now: they suckin' the blood of the sufferers.

Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth right now!
Come on and tell the children the truth;

Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth;
Come on and tell the children the truth.

'Cause - 'cause we've been trodding on ya winepress much too long:
Rebel, rebel!
And we've been taken for granted much too long:
Rebel, rebel now!

Trodding on the winepress (rebel):
got to rebel, y'all (rebel)!
We've been trodding on the winepress much too long

From the very day we left the shores (trodding on the winepress)
Of our Father's land (rebel),
We've been trampled on (rebel),
Oh now! (we've been oppressed, yeah!) Lord, Lord, go to ...

Now we know everything we got to rebel
Somebody got to pay for the work
We've done, rebel.

[nattydread]

Bad Card

You a-go tired fe see me face;
Can't get me out of the race.
Oh, man, you said I'm in your place
And then you draw bad card -
A-make you draw bad card,
And then you draw bad card.

Propaganda spreading over my name;
Say you wanna bring another life to shame.
Oh, man, you just a-playing a game
And then you draw bad card;
A-make you draw bad card;
A-make you draw bad card.

I want to disturb my neighbour,
'Cause I'm feelin' so right;
I want to turn up my disco,
Blow them to full watts tonight, eh! -
In a rub-a-dub style, in a rub-a-dub style,

In a rub-a-dub style, in a rub-a-dub style.

'Cause we guarding the palace so majestic;
Guarding the palace so realistic!

Them a-go tired to see we face,
Me say them can't get we out of the race;
Oh, man, it's just a big disgrace.
The way you draw bad card;
The way you make wrong moves;
The way you draw bad card;
A-make you draw bad card;
A-make you draw bad card -
In a rub-a-dub style, rub-a-dub style,
In a rub-a-dub style

[nattydread]

Bend Down Low

Bend down low, let me tell you what I know now;
Bend down low, let me tell you what I know.
Oh! Fisherman row to reap what you sow now;
Oh, tell you all I know,
you've got to let me go now,
And all you've got to do:
Oh yeah! Let me tell you what I know;
Bend down low, let me tell you what I know. Oh yeah!

You keep on knockin', but you can't come in.
I get to understand you been livin' in sin,
But if you love me, woman, walk right in.
I've got a notch for your safety-pin,
But bend down low.

Keep on knockin', but you can't come in.
I get to understand you been livin' in sin,
But walk right in, woman, sit right down.
I will keep on lovin' you; I play the clown.
But bend down low, baby, let me tell you what I know;
Bend down low, let me tell you what I know, yeah!
Let me tell you, baby! Let me tell ya -
Knock on, babe! Just won't let ya in!
You been livin' in sin. Knock on!

[nattydread]

Blackman Redemption

Natty Congo:
A Dreadlock Congo I!
Natty Congo:
A Blackman Redemption!
A Blackman Redemption!

No need - no need to get jumpy;
No need and-a no need to get bumpy,
And-a no need - and-a no need to get bumpy;
No need to get jumpy!

Youth and youth agree to:
Cool runnings; can you dig it?
Cool runnings; yeah, one more time! A-beg ya:
Cool runnings; can you stop it?
Cool runnings:
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out.

Tell you about the Blackman Redemption; can you dig it?
A Blackman Redemption; can you stop it?
Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, no!

Coming from the root of King David
Through to the line of Solomon,
His Imperial Majesty is the Power of Authority:

Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out,
Spread, spread out.

No need - no need - no need to get jumpy,
And-a no need - and-a no need to walk away.

Let me tell bout ya:
Cool runnings, can you dig it?
Cool runnings: it's one more time we want it;
Cool runnings;
Cool runnings;
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out, spread out,
Spread out. Spread out, spread out.
Spread out, spread out.

It's just-a Blackman Redemption
Can you dig it? Good, Lord! Good, Lord! Good, Lord!
Blackman Redemption, can you stop it? Oh, no! Oh, no!
Blackman redemption

[nattydread]

Brain Washing

Old Mr. Joe, he build a house away
On top of some hill
Old Mr. Joe knew he had to go, so he
He got right down and wrote bank will
He say now, here's to mother hen
And her chicken, Lord have mercy now
Master, will you take a roll in the mud
Like you know you should?
The old barnyard, the old barnyard
Birds and the chick, ooh-wee
Who's got to watch out for brother mongoose
With his top hap and walking-stick?

It's just the poor's brain washing
(Poor's ...) They told me a long time ago,
It's just the poor's brain washing, ooh-wee
(Poor's brain washing) Now look at a thing like this

Cinderella and her long lost fellow
In the midnight hour, she lost her silver slipper

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
While Jack and Jill had themselves a fall

It's just the poor's (... brain washing)
And I don't need it no longer (... washing)
It's just the poor's brain washing
Coming through to a poor man's child, ooh-wee, look at this

Little Miss Muffet she sat on a tuffet
While Little Red Riding Hood delivered her grandmom's food
Ooh-wee ooh-wee
Ooh-wee, look at one more thing like this
The cow jumping over the moon
While the dish got jealous, he grabbed the handy spoon

It's just the poor's brain washing
And I don't need it no longer, I don't want it no longer
I don't need it no longer (...washing)
And I don't care for no more brain washing (... washing) ...