Beresford Hammond (b.August 28,1955 Annotto Bay,St.Mary, Jamaica) has only … Read Full Bio ↴Beresford Hammond (b.August 28,1955 Annotto Bay,St.Mary, Jamaica) has only really risen to become popular in the 'digital' age of Reggae, although his career stretches back to the 1970's. Considered by many to be one of Jamaica's finest contemporary vocalists, his best work has generally been captured on the 'Penthouse' and 'Xterminator' labels as well as his own 'Harmony House' imprint. The singer with his distictive 'Bourbon on the rocks' vocal style remains active today both recording and producing.

Putting Up Resistance
Beres Hammond Lyrics

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Pressure, pressure
Pressure

No I never can understand it
The way the system plan
There's no hope, no chance, no loophole
No escape for a suffering man
'Cause every time I lift my head above water

And try to save myself from drown
There's an overnight scheme all worked out
Designed to keep ah me down, still I'm

Putting up a resistance
I'm ah gonna work it out
You know I'm
Putting up a resistance
I've got to work it out

Blow wind blow, blow wind blow
I want to stay home tonight
I long to spend some time with the family
But staying home won't make it right
Sometimes the pressure make me feel like bawling
When every sign says no way out
Breaking my back to make an overtime dollar
That just goes from hand to mouth

Still I'm
Putting up a resistance
I'm gonna work it out
You know I'm
Putting up a resistance
I've got to work it out
Lord I'm
Putting up a resistance
I'm ah gonna work it out
You know I'm
Putting up a resistance
I'm gonna work it out, Lord!

Got to fight
Got to fight

No I never can understand it
The way the system goes
I don't know how they do it
There's only one way things flow
'Cause every time I lift my head above water
And try to save myself from drown
There's an overnight scheme all worked out
Designed to keep ah me down

Still I'm
Putting up a resistance
I've got to work it out
You know I'm
Putting up a resistance
I'm gonna work it out, whoa
Putting up a resistance
I'm gonna work it out, now
Putting up a resistance
I've got to work it out

Blow wind blow, blow wind blow
I want to stay home tonight
I'd like to spend some time with my family
But staying home won't make it right
Sometimes the pressure make me feel like holler
When every sign says no way out
Breaking my back to make an overnight dollar
That just goes from man to mouth

Still I'm
Putting up a resistance
I'm got to work it out
You know I'm
Putting up a resistance
I'm gonna work it out
Putting up a resistance
I'm gonna work it out

You know I'm
Putting up a resistance
Got to work it out

You know I'm
Putting up a resistance
Putting up some fight, got to fight
Putting up a resistance
I'm gonna work it out right now
Putting up some resistance now, now
Putting up resistance
Ooh, no

Putting up resistance
Putting up the fight, fight, fight, sight, survival

Overall Meaning

In the song "Putting Up Resistance," Beres Hammond expresses frustration with the way the system seems to be rigged against the common man. He cannot understand the way the system is structured, where there seems to be no hope, no chance, and no escape for those who are suffering. Whenever he tries to get ahead, he gets pulled back down again because the system seems to have an overnight scheme to keep him down. Despite this, he is committed to putting up a resistance and working it out.

The lyrics express a frustration that is common to many people who feel like they are fighting a losing battle when it comes to their lives. Beres uses the metaphor of water to describe how difficult it is to keep his head above water and stop himself from drowning. He is working for an overtime dollar which just disappears, leaving him with nothing to show for it. Despite all of this, he is committed to putting up a resistance and working it out.

Line by Line Meaning

Pressure, pressure Pressure
The constant stress and burden of life keeps piling up on the person.

No I never can understand it The way the system plan There's no hope, no chance, no loophole No escape for a suffering man
The oppressive system is designed in such a way that the people who are suffering have no chance of escape or hope of improvement.

'Cause every time I lift my head above water And try to save myself from drown There's an overnight scheme all worked out Designed to keep ah me down, still I'm
Whenever the person tries to get out of their difficult situation, the system is already designed to bring them back down.

Putting up a resistance I'm ah gonna work it out You know I'm Putting up a resistance I've got to work it out
Despite the odds, the person is determined to resist and work hard to get themselves out of the oppressive situation.

Blow wind blow, blow wind blow I want to stay home tonight I long to spend some time with the family But staying home won't make it right
The person wants to take a break and spend time with their family, but knows that it won't solve their larger problems.

Sometimes the pressure make me feel like bawling When every sign says no way out Breaking my back to make an overtime dollar That just goes from hand to mouth
The pressure of the situation is overwhelming and it feels like there is no way out. The person works hard to make money, but their efforts are futile as the money disappears just as quickly.

Got to fight Got to fight
The person needs to continue fighting against the oppressive system.

'Cause every time I lift my head above water And try to save myself from drown There's an overnight scheme all worked out Designed to keep ah me down
The system is always one step ahead, and the person is constantly struggling to stay above water.

Putting up a resistance I've got to work it out You know I'm Putting up a resistance I'm gonna work it out, whoa Putting up a resistance I'm gonna work it out, now Putting up a resistance I've got to work it out
The person is determined to put up a resistance and work hard to overcome the challenges in their life.

Putting up some fight, got to fight Putting up a resistance I'm gonna work it out right now Putting up some resistance now, now Putting up resistance Ooh, no Putting up resistance Putting up the fight, fight, fight, sight, survival
The person needs to put up a strong fight and resistance to survive and improve their situation, no matter how difficult it may be.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Sinclair, Hugh Hammond, Maurice Hunt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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