I'm sure it was the 24th (of september)
That was the day the incident happened (I remember)
My brethrens were all assembled in one accord (ina the yard)
Minding their own personality (of I-quality)
Babylon then came along
With the forces of brutality

Licks and kicks and boxes
Right to my brethrens' structure
Licks and kicks and boxes
Right to my sisters' faces

Oh Jah I know you stay and see
What they did, that was meant to be
For it is the fulfilment of the holy prophecy

Oh Jah I know you stay and see
What they did that was meant to be
For it is the fulfilment of the holy prophecy

To everything (there is a season)
and what they did (they have no reason)
We are they that went through great tribulation
So let them be brought to shame and confusion
For what they did without a cause (licks and kicks and boxes)
On the 24th night of september 1976 (licks and kicks and boxes)
Wicked men ??? without no reason no (licks and kicks and boxes)
They took us away to a place called...

Overall Meaning

Israel Vibration's song "Licks and Kicks" speaks about a violent incident that occurred on the 24th of September, where Babylon came with its forces of brutality, delivering licks and kicks to the structure of the singer's brethren and the faces of his sisters. The singer acknowledges that Yahweh saw what they did and that it was the fulfilment of the holy prophecy. The singer recognizes that they are the ones who went through great tribulation and that those who brought them to shame and confusion will be punished, for they had no reason to deliver such violence.

This song by Israel Vibration holds the story of the band's dark past. The members of the band are sufferers of polio since childhood, and they met at a rehabilitation center in the '60s. The institute tried to force them to undergo painful treatments instead of providing physiotherapy, which turned into a protest that led to their expulsion. This ordeal is depicted in the song as the licks and kicks they received from Babylon.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm sure it was the 24th (of september)
The specific date and time of the incident is known and remembered

That was the day the incident happened (I remember)
Recollection of the day that the incident took place

My brethrens were all assembled in one accord (ina the yard)
Group of men gathered together peacefully in a certain location

Minding their own personality (of I-quality)
Individuals were being true to themselves and their own individuality

Babylon then came along
A negative force arrived

With the forces of brutality
This negative force immediately began to act in violent ways

Licks and kicks and boxes
Unjust violence was committed against people in the group

Right to my brethrens' structure
The violence was aimed at the physical bodies of the men in the group

Licks and kicks and boxes
Unjust violence was committed against people in the group

Right to my sisters' faces
The unjust violence wasn't limited to men, women in the group were also targeted

Oh Jah I know you stay and see
The belief in a higher power that is aware of and sees everything that happens

What they did, that was meant to be
The incident was not an accident, it was purposeful

For it is the fulfilment of the holy prophecy
The occurrence of this situation was predicted in religious text

To everything (there is a season)
There is an appropriate and inappropriate time for everything

And what they did (they have no reason)
The perpetrators of the violence had no legitimate reason for their actions

We are they that went through great tribulation
The group experienced significant suffering and difficulty

So let them be brought to shame and confusion
The hope for justice to eventually prevail

For what they did without a cause (licks and kicks and boxes)
The violence against the group was unnecessary and unjustified

On the 24th night of september 1976 (licks and kicks and boxes)
The specific date and time of the incident was September 24th, 1976 and it involved physical attacks

Wicked men ??? without no reason no (licks and kicks and boxes)
The people who instigated the violence were doing so senselessly and without legitimate motivation

They took us away to a place called...
The final destination of where the people were taken after the violence is not clear

Contributed by Michael N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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