Know Your Culture
Big Mountain Lyrics

In a primitive times
In past times of simplicity and lack of modern advancements.

The people had culture in their lives
The people had a way of life that included traditions and customs that were passed down from generation to generation.

Well respecting their ancestry
The people had a deep appreciation and admiration for their ancestors, and honored their legacy.

Having faith in their destiny, but
The people had a belief in their fate and future, however,

Soon the culture would be lost
It was not long before the culture and traditions of those past times would disappear.

And, the capitalist man would be the cause
The rapid advance of capitalism and greed would be the driving force behind the loss of cultural heritage.

Who give the people their material needs
The capitalist man provided the people with material objects they needed or desired, but at the expense of cultural traditions.

Oh, Jah Jah children take heed
The people must listen carefully and pay attention to the message being conveyed.

Live wise and don't you wear no disguise
Live a wise life and be true to oneself without hiding behind a false exterior.

Live clean, you are a roots machine
Maintain a clean lifestyle and stay grounded in one's cultural heritage.

Live right and keep Jah inside
Live a righteous life and keep faith in one's spiritual beliefs.

'Canuse the future my children is a lookin' bright
Have hope and faith for the future because it appears promising.

Know your culture, know yourself
To truly know oneself, one must understand and embrace their cultural heritage.

Believe me my youth
Trust in the message being conveyed especially if you are young.

You can't be no-one else
You cannot be someone that you are not.

Always lettin' your light shine bright
Always let one's true self be illuminated and visible to others.

Oh, Jah Jah children unite
Come together as one collective group to move forward and unify under the message.

Can't be deceived by the vulture, no
Do not be misled by those who are only after their own gain.

I man come from the roots man school
I come from a background that embraces cultural traditions.

You can't educate if you talk like a fool, no
One cannot educate others if they come across as foolish or ignorant.

Scripture read, nyanbingi bread
Read religious texts and eat traditional nyanbingi bread.

I man rather be jailed than to cut off me dreads
I would rather go to jail than to abandon my dreadlocks, a symbol of my cultural identity.

Don't put your trust in no wicked mans plan
Do not rely on plans and actions from those who have malevolent intentions.

If you must know the truth you must overstand
To truly understand the truth, one must comprehend it on a deeper level.

My country was built on the red man's land
My country was created on land previously inhabited by Indigenous peoples.

Born on the back of the black man
My ancestors were brought to this country as slaves and had to work hard to survive.

The capital man mash the situation
The capitalist man has worsened the situation through their greed and lack of concern for others.

Come now Jah people seek your education
It is time to seek knowledge and understanding about one's cultural heritage and history.

Go forward dread bingi warriors go forward
Move forward with determination and strength, like the dread bingi warriors of the past.

Help this here country in mourning
Assist this country with healing and overcoming its troubles and sorrows.

Can't you see a new day is dawning
Have optimism and look forward to a new and brighter future.

Find the need to investigate
It is important to explore and discover more about one's cultural heritage.

You've got to culture your minds
Develop and nurture one's mind to encompass cultural traditions and knowledge.

To shine in these times
To succeed and thrive in the current era, it is necessary to embrace one's cultural heritage.

Break the seal to the real deal
Remove any barriers to discovering the true essence of one's cultural identity.

The truth will not remain untold
The truth about one's cultural heritage will eventually come out and be revealed.

You must read, children must read every day
Reading is fundamental to gaining knowledge and understanding, especially for children.

Don't keep your history no mystery
Do not keep one's cultural history a secret or obscure.

Write the words to your own version
Create one's own narrative and interpretation of their cultural heritage.

Come now Jah Jah children stand strong
Unite together and be strong in the face of adversity, under the guidance of Jah Jah.

'Cause the future my children is a lookin' bright
Have hope and faith for the future because it appears promising.