The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. The group has undergone several lineup changes: Carlos left, replaced by Michael Rose; then Dennis left to play with The Wailing Souls, and was replaced by Errol Nelson. During this early period, the band's most famous recording is the album entitled Love Crisis, later rereleased as Black Sounds Of Freedom. In 1979 the group was joined by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from North Carolina, USA. Under this lineup, (Rose, Simpson and Jones), with Sly & Robbie as producers (and also permanently employed on drum and bass), they released the band's most popular albums: Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out, and the Grammy-winning Anthem¹, as well as others. During this period, Black Uhuru became one of the most popular reggae groups in the world, regularly touring with the likes of The Police and The Rolling Stones. Live 1984 (a concert at the Rockpalast in Germany, but was actually recorded on October 18, 1981) captures the band at the height of its powers.
After Rose went solo in 1985, Junior Reid joined for a few records and also left; Puma Jones left in 1987 (and died of cancer three years later, in 1990). In 1990, Simpson reunited with Dennis and Carlos in the original line-up of the group. They recorded several albums and toured extensively. By the end of the 90's, Dennis and Carlos left the band and fought a legal battle against Simpson over the name Black Uhuru. Simpson won the lawsuit and formed yet another incarnation of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees as lead singer. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees left the group.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had re-united under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars" and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album has been reported to be in progress.
== Discography ==
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson'
*1977 - 'Love Crisis'
*1981 - 'Black Sounds of Freedom' ("Love Crisis" reedition)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1979 - 'Showcase'
*1980 - 'Black Uhuru'
*1980 - 'Sinsemilia'
*1981 - 'Red'
*1982 - 'Chill Out'
*1983 - 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' ("Black Uhuru" reedition)
*1983 - 'Anthem'
'Group: Derrick Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1986 - 'Brutal'
*1987 - 'Positive' (Puma Jones replaced Olafunke)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos'
*1990 - 'Now'
*1991 - 'Iron Storm'
*1993 - 'Mystical truth'
*1994 - 'Strongg'
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees'
*1998 - 'Unification'
*2001 - 'Dynasty'
'Live / Dub albums:'
*1982 - 'Uhuru in Dub'
*1982 - 'Tear It Up - Live' (album and video)
*1983 - 'The Dub Factor'
*1986 - 'Brutal Dub'
*1987 - 'The Positive Dub'
*1988 - 'Live'
*1988 - 'Live In New York City'
*1990 - 'Now Dub'
*1990 - 'Love Dub' ("Uhuru In Dub" reedition)
*1992 - 'Iron Storm Dub'
*1993 - 'Mystical Truth Dub'
*1994 - 'Strongg Dubb'
*2000 - 'Live 1984'
*2001 - 'In Dub'
*2001 – 'Dubbin'It Live' (summer 2001, at Paléo Festival)
Leaving To Zion
Black Uhuru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i was leavin' to zion,
then i wouldn't stay a minute more,
cause dis ways of life jah jah children livin',
let anyone hurt them souls,
so the pagan not,
who divide the jah jah children,
cause,
some a rock, some a loot some a shoot,
some a rock, some a loot some a shoot,
some a rock, some a loot some a shoot,
tell you them a rock,
some a loot some a shoot
I&I the happy warrior slave,
returnin' with good news today,
from my jamaican people,
to my African nation,
woh oh oh yeh heh
if tomorrow i was leavin to zion
then i wouldn't stay a minute more,
dis ways of life i am livin',
let anyone hurt them souls
If tomorrow, i was leavin' to zion,
then i wouldn't stay a minute more,
cause dis ways of life jah jah children facin' ,
let anyone hurt them souls,
why left struggle I&I been through
is with the counter fi blackman
who betray his homeland
through the metal call money
and it is very funny
I philosophy did inspired I&I
to track mount Zion way
if tomorrow i was leavin to zion
then i wouldn't stay a minute more,
cause dis ways of life i am livin',
let anyone hurt them souls
oh yea ay ay ..
My culture is getting stronger
and I hope I never surrender
You take the lion From the flag of Afrika,
Because you want to pray to the Dragon
oh no no no
The song "Leaving to Zion" by Black Uhuru laments the struggles of life for Jah Jah (God's) children who live in a system that hurts their souls. If tomorrow the singer had the chance to leave for Zion, they wouldn't stay a minute more because Jah's people are being divided by pagans and some are being rocked, looted, and even shot. The happy warrior slave, the singer conveys, is returning with good news from Jamaica to Africa. The song's message suggests that the ways of life in the system are too oppressive for Jah's children, and some of them are betraying their own homeland for money. The singer sings about the inspiration of the Philosopher to pursue the Mount Zion way.
The lyrics are a call to action for listeners to take control of their lives and work towards the point of leaving behind the system that oppresses them. The idea of Mount Zion is a metaphor for a better way of life where individuals can live in harmony with each other and in love and freedom. The song encourages listeners to take the stand for righteousness and unity within their communities.
Line by Line Meaning
If tomorrow,
i was leavin' to zion,
then i wouldn't stay a minute more,
cause dis ways of life jah jah children livin',
let anyone hurt them souls,
If the singer was leaving Earth for a better place, he would not hesitate because the current lifestyle of Jah Jah's children is in danger and anyone who tries to harm them should not be tolerated.
so the pagan not,
who divide the jah jah children,
soon or later you will see divided they'll fall,
The singer warns pagans who divide Jah Jah's children that they will eventually suffer, as they will fall apart with time.
cause,
some a rock, some a loot some a shoot,
some a rock, some a loot some a shoot,
some a rock, some a loot some a shoot,
tell you them a rock,
some a loot some a shoot
Some people engage in immoral activities, such as theft or violence, and this makes them vulnerable. The singer advises that they should change their ways and do what's right.
I&I the happy warrior slave,
returnin' with good news today,
from my jamaican people,
to my African nation,
woh oh oh yeh heh
The singer is proud to be a warrior slave who brings good news from his home in Jamaica to his African nation. He is happy and excited to share this news.
if tomorrow i was leavin to zion
then i wouldn't stay a minute more,
dis ways of life i am livin',
let anyone hurt them souls
The singer repeats his desire to leave for a better place, as he doesn't want anyone to harm Jah Jah's children.
why left struggle I&I been through
is with the counter fi blackman
who betray his homeland
through the metal call money
and it is very funny
The singer expresses his frustration with the struggles he faced because of other black men who put money and profit over their homeland. He finds it odd that doing so is profitable.
I philosophy did inspired I&I
to track mount Zion way
The singer's philosophy is what inspired him to stay on track towards a better place. He sees the path to Mt. Zion as one worth following.
My culture is getting stronger
and I hope I never surrender
The singer is proud of his culture, which is only getting stronger. He hopes never to give it up.
You take the lion From the flag of Afrika,
Because you want to pray to the Dragon
oh no no no
The singer is troubled by those who remove the lion symbol from the African flag to worship a dragon instead. He disapproves of such actions.
Contributed by David J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@williamandrews4251
This song is the truth like a river going straight to Ethiopia.Praise Jah Rastafari.
@garyclarke1441
Holy Immanuel I
@deusdedithtattyfranca9769
Essa ai é das antiga cumpade
@cynthiamyers2897
Man uhuru is the whole world of reggae Germany to China Japan we need more music like this to heal this world
@have_been_gavin7601
my favorite black uhuru song
@alexandrevieux8560
l'album éponyme est incroyable . sly and robbie sont en feu.les transitions chantée/dub sont inégalées
@gustavocarrizo2979
Black Uhuru's chorus are always so catchy
@ogungbemisegun5398
Melancholic and happy at the same time!
@4god115
God's really merciful, I've done things that I should have never done And yet I am still granted life
@gabbys6914
It's by JAH mercy we are saved; not by our righteousness