He was booed off stage at a show celebrating the visit of Nelson Mandela. In 1993 at the very popular show Sting he accused fellow deejay Bounty Killer that the elder artist had stolen his catchphrase, "people dead". This triggered a lyrical battle which continued on the air with each artist counteracting the other's songs. Finally, in 1995, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer settled their differences on the air by actually signing a peace treaty and the two recorded an album together, Guns Out. This was followed by a single, "No Mama No Cry", a rehash of the Bob Marley classic "No Woman No Cry", speaking out against violence and inspired by the murder of Pan Head, another popular Deejay.
Partially as a result of prodding from his producers, Sly and Robbie, Beenie Man soon converted to the Rastafari movement.
In 1994, he was signed by Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album Blessed.
In 1995, Beenie Man released a remix of Barrington Levy's "Under Mi Sensi" in the United Kingdom, and collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palma to release Three Against War and Lt. Stitchie on Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man. He took another step up the ladder in 1996, releasing the seminal Maestro, produced by Patrick Roberts and shot him to UK fame. During the period from the mid to late '90s, Beenie Man dominated the Jamaican charts to the extent that he perhaps had a good claim to the crown of "Dancehall King", a title only bestowed previously on Yellowman in the early 1980s.
In 1998, Beenie Man signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was The Doctor (1998). In 2000, Beenie Man teamed up with Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees) to release The Art & Life. During the late 1990s, Beenie Man began his conquest of America with the hits, "Romie", "Who Am I" and "Girls Dem Sugar", which featured American R&B singer, Mya.
In 2002, he had a sizeable hit with a duet with Janet Jackson called "Feel It Boy", but his biggest break in America came in early 2004 with the release of a remix of "Dude", featuring guest vocals by fellow Jamaican Ms. Thing, as well as rhymes by Shawnna.
Blessed
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Babylon yuh betta turn wi loose
God knows, turn wi loose now
Sing along, a little song
An guh a ting like
[Chorus:]
Freedom, for some I am bawling
Mi still under yuh Babylon system
God knows, Freedom for some I am bawling
Oh Selassie I, rastafarian calling
Beenie Man a sing a ting
From the day mi know miself, man a born of mammal
Although yuh smart, dem sen yuh guh a Jamal
Teach yuh how fi spell gun and nuclear weapon
How fi spell politics and greet politician
Nowhere in the Bible where those words come from
Dem restore wi name an class us as African
When con is a short name for condemnation
I nuh know bout di I, I a true Ethiopian
Christopher Columbus, bout him discover island
Discover what when him come spot the Indian
An a him tun roun an all enslave black man
Muslini an him friend dem tief the gold and all di diamond
Who steal wi name, check the queen wheh deh a England
A she build the pope and introduce vatican
From Constantine, Julius aand all Pope John
Now dem reach Paul i wonder if dem want to expand
Queen Elie-zabeth, all she is a next one
Well mi naah guh too stress me just a look a explanation
This is the word from the black man
[Chorus:]
I say man a true needle kill the dragon and eagle
Murda di pope wheh a defender of evil
Long time dem bwoi deh a pressure black people
Have wi like a slave under chain and shackle
Now wi buss out inna muscle
Well a long time mi deh warn dem fi look to the east
Warning to the dragon and the mark of the beast
Mek dem a galong suh like dem caan tun discease
Call on the Selassie wheh a blow all di breeze
Weeping wailing, nashing of teeth
God judgement, is only certain man see it
Pope Constantine inna him grave an all a grief
This is no Pelican brief
My Speech
[Chorus:]
People, well unnuh clean out yuh ears an listen to mi lyrics
Yuh nuh hear bout di Lieshah di ball head prophet
Word of Elijah, di man used to spread it
John di most righteous man yet still wasn't a prophet
He could not be God, dem haffi tun him inna baptist
This is the meaning of ma lyrics in these times
Mandela come an try it
Well him never reach far, prison wall di man face it
Malcolm X try an a coppershot end it
All try and dem beat it an kill it
Marcus Garvey try, a fi rice dem sell it
Only we inna di music business can stop it
Follow Beenie Man and all live it
[Chorus:]
The song begins with a mocking laugh directed towards Babylon, urging them to let the people go free. The chorus exclaims the desire for freedom for some, with the mention of Selassie I, a Rastafarian symbol. Beenie Man goes on to talk about how humans are born as mammals and yet people are taught dangerous things such as weapons and politics. He states that these words have no place in the Bible and how African people were once called “Con” which is short for condemnation. However, he also mentions that he is a true Ethiopian and Columbus only came and enslaved black men. Beenie Man also refers to how people have stolen from Africans, such as their names and gold. He also speaks of figures like Queen Elizabeth and Pope John and how they have played a role in the oppression of African people. The song concludes with a call to listen to his lyrics, urging people to take inspiration from figures like Mandela and Marcus Garvey to fight against the oppression they face.
The song, Blessed, by Beenie Man is a powerful and socially conscious piece of art. It is not just entertainment but also a call to action for the oppressed people of this world. The song mentions a range of historical and political figures, tying them to the oppression of African people. With his lyrics, Beenie Man is urging people to fight back against the system that is oppressing them. The song is a reminder that there is hope, that freedom is possible, and that we can all work together to bring about change.
Line by Line Meaning
Chuh (laugh)
A laugh to signify the start of the song
Babylon yuh betta turn wi loose
A call to Babylon to release their grip on the people
God knows, turn wi loose now
An appeal to God for the release of the people from Babylon's grasp
Sing along, a little song
An invitation for the listener to sing with the singer
An guh a ting like
Switching to Jamaican Patois to convey a message
[Chorus:] Freedom, for some I am bawling Babylon yuh pull di chain from mi han Mi still under yuh Babylon system God knows, Freedom for some I am bawling Oh Selassie I, rastafarian calling Beenie Man a sing a ting
The chorus expressing the need for freedom from Babylon while invoking Selassie I as a rallying point for the Rastafarian community
From the day mi know miself, man a born of mammal
A statement on the concept of human evolution and the animal origins of man
Although yuh smart, dem sen yuh guh a Jamal
A critique on the educational system, where even the educated are not free from the influence of Babylon
Teach yuh how fi spell gun and nuclear weapon How fi spell politics and greet politician
The educational system teaching destructive knowledge rather than constructive knowledge
Nowhere in the Bible where those words come from
A biblical critique that such knowledge is not present in the Bible
Dem restore wi name an class us as African
The restoration of the African identity after years of colonialism
When con is a short name for condemnation
A play on words where 'con' is shortened from 'condemnation'
I nuh know bout di I, I a true Ethiopian
A declaration of loyalty to Ethiopia and Rastafarianism, not Babylon's classification system
Christopher Columbus, bout him discover island Discover what when him come spot the Indian An a him tun roun an all enslave black man Muslini an him friend dem tief the gold and all di diamond Who steal wi name, check the queen wheh deh a England A she build the pope and introduce vatican From Constantine, Julius aand all Pope John Now dem reach Paul i wonder if dem want to expand Queen Elie-zabeth, all she is a next one Well mi naah guh too stress me just a look a explanation This is the word from the black man
A historical account of European colonization, theft of resources, and enslavement of people of color, with criticism of leaders such as Christopher Columbus, Mussolini, and the Queen of England, along with a call for expansion of the knowledge of these injustices
[Chorus:]
Repeating the chorus
I say man a true needle kill the dragon and eagle Murda di pope wheh a defender of evil Long time dem bwoi deh a pressure black people Have wi like a slave under chain and shackle Now wi buss out inna muscle Well a long time mi deh warn dem fi look to the east Warning to the dragon and the mark of the beast Mek dem a galong suh like dem caan tun discease Call on the Selassie wheh a blow all di breeze Weeping wailing, nashing of teeth God judgement, is only certain man see it Pope Constantine inna him grave an all a grief This is no Pelican brief My Speech
The rise of the people in resistance to Babylonian oppression, with reference to the symbols of the dragon and the mark of the beast, along with a call to Selassie I, and an affirmation of divine judgement over those who have oppressed the people
[Chorus:]
Repeating the chorus
People, well unnuh clean out yuh ears an listen to mi lyrics Yuh nuh hear bout di Lieshah di ball head prophet Word of Elijah, di man used to spread it John di most righteous man yet still wasn't a prophet He could not be God, dem haffi tun him inna baptist This is the meaning of ma lyrics in these times Mandela come an try it Well him never reach far, prison wall di man face it Malcolm X try an a coppershot end it All try and dem beat it an kill it Marcus Garvey try, a fi rice dem sell it Only we inna di music business can stop it Follow Beenie Man and all live it
An exhortation to the listener to pay attention to the message of the song, with references to various historical figures who have fought against oppression, with a call for participation and action from the listener
[Chorus:]
Final repetition of the chorus
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Moses Davis, Donald Dennis, Patrick Roberts, Sly Dunbar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind