Bad Brains are a punk rock band formed in Washington, D.C., USA in 1977. Th… Read Full Bio ↴Bad Brains are a punk rock band formed in Washington, D.C., USA in 1977. They are regarded as one of the pioneers of hardcore punk, though band members have objected to the term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of other genres like funk, heavy metal, hip-hop and soul. Bad Brains are followers of the Rastafari movement.

Originally formed as a jazz fusion ensemble under the name Mind Power, Bad Brains developed a very fast and intense punk rock sound which came to be labeled "hardcore", and was often played faster and more emphatically than many of their peers. The unique factor of the band's music was the fact that they played more complex rhythms than other hardcore punk bands, also adapting diverse guitar styles into their songs.

Bad Brains have released nine studio albums (one of which is entirely composed of instrumental versions of their early material). The band broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different singers or drummers. Since 1994, the "classic" lineup of singer H.R. (Human Rights), guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson has reunited, albeit performing sporadically.

Discography:
• Bad Brains (1982)
• Rock for Light (1983)
• I Against I (1986)
• Quickness (1989)
• Rise (1993)
• God of Love (1995)
• I & I Survived (2002)
• Build a Nation (2007)
• Into the Future (2012)
• Mind Power (TBA)

Jah Calling
Bad Brains Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some people look at me and talk about me like a clown, they just don't realize it's just my simple way to get down. I've got that supertouch, chances are I've got too much I've come to let you see. that you can also can be free. it seems like everytime we all try to go underground, the stinkin troopers them they think that we are foolin around. we have had enough, now we're gonna get real tough. it happens everyday that's why we got pma.....shitfit-pople just pretending, that's a letdown, undercover lover, that's my heart now. struggle just in livin, that's the realm of. accept me as I'm not, and that's a shit fit. my best ain't good enough for you. my test is what you gonna do, ain't no any kind way, love was lost in yesterday. now we've felt this, so you'll get yours now. everybody's livin and nobody's givin, and nobody gives a damn, you must understand me, the end is surely comin, prepare for the final plan. people just pretending, that's a let down, undercover lover, that's my heart now, sttruggle just in livin that the realm of. accept me as I'm not and that's a shitfit.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the Bad Brains song "Jah Calling" convey a message of rebellion, social injustice, and the importance of being oneself. The song starts with the singer referencing how some people view him as a clown, but the reality is that he is just expressing himself. He talks about having a "supertouch" and being free, but despite their efforts to break free, the "troopers" prevent them from going underground.

The song's chorus repeats the phrase "shitfit," which seems to represent people's inability to accept others for who they are. The singer expresses frustration at the fact that others only pretend to care, and they don't truly understand the struggles of those around them. The chorus also discusses the inevitability of change and the end of things as people currently know them.

Overall, the song's message is one of resistance and the importance of staying true to oneself, despite societal pressures to conform.

Line by Line Meaning

some people look at me and talk about me like a clown, they just don't realize it's just my simple way to get down.
Some people judge me for my behavior, thinking I'm foolish, but they don't understand that it's just my way of having fun.

i've got that supertouch, chances are i've got too much i've come to let you see. that you can also can be free.
I have a special sense of touch and I want to share it with you to show that you too can be free.

it seems like everytime we all try to go underground, the stinkin troopers them they think that we are foolin around. we have had enough, now we're gonna get real tough.
Whenever we try to do something different, the authorities think we're just messing around. We've had enough of this treatment and we're going to resist more forcefully.

shitfit-pople just pretending, that's a letdown, undercover lover, that's my heart now. struggle just in livin, that's the realm of. accept me as i'm not, and that's a shit fit.
People who pretend to be something they're not are disappointing. I've learned to love in secret, which is my new reality. Life is a constant struggle and I know I'm not what others want me to be, which can cause conflict.

my best ain't good enough for you. my test is what you gonna do, ain't no any kind way, love was lost in yesterday. now we've felt this, so you'll get yours now.
I know my best efforts aren't appreciated by others. What will they do when I push back against their expectations? There's no easy way to deal with these problems, and the love we had in the past no longer exists. We've suffered, so others will suffer too.

everybody's livin and nobody's givin, and nobody gives a damn, you must understand me, the end is surely comin, prepare for the final plan.
Everyone is living for themselves and not giving back, with no regard for one another. You need to understand that the end is near, so be prepared for what's to come.

people just pretending, that's a let down, undercover lover, that's my heart now, struggle just in livin that the realm of. accept me as i'm not and that's a shitfit.
People who are fake are disappointing. I'm a secret lover at heart, living in a world where struggles are constant. You have to accept me for who I am, even if it causes problems.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Jo201515

5y↑29

I could loop this and listen all day!

8booth

4y↑1

Jo201515 likewise

ACESandElGHTS

8y↑23

This + Leaving Babylon break up the album nicely. Btw: erryone who likes Bad Brains self-titled owes it to themselves to have a listen to Black Dots: early demos, very raw, very genuine punk rock.