Get Down Moses
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Lyrics
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Prairie full of lost souls running from the priests of iniquity
Where the hell was Elijah?
Well, what do you do when the prophecy came was true?
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
You cannot take the walls of Jericho
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Put your lips together and blow
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
To the very top
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Sayin' the truth crystallizes
Like jewels in the rock, in the rock
Get down Moses, part another sea
Carve another tablet out of LSD
Get down Moses, out in Tennessee
Get down Moses, down in the street
The blood is washing down all the gravel to our feet
Get down Moses, down in the pit
Lying in a green, cross bound field
Crashing on a downtown strip
Looking in the eyes of the diamonds and the spies and the hip
Who's sponsoring the crack ghetto
Who's lecturing? Who's in the know and in the don't know?
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
You better take the walls of Jericho
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Put your lips together and blow
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Goin' to the very top
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Where the truth crystallizes
Like jewels, in the rock, in the rock
Get down Moses, from the eagle eyrie
You gotta to make a new friend out of old enemies
Get down Moses, back in Tennessee
Get down Moses, down with the dreads
They got a lotta reasoning in a dread head
Get down Moses, down in the street
Get down Moses, part another sea
Carve another tablet out of LSD
Get down Moses, out in Tennessee
Get down Moses, down in the street
The blood is washing down all the gravel to our feet
Get down Moses, down in the pit
Get down Moses
Get down Moses
Get down Moses
We need to eat
We gotta chew it over with our wisdom teeth
Get down Moses
The lyrics of "Get Down Moses" by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros is rich in biblical and cultural references, drawing from the story of Moses and the Exodus, and the classic tale of the walls of Jericho. The opening lines depict the singer atop a mountain witnessing a vast prairie filled with lost souls running from the priests of iniquity. The allusion to Elijah, a prophet who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, speaks to the idea of being chosen, called and equipped for a divine purpose. The singer wonders what to do when the prophecy comes true, suggesting that the revelation can be overwhelming or even paralyzing in some sense.
The chorus, featuring the repetition of "Get down Moses," beckons to the hero's decisive action, urging him to part another sea and carve another tablet out of LSD, to get down in the street where the blood of social injustice flows. The lyrics contain a sense of urgency, an invitation to action and transformation, and a plea for wisdom and discernment in the midst of chaos and confusion. Through the biblical and cultural references, the song invites the listeners to think deeply about their role as agents of change and their responsibility to stand up for justice and righteousness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joe Strummer, Martin Paul Slattery, Scott Shields, Simon Stafford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Fleeks
Once I got to the mountain top, everywhere I could see
Prairie full of lost souls running from the priests of iniquity
Where the hell was Elijah?
Well, what do you do when the prophecy came was true?
You cannot take the walls of Jericho
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Put your lips together and blow
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
To the very top
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Sayin' the truth crystallizes
Like jewels in the rock, in the rock
Get down Moses, part another sea
Carve another tablet out of LSD
Get down Moses, out in Tennessee
Get down Moses, down in the street
The blood is washing down all the gravel to our feet
Get down Moses, down in the pit
Lying in a green, cross bound field
Crashing on a downtown strip
Looking in the eyes of the diamonds and the spies and the hip
Who's sponsoring the crack ghetto
Who's lecturing? Who's in the know and in the don't know?
You better take the walls of Jericho
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Put your lips together and blow
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Goin' to the very top
(Na na, na-na-na-na-na)
Where the truth crystallizes
Like jewels, in the rock, in the rock
Get down Moses, from the eagle eyrie
You gotta to make a new friend out of old enemies
Get down Moses, back in Tennessee
Get down Moses, down with the dreads
They got a lotta reasoning in a dread head
Get down Moses, down in the street
Get down Moses, part another sea
Carve another tablet out of LSD
Get down Moses, out in Tennessee
Get down Moses, down in the street
The blood is washing down all the gravel to our feet
Get down Moses, down in the pit
Get down Moses
Get down Moses
Get down Moses
We need to eat
We gotta chew it over with our wisdom teeth
Get down Moses
Chloe Donnelly
My dad used to play this album in the house when I was a kid. I still love it so much, these songs hang around my dreams and creep into my mind when it's otherwise occupied, like washing dishes or something. My dad wasn't always a great dad, but to me, the essence of his best self lives in this album.
Victor Morgado
good daughter///
VE
Wonderfully said
Elijah Monroe
My father played this kind of "obscure" music as well. Sometimes I wonder if I appreciate the music, and the time we spent together, more than he does.
Brett Stuart
that is a beautiful sentiment!
speez
You've been blessed with the sound of Joe Strummer. I was alive (wee) when the Clash were about. I saw Joe Strummer and The Mescelaros in t.o. words can't describe. They did a Mescelaros album, then 2 hours of straight Clash tunes.
Joe Stunner Music
My favourite Mescaleros track. Ten years today since Joe moved on, yet he's still as burning an inspiration as ever. Never forgotten…
Randy Bolinger
This was written so eloquently, so that all of time and humanity may celebrate. Top 5 albums of all time.
Connie Zed
Joe Strummer left us a beautiful legacy of music. Hope you're continuing to discover and share it.
Pablo B L
Te amo Joe, gracias por acompañarme en toda mi adolescencia y juventud y alegrarme la vida!!! Muy grande!!! Y que temazo