War Inna Babylon
Max Romeo/Lee "Scratch" Perry
It sipple out deh!
War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Let me tell, it sipple out deh
A wha' you seh, it sipple out deh, oh yeah
War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
It sipple out deh, wha' you seh, it sipple out deh, oh yeah
De baba men nuh like de dreadlocks man
De dreadlocks man nuh like de baba man, no
De po-lice men nuh like de dreadlocks man
De dreadlocks man nuh like de po-lice man, no
So war inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Let me tell, it sipple out deh
A wha' you seh, it sipple out deh, oh yeah
War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Let me tell, it sipple out deh
A wha' you seh, it sipple out deh, oh yeah
When come pride then cometh shame
A man pride shall bring him low, yeah, oh yeah
Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit
And you know it's true, yeah , oh yeah
War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
A wha' you seh, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? we slide out deh, oh yeah
War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
A wha' you seh, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? mek we slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? mek we slide out deh, oh yeah
true, true, true, it sipple out deh
let me tell, we slide out deh
Marcus garvey prophecise, say:
"One mus' live 10 miles away, yeah, in this time"
I-man satta at the mountain top
Watching Babylon burning red hot, red hot
War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
A wha' you seh, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? we slide out deh, oh yeah
War inna babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
A wha' you seh, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? mek we slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? mek we slide out deh, oh yeah
true, true, true, it sipple out deh
let me tell, we slide out deh
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Note: "it sipple out deh" means "it's slippery (dangerous) out there"
The title refers to the violence at the Jamaican election in 1976
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from the Reggae Lyrics Archive @ http://hjem.get2net.dk/sbn/reggae.htm ¦
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War
Bob sets to music the speech presented to the United Nations by H.I.M Haile Selassie. Selassie's plea for human rights now created the most powerful anti-racist statement.
Until the philosophy which holds one race
Superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
Everywhere is war, me say war
That until there is no longer first class
And second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war
That until the basic human rights are equally
Guaranteed to all, without regard to race
Dis a war
That until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion
To be pursued, but never attained
Now everywhere is war, war
And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
That hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique,
South Africa sub-human bondage
Have been toppled, utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war, me say war
War in the east, war in the west
War up north, war down south
War, war, rumours of war
And until that day, the African continent
Will not know peace, we Africans will fight
We find it necessary and we know we shall win
As we are confident in the victory
Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
Good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives
War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives
I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away
Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way
Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it
War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing
--
Edwin Starr
