Roots Archives Forum

Quite obvious ones, but, if I didn't miss it out, not quoted yet :

"Children say a little prayer, every night before you go to sleep,
'cause tomorow is promised to no one, when you think it's peace and safety,
it could be, this could be sudden destruction"

(Johnny Osbourne, Truth and rights)

"And I feel like bombing a church, now that I know that the preacher is lying"

(Bob, Talking blues)

"What youn a go do when we gone,
Never to stop keep sailing along,
Babylon you bag us all,
Babylon you bound to fall..."
Jnr Ross & The Spear Babylon Fall 1976

"For I have seen the land of my fathers in a vision
From the hills of captivity's plains."
Dennis Brown Deliverence Will Come 1977

"Hang On,
Some gone drown a'ready,
We're in a storm"
Gregory Isaacs Storm 1977

"Who no waan come can stay,
You can stay for I am going"
Wailing Souls Who No Waan Come 1980

positive positive
got to think positive
negatiiii..ii.ve
babylon a think negative..
positive by black uhuru

great thread it is too leggo rocker..one of the very best...

Fire (Is The Desire)

The fire is burning
People are yearning

In this time, In this time, In this time
Fire is burning

The fire is so hot you can't get close to it.
Fire is burning

The flame is so high that you can't get above it.
Fire is burning

The sparks are so wide that you can't get around it.
Fire is burning.

The heat is so deep you can't under it.
Fire is burning

I've been listening to Justin Hinds & the Dominoes a lot lately. And I've really come to appreciate the power of his lyrics. They're so deceptively simple. Clean. Nothing is wasted. This guy knows how to wield a word.

So many "great" songwriters cram every line with cheap metaphors and puns that serve no purpose but to demonstrate how clever they are. And so often the song itself becomes a turgid mess. The lines are too long and overrun the beat. Too many syllables. [Yes, I'm talking about you Elvis Costello.]

Perhaps it is because he was writing for harmony trio, but Hinds always put the song first. Working in allegories filled with ambiguity. A lot of his songs have this mysterious quality to them. Reminds a lot of folkie Townes Van Zandt that way.

Stunning.

my advice to anyone on ya
me no business bout you age you sex or colour
if you receive
a poll tax letter
when you s... a toilet
use it as your paper
papa levi
gwow tax letter

I and I
The son of the most high
Whose heart shall correspond
And beat in one harmony
Sounds from the burning spear


Some drums

And whoooeeei

if you racist and wicked. and
support national front
and one day you wake up
and youre black like soot
it serves you right
you brute..
macka b
it serves you right

Love is lovely but war is very ugly I tell you be cool brother, be cool.

U-roy's version of The Tide is High

some people wanna be white
even though dem black
black history dem no waan know dat
..macka b..
coconut