NATTY DREAD

lyrics

  • Back to index
    
    
                Transcribed from album tracks
                [Album originally released 25/10/1974]
    
    
                Contents:
    
                1. Lively Up Yourself
                2. No Woman No Cry
                3. Them Belly Full
                4. Rebel Music
                5. So Jah Seh
                6. Natty Dread
                7. Bend Down Low
                8. Talkin' Blues
                9. Revolution
    
    
                LIVELY UP YOURSELF      [Bob Marley]
    
                You're gonna lively up yourself, and don't be no drag;
                You lively up yourself 'cause reggae is another bag.
                You lively up yourself, and don't say, "No";
                You're gonna lively up yourself 'cause I said so!
    
                Hear what you gonna do:
                You rock so, you rock so, like you never did before, yeah!
                You dip so, you dip so: dip through my door.
                You come so, you come so, oh yeah!
                You skank so, you skank so: be alive today!
    
                You're gonna lively up yourself, and don't say, "No";
                You lively up yourself, big daddy says so, y'all!
                You lively up yourself, and don't be no drag;
                You lively up yourself 'cause reggae is another bag.
    
                What you got that I don't know?
                I'm a-trying to wonder - wonder - wonder why you -
                        wonder - wonder why you act so.  Yeah!
    
                Hey, do you hear what the man seh?
                Lively up your(self) - your woman in the morning time, y'all!
                Wa!  Keep a liv'lin' up your woman when the evening come
                And take ya* - take ya - take ya - take ya-a-a!
                Come on, baby!  'Cause I wanna be lively myself, y'all!
                ---
                /Organ, saxophone and guitar solo/
                ---
                Lively up yourself;
                Lively up yourself.
                You want to rock so, you rock so:
                ---
                /Saxophone solo/
                ---
                You rock so, you rock so;
                You dip so, you dip so;
                You skank so, you skank so, and don't be no drag!
                You come so, you come so, for reggae is another bag!
    
                Get what you got in that bag!
                What you got in de other bag you got hanging there?
                What you say you got?
                I don't believe you!
    
                [* Sheet music gives this line as: "And take her take ya."]
    
    
                2. NO WOMAN NO CRY      [Vincent Ford]
    
                No, woman, no cry;
                No, woman, no cry;
                No, woman, no cry;
                No, woman, no cry.
    
                'Cause - 'cause - 'cause I remember when a we used to sit
                In a government yard in Trenchtown,
                Oba - obaserving the 'ypocrites - yeah! -
                Mingle with the good people we meet, yeah!
                Good friends we have, oh, good friends we have lost
                Along the way, yeah!
                In this great future, you can't forget your past;
                So dry your tears, I seh.  Yeah!
    
                No, woman, no cry;
                No, woman, no cry.  Eh, yeah!
                A little darlin', don't shed no tears:
                No, woman, no cry.  Eh!
    
                Said - said - said I remember when we used to sit
                In the government yard in Trenchtown, yeah!
                And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
                I seh, logwood burnin' through the nights, yeah!
                Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, say,
                Of which I'll share with you, yeah!
                My feet is my only carriage
                And so I've got to push on through.
                Oh, while I'm gone,
                Everything's gonna be all right!
                Everything's gonna be all right!
                Everything's gonna be all right, yeah!
                Everything's gonna be all right!
                Everything's gonna be all right-a!
                Everything's gonna be all right!
                Everything's gonna be all right, yeah!
                Everything's gonna be all right!
    
                So no, woman, no cry;
                No, woman, no cry.
                I seh, O little - O little darlin', don't shed no tears;
                No, woman, no cry, eh.
    
                No, woman - no, woman - no, woman, no cry;
                No, woman, no cry.
                One more time I got to say:
                O little - little darlin', please don't shed no tears;
                No, woman, no cry.
                ---
                /Guitar solo/           /fadeout/
    
    
                3. THEM BELLY FULL (BUT WE HUNGRY)  [Legon Cogill; Carlton Barrett]
    
                Na-na na na-na na na na;
                Na-na na na-na na na na;
                Na-na na na-na na na na;
                Na-na na na-na na na na.
    
                Them belly full, but we hungry;
                A hungry mob is a angry mob.
                A rain a-fall, but the dirt it tough;
                A yot a-yook, but d' yood no 'nough.
    
                You're gonna dance to Jah music, dance;
                We're gonna dance to Jah music, dance, oh-ooh!
    
                Forget your troubles and dance!
                Forget your sorrows and dance!
                Forget your sickness and dance!
                Forget your weakness and dance!
    
                Cost of livin' gets so high,
                Rich and poor they start to cry:
                Now the weak must get strong;
                They say, "Oh, what a tribulation!"
                Them belly full, but we hungry;
                A hungry mob is a angry mob.
                A rain a-fall, but the dirt it tough;
                A pot a-yook, but d' yood* no 'nough.
    
                We're gonna chuck to Jah music - chuckin';
                We're chuckin' to Jah music - we're chuckin'.
                ---
                /Guitar solo/
                ---
                A belly full, but them hungry;
                A hungry mob is a angry mob.
                A rain a-fall, but the dirt it tough;
                A pot a-cook, but d' food* no 'nough.
                A hungry man is a angry man;
                A rain a-fall, but the dirt it tough;
                A pot a-yook, but you no 'nough'
                A rain a-fall, but the dirt it tough.
                A pot a-cook, but you no 'nough;
                A hungry mob is a angry mob;
                A hungry mob is a angry mob.  /fadeout/
    
                [* Sheet music gives this line as: "A pot a cook but you no' nough".]
    
    
                4. REBEL MUSIC (3 O'CLOCK ROADBLOCK)    [Aston Barrett; Hugh Peart]
    
                (Do do do do-do do do!
                 Do do do do-do do do!
                 I rebel music;
                 I rebel music.)
                Why can't we roam (oh-oh-oh-oh) this open country?   (open country)
                Oh, why can't we be what we wanna be?  (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
                We want to be free.  (wanna be free)
    
                3 o'clock roadblock - curfew,
                And I've got to throw away -
                Yes, I've got to throw away -
                A yes-a, but I've got to throw away
                My little herb stalk!
    
                I (rebel music) - yeah, I'm tellin' you! -
                (I) I rebel music (rebel music).  Oh-ooh!
    
                Take my soul (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
                   and suss - and suss me out (suss me out).  Oh-ooh!
                Check my life (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh),
                   if I am in doubt (I'm in doubt); I'm tellin':
                3 o'clock roadblock - roadblock - roadblock,
                And "Hey, Mr. Cop!  Ain't got no - (hey)  hey! (hey, Mr Cop) -
                (What ya sayin' down there?) - (hey)  hey!  (hey, Mr Cop) -
                Ain't got no birth certificate on me now."
                ---
                /Instrumental break/
                                        (I rebel music)
                                        (I rebel music)
                                        (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
                                        (open country)
                                        (oh-oh-oh)
                ---
                (Do do do!)
                I (rebel music) - yeah, I'm tellin' you! -
                (I) I rebel music (rebel music).
    
                Oh-ooh!  Take my soul (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
                   and suss - and suss me out (suss me out).  Oh-ooh!
                Check my life (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh),
                   if I am in doubt (I'm in doubt); I'm tellin':
                3 o'clock roadblock - roadblock - roadblock,
                And "Hey, Mr. Cop!  Ain't got no - (hey)  hey! (hey, Mr Cop) -
                (What ya sayin' down there?) - (hey)  hey!  (hey, Mr Cop) -
                Ain't got no birth certificate on me now."
    
    
                5. SO JAH SEH   [Will Francisco; Rita Anderson]
    
                So Jah seh,
                "Not one of my seeds
                Shall sit in the sidewalk
                And beg bread."
                (No, they can't and you know that they won't!)
    
                So Jah seh,
                "Not one of my seeds
                Shall sit in the sidewalk
                And beg your bread."
                (No, they can't and you know that they won't!)
                "And verily, verily, I'm saying unto thee, 'I
                Inite oneself and love Imanity.'"
                'Cause puss and dog they get together:
                What's wrong with loving one another?
                Puss and dog they get together:
                What's wrong with you my brother?
    
                So Jah seh,
                "Ye are the sheep of my pasture;
                So verily, thou shall be very well."
                So Jah seh - yeah! -
                "Ye are the sheep of my pasture;
                So verily, thou shall be very well," yeah!
    
                And down here in the ghetto,
                And down here we suffer.
                But I'n'I a-hang on in there
                And I'n'I, I naw leggo;
                I'n'I a-hang on in there
                and I'n'I, I naw leggo.
    
                For so Jah seh - yeah! -
                "I'm gone to prepare a place,
                That where I am thou shall abide," yeah!
                So Jah seh,
                "Fear not for mighty dread,
                'Cause I'll be there at your side."
    
                And - and down there - down there in the ghetto -
                And down there we suffer
                But I'n'I a-hang on in there
                And I'n'I, I naw leggo.
                But I'n'I a-hang on in there
                And I'n'I, I naw leggo;
                - So Jah seh.
    
    
                6. NATTY DREAD  [Alan Cole; Rita Anderson]
    
                Dread, Natty Dread now,                         (Natty Dread)
                Dreadlock Congo Bongo I.                        (Natty Dread)
                Natty Dreadlock in a Babylon:                   (Natty Dread)
                A dreadlock Congo Bongo I.                      (Natty Dread)
                Eh!  Children get your culture                  (Natty Dreadlock)
                And don't stay there and gesture, a-ah,         (Natty Dreadlock)
                Or the battle will be hotter                    (Natty Dreadlock)
                And you won't get no supper.                    (Natty Dreadlock)
    
                Natty Dread, Natty Dread, now;                  (Natty Dread)
                A dreadlock Congo Bongo I.                      (Natty Dread)
                Natty Dreadlock in a Babylon -                  (Natty Dread)
                Roots Natty, Roots Natty!                       (Natty Dread)
    
                Then I walk up the first street,                (Natty Dreadlock)
                And then I walk up the second street to see.    (Natty Dreadlock)
                Then I trod on through third street,            (Natty Dreadlock)
                And then I talk to some Dread on fourth street. (Natty Dreadlock)
                Natty Dreadlock in a fifth street,              (Natty Dreadlock)
                And then I skip one fence to sixth street.      (Natty Dreadlock)
                I've got to reach seventh street:               (Natty Dreadlock)
                Natty Dreadlock Bingy Bongo I                   (Natty Dread)
                Natty dread, Natty Dread, now,                  (Natty Dread)
                Roots Natty Congo I.                            (Natty Dread)
    
                Oh, Natty, Natty,
                Natty 21,000 miles away from home, yeah!
                Oh, Natty, Natty,
                And that's a long way
                For Natty to be from home.
    
                Don't care what the world seh;                  (Natty Dread)
                I'n'I couldn't never go astray.                 (Natty Dread)
                Just like a bright and sunny day:               (Natty Dread)
                Oh, we're gonna have things our way.            (Natty Dread)
                Natty Dread, Natty Dreadlock,                   (Natty Dreadlock)
                Dreadlock Congo Bongo I.                        (Natty Dreadlock)
                Don't care what the world seh;                  (Natty Dreadlock)
                I'n'I gonna have things our way.                (Natty Dreadlock)
                If a egg Natty in a the red -                   (Natty Dreadlock)
                If a egg Natty in a the red.                    (Natty Dreadlock)
                Natty Dread, Natty Dreadlock.   /fadeout/
    
    
                7. BEND DOWN LOW        [Bob Marley]
    
                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 (Oo-oh!),
                   you've got to let me go now (Oo-oh!),
                And all you've got to do:
                (Bend down low)  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.
                ---
                /Instrumental break/
                ---
                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!      /fadeout/
    
    
                8. TALKIN' BLUES        (Legon Cogill; Carlton Barrett]
    
                Yeah!  Oh, yeah!  Now!
                Cold ground was my bed last night   (bed last night)
                And rock was my pillow, too;        (doo-oo-oo-oo-oo!)
                Cold ground was my bed last night   (bed last night)
                And rock was my pillow, too.  Yeah!
    
                I'm saying: talkin' blues (talkin' blues),
                   talkin' blues (talkin' blues);
                They say your feet is just too big for your shoes. (shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo)
                Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues):
                Your feet is just too big for your shoes.          (shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo)
    
                Yeah, I've been down on the rock for so long,     (so long)
                I seem to wear a permanent screw;                 (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
                I've been down on the rock for so long,           (so long)
                I seem to wear a permanent screw.                 (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
                But-a I - I'm gonna stare in the sun,
                Let the rays shine in my eyes.
                I - I'm a gonna take a just-a one step more
                'Cause I feel like bombin' a church -
                Now - now that you know that the preacher is lyin'.
                So who's gonna stay at home
                When - when the freedom fighters are fighting?
    
                Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues):
                They say your feet is just too big for your shoes, woe-oh-oh-oh!
                Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), keep on talkin' blues (talkin' blues);
                They say - you hear what they say -
                Didn't you hear?
    
                Cold ground was my bed (bed last night),
                Rockstone - rockstone - rockstone was my pillow;
                Cold ground was my bed last night (bed last night),
                And rock was my pillow, too.
    
                Sayin': (talkin' blues, talkin' blues):
                I seem to wear a permanent screw - permanent screw.
                Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues):
                Feet is just too big for your shoes.   (shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo)   /fadeout/
    
    
                9. REVOLUTION   [Bob Marley]
    
                Revelation reveals the truth - revelation.
                   (revolution, revolution, revolution - oooo-doo-doo-doo-doo)
                   (revolution - oooo-doo-doo-doo-doo)
    
                It takes a revolution (revolution) to make a solution;
                   (doo-doo-doo-doo)
                Too much confusion (aaa-aaah), so much frustration, eh!
                I don't wanna live in the park (live in the park);
                Can't trust no shadows after dark (shadows after dark), yeah-eh!
                So, my friend, I wish that you could see,
                Like a bird in the tree, the prisoners must be free, yeah! (free)
    
                Never make a politician (aaa-aaah) grant you a favour;
                   (doo-doo-doo-doo)
                They will always want (aaa-aaah) to control you forever, eh!
                   (forever, forever)
                So if a fire make it burn  (make it burn, make it burn)
                And if a blood make ya run (make ya run, run, run),
                Rasta de 'pon top (aaa-aaah), can't you see?  (doo-doo-doo-doo)
                So you can't predict the flop.  Eh-eh!        (doo-doo-doo-doo)
    
                We got lightning (lightning), thunder (thunder),
                   brimstone (brimstone) and fire - fire (fire, fire);
                Lightning (lightning), thunder (thunder),
                   brr-brimstone  (brimstone) and fire - fiyah - fire - fiyah!
                   (fire, fire)
    
                Kill, cramp and paralyze all weak at conception;
                   (aaa-aaah, doo-doo-doo-doo)
                Wipe them out of creation (creation), yeah-eah! (creation)
                   Wa-Jah, Jah, Jah!  Wa-Jah, Jah, Jah!  (creation)
                   Wa-Jah, Jah, Jah!  (creation)
    
                Oh!  Let i'es is i'es (i'es), in i'es is black (i'es),
                In i'es is red (i'es), in i'es is dread.
    
                Let righteousness cover the earth
                Like the water (aaa-aaah) cover the sea, yeah!  Yeah!
    
                Lightning (lightning), doo-doo-doo (thunder),
                   doo-doo-doo (brimstone), doo-doo-doo (fire, fire);
                A lightning (lightning), thunder (thunder),
                   brimstone  (brimstone) and fire.             /fadeout/