Blair grew up in rural Clarks Town in the northwestern parish of Trelawny. His deeply religious family life (his mother was a Seventh-day Adventist and his grandmother a Revivalist) imbued him with a profound spirituality. During his youth, his favorite singers were reggae legends Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, musicians who strongly influenced his own style. Peter Tosh's influence can definitely be heard in Anthony B's vocal delivery and revolutionary stance.
Anthony B adopted Rastafarian beliefs as a teenager, a decision which was not well-received by his family. The stubborn and determined Anthony B refused to give up his new religion and his dreadlocks and moved to the home of his aunt and uncle in the Kingston suburb, Portmore.
While attending high school, Anthony B debuted as a deejay for the local sound system, Shaggy Hi-Power. In 1988, he befriended reggae artists such as Determine, Mega Banton, Ricky General and Terror Fabulous.
At this point in the reggae industry, singing "slack" songs about women was the popular thing to do. Anthony B did not believe in degrading women and chose to pen politically-slanted songs rather than so-called "gyal chunes." He hooked up with Little Devon the Half Pint sound-a-like singer he made his debut single "The Living is Hard" on the Wizard label in 1993. Anthony B tried many different producers but found that none of them fit his style of music. Finally, Anthony B teamed up with Richard "Bello" Bell, creating hits such as Fire Pon Rome, Raid Di Barn, Rumour, and Repentance Time. Anthony B's 1996 debut album Real Revolutionary was highly acclaimed in the reggae community. In late 1997, Anthony B released Universal Struggle which showed that Anthony B had a consistent, high-calibre talent. Anthony B has released a large number of albums since that time including 1999's Seven Seals and 2004's Untouchable which featured collaborations with artists including Wyclef Jean.
Anthony B tours extensively in Europe and North America and is known for his fiery, high-energy performances.
Anthony B is a member of the Bobo Ashanti branch of the Rastafarian movement. "Bobo Dreads", as they are known, are recognizable by their long robes and turbans. The strong Afrocentric pride and the other Rastafarian beliefs (or "overstandings" as Rastafarians prefer to call them) which Anthony B holds are reflected in his songs.
Discography
* Predator & Prey (1996, Alpha Enterprises)
* Real Revolutionary / So Many Things (1996, Greensleeves)
* Universal Struggle (1997, VP Records)
* Seven Seals (1999, VP Records)
* That's Life (2001, VP Records)
* More Love (2001, AO ! Records)
* Live On The Battlefield (2002, Jahmin' Records)
* Reggae Max (2002, Jet Star)
* Street Knowledge (2003, Nocturne)
* Judgment Time (2003, 2B1 Records)
* Smoke Free (2003, Bogalusa Records)
* Voice Of Jamaica vol. 2 (2003, Nocturne)
* Wise Man Chant (2004, Black Scorpio)
* Justice Fight (2004, Nocturne)
* Untouchable (2004, Togetherness Records)
* Power Of Creation (2004, Nocturne)
* Black Star (2005, Greensleeves)
* My Hope (2005, AL.TA.FA.AN. / Minor 7 Flat 5)
Third Eye Blind
Anthony B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From that ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies
That you've been living in
And if you do not want to see me again
I would understand,
I would understand
The angry boy a bit too insane Icing over a secret pain You know you don't belong You're the first to fight
You're way too loud You're the flash of light on a burial shroud
I know something's wrong Well everyone I know has got a reason
To say put the past away I wish you would step back
From that ledge my friend
You could cut ties with all the lies That you've been living in
And if you do not want to see me again I would understand,
I would understand Well he's on the table and he's gone to code
And I do not think anyone knows What they're doing here
And your friends have left you
You've been dismissed I never thought it would come to this And I,
I want you to know Everyone's got to face down the demons
Maybe today You could put the past away
I wish you would step back from
That ledge my friend You could cut ties with all the lies
That you've been living in And if you do not want to see me again
I would understand, I would understand I would understand,
I would understand I would understand, I would understand
Can you put the past away
The song "Third Eye Blind" by Anthony B is about someone who is on the verge of committing suicide and the singer is pleading with them to step back from the ledge and not go through with it. The lyrics "I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend, you could cut ties with all the lies that you've been living in" shows that the singer believes that the person has been living a life filled with deception and that it's time to cut ties with it. The lyrics "the angry boy a bit too insane icing over a secret pain" portrays that the person is troubled and may be suppressing a lot of emotional pain.
The lyrics go on to show that the singer understands that the person may not want to see them again if they take a step back from the ledge, but that it would be better for them to live and face their demons. The lyrics "everyone's got to face down the demons, maybe today you could put the past away" shows that the singer believes that it's never too late to turn things around and that the person can start afresh if they decide to live.
In conclusion, the song "Third Eye Blind" by Anthony B is a plea for someone on the verge of suicide to step back from the ledge and live. The lyrics portray a sense of empathy and understanding towards the person's troubles while also showing that there is hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish you would step back
I hope you will take a moment to reconsider your actions
From that ledge my friend
Before you take drastic measures, let's talk about it
You could cut ties with all the lies
You have the power to break free from the dishonesty in your life
That you've been living in
Instead of continuing to live a lie, face the truth and deal with it
And if you do not want to see me again
If you need space from me, I will respect that
I would understand,
I empathize with your struggle and will support you
The angry boy a bit too insane Icing over a secret pain
Your outward behavior is covering up deep-seated issues that are causing you emotional pain
You know you don't belong You're the first to fight
You feel like an outcast and are quick to become defensive
You're way too loud You're the flash of light on a burial shroud
Your behavior is drawing unwanted attention and may have negative consequences
I know something's wrong
I can sense that something is not right with you
Well everyone I know has got a reason
We all have our own struggles and reasons for our actions
To say put the past away
Let go of what has hurt you in the past and focus on the present
Well he's on the table and he's gone to code
Someone is in a dire medical emergency and their condition is worsening
And I do not think anyone knows What they're doing here
People are feeling lost and unsure of how to handle the situation
And your friends have left you
Others may not be able to handle your struggles and have backed away
You've been dismissed I never thought it would come to this
You may feel rejected and hurt by those who have given up on you
I want you to know Everyone's got to face down the demons
We all have our own battles to face and must confront them at some point
Maybe today You could put the past away
Perhaps now is the time to start moving forward and let go of the past
Can you put the past away
Are you willing and able to let go of the things that weigh you down?
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@seandickson9206
This song is fire. Blessed love mr b.
@tonyjohnson1379
Babylon is going down, Third eye Blind. One of the favorites.
@Zackstafarhi
one of my favorite record !