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)

Leaving Babylon
Bad Brains Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Say I'm leaving this Babylon. It will not be too long. It will not be too long now. I said my people are starvin buyt your money's runnin. Your dollar, dollar drop down real low. You ain't got no gold to show. We gonna step right through that door. Not gonna come back no more.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Leaving Babylon" by Bad Brains is a powerful commentary on the struggles faced by individuals living in a capitalist society. The song is an existential accounting of the artist's discontent with Babylon, which is a metaphor for American society's obsession with money and materialism.

The song's opening line "Say I'm leaving this Babylon, it will not be too long" suggests that the singer is frustrated and exhausted with the society they are living in and is willing to take a stand and leave. The artist is tired of being a part of a society where people's lives are constantly being commodified, and the only measure of their worth is their net worth. The lyrics cite how the rich continue to get richer while the poor struggle to make ends meet.

Line by Line Meaning

Say I'm leaving this Babylon.
I declare that I am departing from this corrupted and oppressive society.

It will not be too long.
My departure will happen soon, without undue delay.

It will not be too long now.
My imminent departure is unavoidable and certain.

I said my people are starvin but your money's runnin.
I've observed that my community suffers from starvation despite the wealth accumulated by the ruling class.

Your dollar, dollar drop down real low.
The value of your currency is depreciating, which reflects the declining state of the economy.

You ain't got no gold to show.
The lack of gold and other precious resources reveals the shallow nature of the society's prosperity.

We gonna step right through that door.
My people and I are resolved to pursue a new path and opportunity for a better and more just life.

Not gonna come back no more.
Once we cross this threshold, we are determined to never return to the oppressive and unequal society we are leaving behind.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: ROSANGLIANA, H. S. LALRUATLIANA, JOSHUA ZORAMLIANA, P. B. LIANMAWIA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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