MUTABARUKA
"any which way... freedom"
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1. ANY WHICH WAY . . . FREEDOM 2. REVENGE 3. H2 WORKA (For The Farm Workers Of Jamaica) 4. REVOLT AIN'T A REVOLUTION (For The People Of Haiti And Berkino Faso) 5. SKINS 6. LETTER FROM A FRIEND 7. DRUGS KULCHA (5 Years After) Remixed 8. BIG MOUNTAIN (For The Indians On Turtle Island) 9. THIEVIN LEGACY 10. HARD TO GET 11. GOD IS A SCHIZOPHRENIC 12. WOULD U |
Musicians
(P) 1989 Shanachie Records Corp.
SHANACHIE 43061
by de ballot or de bullet
(repeat: by de ballot or de bullet )
repeat: by de ballot or de bullet )
and tryin to figure out these lyrics
meanwhile yuh drinkin and havin fun
WATCH OUT
de revolution a com
betta be a part a de solution
dis mite be di final confrontation
betta awake to dis reality
dis is no time to loose yuh sanity
caussse
by de bible or de gun
any which way freedom mus com
killin de children in sweato
turnin el salvador inna one big ghetto
dumpin waste on sea and lan
buildin up arsenal of nuclear weapon
opressin de haitians
bombin in iran
troops in afganistan
there mus be
there mus be
a solution a revolution
by de ballot or de bullet
by de bible or de gun
any which way freedom mus com
now yuh kill i today
yuh cant kill i tomorrow
today for you tomorrow your sorrow
revolution for de poor a change mus com
either by de bible or by de gun
a change mus com
a change mus com
talkin to u leftist and capitalist
food clothes and shelter have no politics
de almighty creator belongs to no religion
ideologies wont bring about a solution
now turn to yuh psalms in de bible
and show me a.k. 47
com meck wi fight oppression
com meck wi fine a solution
com meck wi fight oppression
com meck wi start a revolution
in nicaragua
in el salvador
in south africa
REVENGE
time and time a would hear mi tada seh
yesterday i thief mi fada gun
i'm a angry young man
i'm on de run
a shot a police wid mi tada gun
ask me why
a tell u no lie
a pray years hopin dat dis police would die
as a child a can neva feget
dat face so ugly and sweat
yet a knew de day would com
wen a would have to kill im an run
now mi family will neva si mi again
through these years i have felt much pain
a nite mare all these years
so much pain so much tears
now it happen a long time aguh
right down there in de ghetto
mi mada was sittin aroun de shop counta
wen a man com in an start to beat har
mi fada was away dat day
neva knoo who to run to or wat to say
a stan up deh a neva meck a soun
de man push mi mada to de groun
a could'nt se a ting agen
but a knoo mi mada was feelin pain
wen im lef a hear har cry
a hear har seh "LARD LET ME DIE"
dat mi sista was not his . . . and a kne right aweh
dat de day would have to com
wen a would be a young man on de run
now a sit behind dis wall
dis wall suh tall
still hearin mi mada cry
still hearin har seh "LARD LET ME DIE"
H-2 WORKA
comin from de island of jamaika
i am a H2 worka
cuttin came inna florida
workin suh hard in de burnin sun
wonderin if slavery really dun
i'm workin workin
workin on yuh cane field still
workin workin
workin for yuh meager dolla bill
suh don't bite de hands dat feed yuh
i have dreams like u to
dont treat mi like i'm a slave here
jus ghey mi a wage dat is fare
i am a H2 worka
pickin apple inna florida
i am a H2 worka
hopin dat tings will be betta
suh dont teck mi fi granted and pass mi
like is only yuh cane and apple yuh si
dont teck it fi joke an run mi
den sen to mi govament fi more a wi
dis is not slavery
jus poverty
talkin to democracy
betta yuh did sen mi to war
den a woulda si at a fitin for
jus de needy
talkin to de greedy
jus de goodness
of de restless
wantin to make a betta life
for mi children and wife
suh a com to yuh lan to help yuh
to help mi
to help wi
dis is not slavery
jus poverty
wantin democracy
suh dont bite de hands dat feed yuh
i have dreams like u to
dont teck mi situation fi weakness
dont even tink dat i am helpless
a gettin restless
workin on yuh cane field still
i'm workin workin
workin on yuh cane field still
REVOLT AINT A REVOLUTION
tryin to overthrow our brother
why are we still sayin freedom
still freedom can't com
we have to learn things from ancient history
to help build a new society
we have to remember nkrumah and garvey
to build our own economy
now a revolt aint a revolution
coup is still not the solution
we have to plant some food on the land
agriculture is the key for buildin a nation
why are we measurin' progress
as determined by the west
why are we still sayin yes
to all their industrial mess
we have to understan' the times we are livin in
and remember where we have been
we have to remember what happen in slavery
so as not to repeat that history
now a revol aint a revolution
killin leaders is not the solution
we have to buil schools in the community
to get rid of illetaracy
why are we listening to these preachers
who pose as moral teachers
why are we still sayin amen
to the very thing that put us in this pen
we have to return to ancient philosophy
and reveal all of earths mystery
we have to live by our own spirituality
to determine our own destiny
now a revolt aint a revolution
foreign aid is still not the solution
we have to understan africa for africans
to build a new nation
why are we discussin problems
whith people who refuse to solve them
why are we still beggin for freedom
while lookin down the barret of a gun
we have to seek shaka hannibal
in these times of agression
and understand what was their mission
we have to advance to victory with truth and right
known that right must overcome might
now a revolt aint a revolution
buildin a nuclear weapons is not the solution
if some thing is not worth diein' for its not
worth livin' for
but if it takes war to free us then is just WARRR
SKINS
but there is more of me to see within
skins have played many tricks on me
skins yes skins is what they see
but i am made with bones and skin like u
doin hopin for the same things u do
for justice peace and a place on earth
for life existance and what its worth
so stop playin your skin tricks on me
if my skin aint free neither will we be
stop playin your skin tricks i say
tomorrow is a brand new day
for every skin thats here on earth
came to existance through a child's birth
the blood that moulds is always red
life continues even when skin is dead
skin for u
skins for me
when skins are black and in slavery
no skin can truly say its free
so stop playin your skin
tricks on me
there is much more of me to see
stop playin that skin trick i say
tomorrow is a brand new day
open your eyes and be wise
take u awake and realise
life is blood we all possess
blood is where life existance rest
the blood that moulds is always red
life continues even skin is dead
skin is black
skin is white
we live through the day
we live through the night
skin is black
skin is white
the color of skin is not the right to might
so stop playin that skin trick on me
there is much more of me to see
stop playin that skin trick i say
tomorrow is a brand ne day
LETTER FROM A FRIEND
i can cleary see your tormented faces
how you must hate me
i wonder how many think of killin me
of assasinating their countries leader
but again lookin at you all
i see fear
passive fear
fear of death
no marturs are among you
so i am safe within the confines of the law
to overtax you
underpay you
overwork you
police force you
bury you
black people
my people
victims of society
victims of western democracy
no martyrs are among you
even though our country achieved independence
european rule still prevails
neo-colonialism has its roots deep in our soil
i care not
as long as i am well paid
no martyrs are among you
so i am safe within the confines of your passitivity
to stand on this rostrum
and adress you
and fill your oppressed ears
with mockin promises
as i speak, i speak for all who are here with me
brown and nearly white
for color, class and creed
has no meanin where the almighty dollar is concerned
and on behalf of the government
here and abroad
i would like to thank you voters
for dippin your finger in the blood
thus markin an X
givin us the wrong to do wrong
you dont have to hear my thoughts
you know them
no martyrs are among you
DRUGS KULCHA (5 years after)
mi neva know yuh do dem ting deh to?
wah?
teck yuh nose fun vacuum cleaner
johnny use to satisfy with just smokin
till some foreigner come and say
man you're jokin
a know smokin will get u high
but that still wont make u reach the sky
i'm gonna give u a thing
that will make u sing
and every where u go people will swing
suh johnny stop smoke
im start sniff coke
im teck it fi a joke
drug kulcha takin ova de place
yuh know dis is a damn disgrace
drug kulcha takin ova de place
youth your life is gonna go to waste
rasta a smoke herbs before i born
wi eat wi ital food wi life still a gwan
wen johnny sniff and it guh to im head
im eye start pulp im is like a living dead
(repeat: drug culcha taking ova de place)
johnny sniff and sniff
forget about de spliff
said he felt good
just like a singer should
(repeat: drug culcha taking ova de place)
now pleasure is afreedom song
wat makes one man rise makes another go down
so get high on life
even your wife
dont let de fame
go to your brain
make u insane
a say move de cocaine
(repeat: drug culcha taking ova de place)
youth man stop it now before it too late
BIG MOUNTAIN
YUH AFI FIGHT FI YUH LAN
JUS LIKE DE DAYS OF OLD
YOU'LL HAVE TO BE COLD AND BOLD
dont let the wifeman tongue fool u
dont let his paper cool u
with tricks and lies he stole the land
refuse and resist the wifeman plan
stand on big mountain its your ancestors earth
land is power without it life has no worth
stand on big mountain you'll have to be strong
good must over come the struggle is long
he came to turtle island with fire water in hand
gave it to the redman
then stole his land
gave us a image of indians so wild
the image we got on the screen as a child
who is to blame who is to blame
i say the image of john wayne
dont let the wifeman tongue fool u
dont let his paper cool u
dont let his fire water get u down
stand up and fight for your piece of ground
(repeat: stand on big mountain)
..
in africa and asia he went to civilize nations
yet in the land of liberty and justice he has reservati
on the big screen he played his sitty game
usin the image of john wayne
robbin and rapin he stole the land
refuse ahd resist the wifeman plan
dont let the wifeman tongue fool u
dont let his papers cool u
dont let the ancestors die in vain
u have nothin to loose much to gain
(repeat: stand on big mountain)
THIEVIN LEGACY
gimme mi dat
gimme back mi every thing yuh got
gimme mi philasophy yuh carry to greece
tief homo and socrates
gimme back mi historical masta piece
gimme back mi name
gimme mi back mi kalinda
gimme mi books yuh tief from alexzandra
gimme mi queen like kleopatra
mi nuh wah ear bout queen victoria
gimme mi language a knoo suh well
yuh mixup inglish canfusin nuh het
gimme back mi maths u pytagarus
gimme mi simbals yuh tief from us
gimme mi dis
gimme mi dat
gimme mi back mi everyting yuh got
gimme mi dymon
gimme mi gold
gimme back mi rack and roll
gimme mi uraynium
gimme mi coal
gimme mi reggae
gimme mi blues
gimme mi musik dat yuh confuse
no spiritual cansep originated here
suh who i praiz yuh shouldnt kare
yuh seh steal not
yuh tief mi lan
sex not
yuh rape mi mada
keep de sabbat
wi work seven days a week
yuh buil a nation from de sweat of mi back
now yuh wah com gimme CRACK
gimme mi herbs meck wi meck som tea
gimme back all mi fruit tree
gimme mi medicin yuh teck fom mi
gimme de remidy dat meck bline see
gimme mi dis
gimme mi dat
gimme back everyting yuh got
gimme a space a can run mi own life
respect is due de time is now
no more turn cheek
dis time wi naah bow
gimme a break
HARD FI GET
but girl a gwey get yuh yet
yuh playin hard fi get
but a dun throw mi net
girl why yuh afi hide
yuh caw si a feel fi yuh inside
de tings wi coulda share
if yuh tell mi dat yuh care
but yuh playin hard fi get
but girl a gwey get yuh yet
yuh playin hard fi get
but a dun throw mi net
meck mi tell yuh a ting
a wah fi be yuh king
and if yuh should be mi queen
mi lov would be pure and clean
wen yuh walk dung de street
lawd mi heart jus skip a beat
girl yuh suh sweet
yuh meck mi body full a heat
(repeat: yuh playin hard fi get)
a know is a disgrace
dat a dont have a place
not even a likkle tent
a can afford fi rent
but if yuh should share mi lov
awoulda treat yuh like a dove
suh please com a mi
den yuh woulda si
(repeat: yuh playin hard fi get)
yuh know mi heart is really set
suh girl please nuh fret
yuh playin hard fi get
but girl a gwey get yuh yet
tell mi wah fi do
fi prove mi love to yuh
sen mi any weh
yuh know a woulda guh deh
even if a afi wait
yuh lov cah neva late
suh tell mi likkle girl
if a can com in yuh worl
(repeat: yuh playin hard fi get)
GOD IS A SHIZOPHRENIC
talkin dat
everyone tryin tojustify where there at
me u
u me
all of us tryin to be free
now the clock says its time
tic toc tic
god is a shizophrenic
today u do dis
tomorrow u do dat
god and devil
both in u
everything been done
comin from who
mornin and nite
woman and man
rich and poor tryin to be one
wonderin what is sin
time steps in
tic toc tic
god is a shizophrenic
check dis out without a doubt
today tings are bad
tomorrow u are sad
goin through many changes in a very short time
poverty is still linked with crime
now the clock moves again
who's to answer who's to blame
tic toc tic
god is a shizophrenic
now all u religious people out there
i know u might not like what u hear
god in the sky com down to die
god in the sky a universal lie
u out there sayin dis sayin dat
still dont know just where its at
rich and poor
the clock moves again
tic toc tic
god is a shizophrenic
WOULD U
do u feel weak
wen u hear my thoughts
do u feel caught in the web of hopelessness
wen i say black
do u feel its an attack
or a lack of understandin on my part
or just wrath
comin from me do u see
me
as a tret to your safety
wen i say whitey
do u consider dat bigotry
if i say i cared not about politics
would u consider me an anarhist
if i say no to religion
wold that be considered
an extention
of my misconcepton
about what u think of me
do u see what i mean
if i said i didnt smoke
or take coke
would u take it for a joke
and cry then wonder why i told such a lie
are u upset because my poems sometimes make u fret
about the future of things to come
would u call me a brute
if i wore a suit
or said i was cute
do u think i would be a better writer
if my poems were lighter
spoke more about nature
or some adventure
that gave me pleasure
would u love me more
if i spoke less about the poor
and talked about the women i adore
now after listenin to this
are u lookin for a twist
or just another rhyme
in the next line
thew solutions that u seek
will not be in the streak
of a pen or even ten line
of mine
the problems are the same
but dont blame me because i see
that part of reality
that pains
and stains the heart
i came into this life
with neither guns or knives
i made no laws
with all its flaws
about black and white
and whats wrong from whats right
i speak i write of what i see
of men holdin men in slavery
of color class and greed
so dont blame me if wen i speak
u do feel weak
i did not create
tell me this now
would u accuse me of causin a riot
if i was
quiet
would u
OR EVEN TEN LINE OF MINE"
- Michael Fletcher Leebert "Gibby" Morrison
- Drums: Wilburn "Squiddly" Cole
- Guitar: Leebert Morrison
- Rhythm Guitar: Fazel Prengergast, Leebert Morrison
- Acoustic Guitar: Earl "China" Smith, Leebert Morrison
- Repetah and Bass Drums: Harry T. Powell
- Drums: Mutabaruka
- Percussions: Harry T. Muta, Gibby
- Synthesizer: Handel Tucker
- Keyboards: Philip Roane
- (Except "Thievin Legacy" Robbie Lyn)
- Congos: Karl Messado
- Saxophone: Dean Frazer
- Trumpet: Chico
- Trombone: Nambo
- Backup vocals on "Thievin Legacy" Marcia Griffiths, Crystal, Earl Smith
- Additional Voice on "God Is a Schizo" Desi Roots
- on "Drug Kulcha" Christopher Meridith
- Keyboards: Tazan
- Drums: Benbow
- Guitar: Gibby
- Backup Vocals: Light Of Love
Produced and arranged by Mutabaruka and Leebert Morrison
except "Thievin Legacy" arrangement by Mutabaruka and Earl Smith
Recorded at Tuff Gong, The Mixing Lab And Music Works
Mixed at The Mixing Lab And Music Works, Kingston
Recorded and mixed by Oswald "Chunnie" Palmer
Assisted by Muta and Gibby
Executive Producer: Mutabaruka
All poems written by Mutabaruka
Cover Design: Karen Watson, Susanne Foster
Artwork: Karen Watson
My right to publish the above lyrics on the Web can only be disputed by Mutabaruka himself.
E-mail: shohdy@zhurnal.ru
Опубликовано с подачи The I-Times ----- i-times@usa.net
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MUTABARUKA on the WWW: Trouser Press Bandlist Rounder records |
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Lyrics
