Bob Marley -Rastaman Vibration

---

1. Positive Vibration 2. Roots, Rock, Reggae 3. Johnny Was 4. Cry To Me 5. Want More 6. Crazy Baldheads 7. Who The Cap Fit 8. Night Shift 9. War 10. Rat Race

---

Back to Bob Marley Index

---

 

 

 

 

 

POSITIVE VIBRATION

[Vincent Ford]

 

Live if you want to live

(Rastaman vibration, yeah! Positive!)

That's what we got to give!

(I'n'I vibration yeah! Positive)

Got to have a good vibe!

(Iyaman Iration, yeah! Irie ites!)

Wo-wo-ooh!

(Positive vibration, yeah! Positive!)

 

If you get down and you quarrel everyday,

You're saying prayers to the devils, I say. Wo-oh-ooh!

Why not help one another on the way?

Make it much easier. (Just a little bit easier)

 

Say you just can't live that negative way,

If you know what I mean;

Make way for the positive day,

'Cause it's news (new day) - news and days -

New time (new time), and if it's a new feelin' (new feelin'), yeah! -

Said it's a new sign (new sign):

Oh, what a new day!

 

Pickin' up?

Are you pickin' up now?

Jah love - Jah love (protect us);

Jah love - Jah love (protect us);

Jah love - Jah love (protect us).

 

Rastaman vibration, yeah! (Positive!)

I'n'I vibration, yeah! (Positive!) Uh-huh-huh, a yeah!

Iyaman Iration, yeah! (Irie ites!) Wo-oo-oh!

*Positive vibration, yeah! (Positive!)

 

Pickin' up?

Are you pickin' up now?

Pickin' up?

Are you pickin' up now?

Pickin' up? (Jah love, Jah love -)

Are you pickin' (protect us!) up now?

Pickin' up? (Jah love, Jah love -)

Are you pickin' (protect us!) up now?

Pickin' up? (Jah love, Jah love -)

Are you pickin' (protect us!) up now?

Pickin' up?

Are you pickin' up now?

 

[* Sleeve notes give this line as "Vibes, got to have a good vibe".]

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE

[Vincent Ford]

 

Play I some music: (dis a) reggae music!

Play I some music: (dis a) reggae music!

Roots, rock, reggae: dis a reggae music!

Roots, rock, reggae: dis a reggae music!

 

Hey, Mister Music, sure sounds good to me!

I can't refuse it: what to be got to be.

Feel like dancing, dance 'cause we are free;

Feel like dancing, come dance with me!

 

Roots, rock, reggae: dis a reggae music!

Roots, rock, reggae, yeah! Dis a reggae music!

Play I some music: dis a reggae music!

Play I some music: dis a reggae music!

 

Play I on the R&B - wo-oh! Want all my people to see:

We're bubblin' on the Top 100, just like a mighty dread!

Play I on the R&B; want all my people to see:

We bubblin' on the Top 100, just like a mighty dread!

 

Roots, rock, reggae: dis a reggae music! Uh-uh!

Roots, rock, reggae, ee-mi duba! Dis a reggae music!

Play I some music: (dis a reggae music!)

Play I some music: (dis a reggae music!)

---

/Saxophone solo/

(Dis a reggae music!)

(Dis a reggae music!)

---

Play I on the R&B; I want all my people to see: (doo-doo-doo-doo!)

We bubblin' on the Top 100, just like a mighty dread!

(doo-doo-doo-doo!)

Play I some music: (dis a) reggae music!

Play I some music: (dis a) reggae music!

(Dis a reggae music!)

(Dis a reggae music!) /fadeout/

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

JOHNNY WAS

[Bob Marley]

 

 

(Wo-o-o-o! Wo-o-o-o! Wooo!)

Woman hold her head and cry,

'Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died

From a stray bullet.

 

Woman hold her head and cry;

Explaining to her was a passerby

Who saw the woman cry (cry)

Wondering how can she work it out,

Now she knows that the wages of sin is death, yeah!

Gift of Jah is life. (life)

She cried: Ah-um, I - I know!

"Johnny was a good man," I - I know! (never did a thing wrong)

"Johnny was a good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good,

good, good, good man", (Johnny was good man)

she cried - she crie-ie-ie-ie-ie-ie-ie-ied!

 

Wo-ooh! Woman hold her head and cry,

As her son had been shot down in the street and died

Just because of the system. (system)

 

Woman hold her head and cry;

Comforting her I was passing by.

She complained, then she cry:

Oh-ooh-wo-ah, cry (ah-ah), yeah, I know now (ah-ah),

no I know, I know now:

(Johnny was a good man)

Said I know, mm-mm-mm-mm-mm.

(Never did a thing wrong)

Ah! Ah!

(Johnny was a good man)

Can a woman tender care, she cried,

(Never did a thing wrong)

Cease towards the child she bear?

(Johnny was a good man)

Wo-ho-ho-ooh! Woman cry, woman -

(Never did a thing wrong)

She cried, wo-oh! She cried, yeah!

(Johnny was a good man)

Can a woman tender care

Cease towards the child she bear?

(Never did a thing wrong)

Wo-now, cry!

(Johnny was a good man)

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

CRY TO ME

[Bob Marley]

 

 

(Ooh-ooh, hoo-hoo-hoo! Ooh-ooh hoo-hoo!)

Cry to me, now;

You gonna cry to me, yeah!

You're gonna walk back through the heartaches;

You're gonna walk back through the pain;

(Shed those) Shed those lonely teardrops:

The reaction of your cheating game.

 

You got to cry to me, now!

You're gonna cry - cry - cry to me, yeah! Yeah!

Lord knows how I get from the heartaches;

Lord that leadeth me, yeah!

And now I'm by the still water.

You've got to cry to me, yea-ea-eah!

You gonna cry to me now;

You've got to cry - cry - cry to me, yeah!

You're gonna spend those lonely hours.

You're gonna shed those lonely tears;

(Walk back) Walk back through the heartaches;

(Walk back) Walk back through the pain;

(Shed those) Shed those lonely teardrops:

The reaction of your cheating game.

 

You're gonna to cry to me, now!

You got to cry - cry - cry to me, yeah!

Saying, (don't know) don't know - know how I get from the heartaches;

(Lord that) Lord that leadeth me, yeah-eah-eah!

(Shed those lonely teardrops)

Now I'm by the still water;

(The reaction of your cheating game) Gonna cry to me now, hey!

(Cry) Cry (Cry) Cry

/fadeout/

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

WANT MORE

[Aston Barrett]

 

Now you get what you want,

Do you want more?

(want more)

Now you get what you want,

Do you want more?

(want more)

 

You think it's the end,

But it's just the beginning.

You think it's the end,

But it's just the beginning.

Go down back-biter, down back-bite; down back-biter, down back-bite!

Down back-biter, down back-biter; down back-biter, down back-bite!

 

They stab you in the back

And they claim that you're not looking.

But Jah have them in the region

In the valley of decision.

They stab you in the back

And they claim that you're not looking.

But Jah have them in the region

In the valley of decision -

In the valley of decision.

Go down back-biter, down back-bite, down back-biter, down back-bite!

 

Now you get, what you want,

Do you want more?

Now you get, what you want,

Do you want more?

Now you get, what you want,

Do you want more?

You think it's the end:

Do you want more?

---

/Guitar solo/

---

Go down back-biter, down back-bite, down back-biter, down back-bite!

Go down back-biter, down back-bite, down back-biter, down back-bite!

 

They stab you in the back

And they claim that you're not looking.

But Jah have them in the region

In the valley of decision.

Now: what you want?

Want more? Want more?

Now: what you get?

Want more? Want more?

Now - Now: do you want more?

You think it's the end: (think it's the end)

Do you want more? (want more) (you think it's the end)

---

/Instrumental break/

---

(Now: what you want?

Want more? Want more?

Now: what you get?

Want more? Want more?)

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

CRAZY BALDHEADS

[Bob Marley; Vincent ford]

 

 

Them crazy, them crazy -

We gonna chase those crazy

Baldheads out of town;

Chase those crazy baldheads

Out of our town.

 

I'n'I build a cabin;

I'n'I plant the corn;

Didn't my people before me

Slave for this country?

Now you look me with that scorn,

Then you eat up all my corn.

 

We gonna chase those crazy -

Chase them crazy -

Chase those crazy baldheads out of town!

---

/Scat singing/

---

Build your penitentiary, we build your schools,

Brainwash education to make us the fools.

Hate is your reward for our love,

Telling us of your God above.

 

We gonna chase those crazy -

Chase those crazy bunkheads -

Chase those crazy baldheads out of the yown!

---

/Instrumental break/

---

We gonna chase those crazy -

Chase those crazy bunkheads -

Chase those crazy baldheads out of the yown!

 

Here comes the conman

Coming with his con plan.

We won't take no bribe;

We've got [to] stay alive.

 

We gonna chase those crazy -

Chase those crazy baldheads -

Chase those crazy baldheads out of the yown.

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

WHO THE CAP FIT

[Aston Barrett; Carlton Barrett]

 

 

Man to man is so unjust, children:

Ya don't know who to trust.

Your worst enemy could be your best friend,

And your best friend your worse enemy.

 

Some will eat and drink with you,

Then behind them su-su 'pon you.

Only your friend know your secrets,

So only he could reveal it.

And who the cap fit, let them wear it!

Who the cap fit, let them wear it!

Said I throw me corn, me no call no fowl;

I saying, "Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."

 

Some will hate you, pretend they love you now,

Then behind they try to eliminate you.

But who Jah bless, no one curse;

Thank God, we're past the worse.

 

Hypocrites and parasites

Will come up and take a bite.

And if your night should turn to day,

 

A lot of people would run away.

And who the stock fit let them wear it!

Who the (cap fit) let them (wear it)!

 

And then a-gonna throw me corn,

And then a-gonna call no fowl,

And then a-gonna "Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."

---

/Instrumental break/

---

Some will eat and drink with you,

Then behind them su-su 'pon you, yeah!

And if night should turn to day, now,

A lot of people would run away, yeah!

And who the cap fit, let them wear it!

Who the cap fit, let them wear it!

Throw me corn, me no call no fowl;

A-saying: "Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."

... : "Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."

Throw me corn (cook-cook-cook);

Me call no fowl (cluk-cluk-cluk)

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

NIGHT SHIFT

[Bob Marley]

 

 

The sun shall not smite I by day,

Nor the moon by night;

And everything that I do

Shall be upfull and right.

And if it's all night,

It got to be all right!

If it's all night,

Got to be all right!

 

Your mamma won't lose this one;

You're the lucky one under the sun.

If you make me move,

Then you know you got the groove:

All night, it's all right!

All night, yeah! It's all right!

 

Working on a forklift

In the night shift;

Working on a night shift,

With the forklift, from A.M.

(Did you say that? Why did you say that?)

to P.M. (Working all night!)

Working on a night shift, yeah!

(Did you say that? Why did you say that? Upfull and right!)

Well, if it's (all night!) - if it's (all right!)

all night (all night!) -

 

Warehouse (all right!),

You're empty, yeah!

Go around the corner,

Bring your goods!

Go around the other corner,

Bring your suitcases. (All night!)

By the sweat of my brow, (All right!)

Eat your bread! (All night!)

By the sweat of my brow, (All right!)

Eat your bread!

 

All night (all night)! All right (all right)!

All night (all night)! All right (all right)!

Oh, yeah! (moon by night)

Why did you say that? Oh, yeah!

(Upfull and right!)

Working on a night shift

With the forklift.

(Moon by night!)

Working on the night shift,

Oh, yeah!

(Upfull and right!)

/fadeout/

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

WAR

[Alan cole; Carlton Barrett]

 

Until the philosophy which hold one race superior

And another

Inferior

Is finally

And permanently

Discredited

And abandoned -

Everywhere is war -

Me say war.

 

That until there 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, yeah!

Good over evil -

Good over evil, yeah!

Good over evil -

Good over evil, yeah! /fadeout/

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration

 

 

 

 

RAT RACE

[Bob Marley]

 

Uh! Ya too rude!

Uh! Eh! What a rat race!

Oh, what a rat race!

Oh, what a rat race!

Oh, what a rat race!

This is the rat race! Rat race! (Rat race!)

 

Some a lawful, some a bastard, some a jacket:

Oh, what a rat race, yeah! Rat race!

 

Some a gorgon-a, some a hooligan-a, some a guine-gog-a

In this 'ere rat race, yeah!

Rat race!

I'm singin' that

When the cat's away,

The mice will play.

Political voilence fill ya city, ye-ah!

Don't involve Rasta in your say say;

Rasta don't work for no C.I.A.

Rat race, rat race, rat race! Rat race, I'm sayin':

When you think is peace and safety:

A sudden destruction.

Collective security for surety, ye-ah!

 

Don't forget your history;

Know your destiny:

In the abundance of water,

The fool is thirsty.

Rat race, rat race, rat race!

 

Rat race!

Oh, it's a disgrace

To see the human-race

In a rat race, rat race!

You got the horse race;

You got the dog race;

You got the human-race;

But this is a rat race, rat race! /fadeout/

 

Back to Index of Rastaman Vibration