Babylon Makes The Rules
Steel Pulse Lyrics
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A weh dent a go sek
'cause
My people are in a mess
But nobody wants to know
'cause when you're down and out and oppressed
You've got to fight your battles from the
Lowest of the low
So keep your distance and take your stance,
'cause this could be your utmost chance.
You've had all night and day to
Consider and pray
You've brought fire on my head and
Now you must pay.
CHORUS
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Where my people suffer...
Take Rastaman culture for instance,
Dem think is political joke,
But we people know better then that,
'cause what keeps us together is
Jah Herb that we smoke
I and I know the truth of it all,
'cause we have smashed our heads
'gainst that wall,
And now I seh we must create a scene,
We must recapture our culture
By any means.
CHORUS
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Where my people suffer ...
Count the times we've been let down,
And left us in despair,
And woe betide that evil man,
Who giveth not a care.
You've gotta check yourself just
One more time,
Reassure your mind -
'cause those who are chosen
By the father's hand
Must not get left behind.
Rasta seh - guidance
(4) But Backrah seh different still
Babylon makes the rules but
Jah love will carry I home.
The lyrics of Steel Pulse's song "Babylon Makes the Rules" depict the frustration and anger felt by the oppressed people who are being controlled by the power-hungry Babylonian system. The first verse of the song refers to the impending arrival of the time of reckoning when the people will have to face the consequences of their actions. The lines "My people are in a mess, But nobody wants to know" suggest that the authorities have turned a blind eye to the plight of the people. The second verse focuses on the significance of Rastaman culture and the importance of Jah Herb that brings them together. The lyrics encourage the listeners to make a stance against the oppressive system and take back their culture by any means.
The chorus, "Babylon makes the rules, where my people suffer" highlights the notion that the ruling powers are in control of the people's lives, and the people can't do anything about the situation. The song calls for the people to stand up and fight against this oppressive system by creating a scene, and the necessity to recapture their culture by any means. The lyrics ask the listener to introspect and ensure that they don't get left behind, as those chosen by the father's hand must reassure their minds.
One notable aspect of the song is the use of the term "Babylon." In Rastafarian culture, Babylon refers to the oppressive system consisting of greed, corruption, and exploitation of innocent people. The song highlights the significance of Rasta culture and the importance of Jah Herb, used to bring the people together.
Line by Line Meaning
(2) A weh dem a go do when the time comes around
What will they do when the time comes?
A weh dent a go sek
What haven't they sought?
'cause
Because
My people are in a mess
The artist's people are in a difficult situation
But nobody wants to know
No one is interested in helping
'cause when you're down and out and oppressed
Because when you are in a difficult situation
You've got to fight your battles from the Lowest of the low
You must struggle with very little resources
So keep your distance and take your stance,
Stay away and take your position
'cause this could be your utmost chance.
This may be your last opportunity to act
You've had all night and day to Consider and pray
You've had a lot of time to think and pray
You've brought fire on my head and Now you must pay.
You have caused problems for me, and now you must pay the price.
CHORUS Babylon makes the rules Babylon makes the rules Babylon makes the rules Babylon makes the rules Where my people suffer...
The oppressive system is responsible for the suffering of the artist's people
Take Rastaman culture for instance, Dem think is political joke, But we people know better then that, 'cause what keeps us together is Jah Herb that we smoke
People outside of Rastafarian culture do not understand it, but the culture is held together by the use of marijuana
I and I know the truth of it all, 'cause we have smashed our heads 'gainst that wall, And now I seh we must create a scene, We must recapture our culture By any means.
The singer knows the truth because they have faced the reality of the oppressive system. They believe the culture must be reclaimed at any cost.
CHORUS Babylon makes the rules Babylon makes the rules Babylon makes the rules Babylon makes the rules Where my people suffer ...
The oppressive system is responsible for the suffering of the singer's people
Count the times we've been let down, And left us in despair, And woe betide that evil man, Who giveth not a care.
The artist and their people have been let down and abandoned too many times by those who should care.
You've gotta check yourself just One more time, Reassure your mind - 'cause those who are chosen By the father's hand Must not get left behind.
One should check themselves and their intentions, as those who are chosen must be protected from harm.
Rasta seh - guidance
Rastafarians believe in guidance
(4) But Backrah seh different still
Someone referred to as Backrah disagrees or has a different opinion.
Babylon makes the rules but Jah love will carry I home.
The oppressive system is in power, but the artist believes that love from Jah will guide them to safety.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SELWYN DELRAINZE BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@blackpilloverdose1013
A weh dem a go do when the time comes around
A weh dent a go sek
'cause
My people are in a mess
But nobody wants to know
'cause when you're down and out and oppressed
You've got to fight your battles from the
Lowest of the low
So keep your distance and take your stance,
'cause this could be your utmost chance.
You've had all night and day to
Consider and pray
You've brought fire on my head and
Now you must pay.
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Where my people suffer...
Take Rastaman culture for instance,
Dem think is political joke,
But we people know better then that,
'cause what keeps us together is
Jah Herb that we smoke
I and I know the truth of it all,
'cause we have smashed our heads
'gainst that wall,
And now I seh we must create a scene,
We must recapture our culture
By any means.
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Where my people suffer ...
Count the times we've been let down,
And left us in despair,
And woe betide that evil man,
Who giveth not a care.
You've gotta check yourself just
One more time,
Reassure your mind -
'cause those who are chosen
By the father's hand
Must not get left behind.
Rasta seh - guidance
But Backrah seh different still
Babylon makes the rules but
Jah love will carry I home.
@SubidubidubiDu1
***** Jah Jah Son is Jesus Christ, and before He comes, the antichrist must come first. The antichrist will appear when this world touches the very bottom, we are living in such times, which are called the End Times in the Bible.
End Times signs:
1. False Bible teachers would be money hungry. They would be smooth talkers, have many followers, and slur the Christian faith (2 Peter 2:1-3) See some at: Fakemessiah.com
2. Earthquakes would be in diverse places (Matthew 24:7)
3. Stress would be part of living (2 Timothy 3:1)
4. Many wars would erupt (Matthew 24:6)
5. People would forsake the Ten Commandments as a moral code, committing adultery, stealing, lying, and killing. And because there will be more and more lawlessness, most people's love will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12 & 2 Timothy 3:3)
6. There would be a cold religious system, in denying God's power (2 Timothy 3:5)
7. Men would substitute fantasy in place of Christian truth (2 Timothy 4:4). This is so evident at Christmas when the birth of the Savior is lost behind the myth of Santa Claus.
8. Deadly diseases would be prevalent (Matthew 24:7). The worldwide increase in AIDS deaths is almost inestimable.
9. The fact that God once flooded the earth (the Noahic flood) would be denied (2 Peter 3:5-6). There is a mass of fossil evidence to prove this fact, yet it is flatly ignored by the scientific world because of its uncanny implication.
10. The institution of marriage would be forsaken by many (1 Timothy 4:3)
11. There would be an increase in famines (Matthew 24:7)
12. Increase in vegetarianism would increase (1 Timothy 4:3-4)
13. There would be a cry for peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
14. The possession of Jerusalem would be at the center of international turmoil (Zechariah 12:3)
15. Knowledge would increase (Daniel 12:4)
16. There would be hypocrites within the Church (Matthew 13:25-30)
17. There would be an increase of religious cults/false teachers (Matthew 24:11 & 24)
18. The future would seem fearful to many (Luke 21:26)
19. Humanity would become materialistic (2 Timothy 3:4)
20. There would be many involved in travel (Daniel 12:4)
21. The Christian Gospel would be preached as a warning to all nations (Matthew 24:14)
22. Jesus said Christians would be hated "for His name's sake" (Matthew 24:9)
23: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(Luke 21:25-26).
24: Youth would become rebellious. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy (2 Timothy 3:2)
25: Men would mock the warning signs of the end of the age saying, "for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Peter 3:4). The Bible even reveals their motivation, they love lust (verse 3). They fail to understand that a day to the Lord is as a thousand years to us. God is not subject to the time that He created. He can flick through time as we flick through the pages of a history book. The reason He seems to be silent, is because He is patiently waiting, not willing that any perish, but that all come to repentance.
End Times signs part 2 1) Increasing instability of nature.
(Matthew 24:7 & Luke 21:11)
2) Increasing lawlessness and violence.
(Matthew 24:12)
3) Increasing immorality.
(Matthew 24:37)
4) Increasing materialism.
(2 Timothy 3:2)
5) Increasing Hedonism.
(2 Timothy 3:4)
6) Increasing influence of Humanism.
(2 Timothy 3:2)
7) Depraved entertainment.
(2 Timothy 3:4)
8) Calling evil good and good evil.
(2 Timothy 3:3 & Isaiah 5:20)
9) Increasing use of drugs.
(2 Timothy 3:3)
10) Increasing blasphemy.
(2 Timothy 3:2)
11) Increasing paganism.
(2 Timothy 3:1-4)
12) Increasing despair.
(2 Timothy 3:1)
13) Signs in the heavens.
(Luke 21:11,25)
14) Increasing knowledge.
(Daniel 12:4)
15) Increasing travel.
(Daniel 12:4)
16) The explosion of cults.
(Matthew 24:11)
17) The proliferation of false christs.
(Matthew 24:5)
18) Increasing apostasy in the Church.
(2 Timothy 4:3-5)
19) Increasing attacks on Jesus.
(Romans 1:18-19)
20) Increasing attacks on the Bible.
(Romans 1:18-19)
21) Increasing persecution of Christians.
(Matthew 24:9)
22) Increasing occultism.
(1 Timothy 4:1)
23) Wars and rumors of wars.
(Matthew 24:6)
24) Weapons of mass destruction.
(Luke 21:26)
25) Increasing famine.
(Luke 21:11)
26) Increasing pestilence.
(Luke 21:11)
27) Computer technology.
(Revelation 13:7)
28) Television.
(Revelation 11:8-9)
29) Satellite technology.
(Revelation 11:8-9)
30) Virtual reality.
(Revelation 13:14-15)
31) Unification of Europe.
(Daniel 2 & 7)
32) Far Eastern military powers.
(Revelation 9:16 & 16:12)
33) Movement toward world government.
(Daniel 7:23-26)
34) Regathering of the Jews.
(Isaiah 11:10-12)
35) Re-establishment of Israel.
(Isaiah 66:7-8)
36) Reclamation of the land of Israel.
(Ezekiel 36:34-35)
37) Revival of Biblical Hebrew.
(Zephaniah 3:9; Jeremiah 31:23)
38) Re-occupation of Jerusalem.
(Luke 21:24)
39) Resurgence of the Israeli military.
(Zechariah 12:6)
40) Re-focusing of world politics on Israel.
(Zechariah 12:3)
41) Arab Israel.tensions
(Ezekiel 35 and 36)
42) Denial of the Second Coming.
(2 Peter 3:3-4)
43) Denial of creation by God.
(Romans 1:18-22)
44) Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
(Joel 2:28-29)
45) Translation of the Bible into many languages.
(Matthew 24:14)
46) Preaching of the Gospel worldwide.
(Matthew 24:14)
47) The revival of Messianic Judaism.
(Romans 9:27)
48) The revival of Davidic praise worship.
(Amos 9:11)
49) The understanding of Bible prophecy.
(Daniel 12:8-9)
@krakatoapinatubo6362
My people are in a mess
But nobody wants to know
Cos when you're down and out and oppressed
You've got to fight your battles from the
Lowest of the low
So keep your distance and take your stance,
Cos this could be your utmost chance.
You've had all night and day to
Consider and pray
You've brought fire on my head and
Now you must pay.
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Where my people suffer...
Take Rastaman culture for instance,
Dem think is political joke,
But we people know better then that,
Cos what keeps us together is
Jah Herb that we smoke
I and I know the truth of it all,
Cos we have smashed our heads
'Gainst that wall,
And now I seh we must create a scene,
We must recapture our culture
By any means.
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Babylon makes the rules
Where my people suffer ...
Count the times we've been let down,
And left us in despair,
And woe betide that evil man,
Who giveth not a care.
You've gotta check yourself just
One more time,
Reassure your mind -
Cos those who are chosen
By the father's hand
Must not get left behind.
Rasta seh - guidance
(4) But Backrah seh different still
Babylon makes the rules but
Jah love will carry I home
@baristajoes5087
As far as musicianship and skills with instrumentation, Steel Pulse is by far the best of the Roots Reggae movement. They are such an amazing band...amazing.
@musikkritik6316
I think Groundation deserves a mentioning here :)
@lawrencenjawe1935
@ Dean Austin You're dead right on this. Instrumental virtuosity? The Tops......
@renaldo450
Steel pulse , one off the best reggae group ever in history ! my favorite speciaal ?
@JaydubyaX
The Rolling Stones of the reggae world...as far as longevity...thankfully! (To be clear, not comparing them..they are in a class of their own!)
@tablarasa3862
The best !
@brianyates7641
For me and I'm sure many others, Bob takes the throne... but I gotta put Steel Pulse #2 right behind him. They are so incredible. When I want to hear some real reggae, I thrown some SP on!
@rxramblingrose4857
It was about 89 the first time i ears heard this harmony and VIBRATION SOLID
I recorded it on tape , mind you tapes were still popular in my generation i was born in 1974
I recorded this track over and over REPEAT and listened to it for a few weeks over and over and here I n I am listening to HARMONY AND VIBRATION SOLID
RASTAFARI GUIDE I JAH LOVE WILL CARRY I HOME SO FIRE ON A BABYLON EHHH
@robertgriffin2441
Played this in 1982 in Bronx river projects in the the beginning of hip hop..I had the message but didn't live it....40 years later..still alive..still striving..4 ever steel pulse..and to my brother John Amin griffin..rip..wish you were here.....
@aarondixon7
Whoa..what a time and place!!