Heathen
Bob Marley Lyrics


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De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!

Rise up fallen fighters
Rise and take your stance again
'Tis he who fight and run away
Live to fight another day

With de heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!

As a man sow, shall he reap
And I know that talk is cheap
But the hotter the battle
A the sweeter Jah victory

With the heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!

De heathen back yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!

Rise up, fallen fighters
Rise and take your stance again
'Tis he who fight and run away
Live to fight another day

De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!




De heathen back, yeah, 'pon de wall!
De heathen back, yeah

Overall Meaning

"The Heathen" by Bob Marley & The Wailers is a song that speaks to the importance of standing up against oppression and the power dynamics that govern society. The repetitive chorus of "De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!" serves as a call to action, urging those who may have fallen in their fight to rise again and take their stance. The use of the term "heathen" can be interpreted as referring to those who are considered outsiders or non-conformists, and suggests that they are not powerless but have the ability to challenge and disrupt the status quo.


The opening verse highlights the importance of perseverance and the need to live to fight another day. The lines "Rise up fallen fighters / Rise and take your stance again / 'Tis he who fight and run away / Live to fight another day" speak to the reality that sometimes retreat is necessary in order to regroup and continue the fight. The chorus appears to emphasize this point, using the repetition of the phrase "De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!" to create a sense of urgency and drive.


The following verse speaks to the idea of karma, in that an individual will reap what they sow. It is suggested that although talk may be cheap, it is in the midst of the greatest battles that victory is the sweetest. This line can be interpreted as a call to action, urging individuals to continue fighting against oppression and inequality even when the odds may seem stacked against them.


Overall, "The Heathen" is a call to action and a reminder that even when it may seem like the fight is hopeless, individuals have the power to challenge oppressive systems and create change.


Line by Line Meaning

De heathen back dey 'pon de wall!
The enemy is lurking nearby, preparing to attack.


Rise up fallen fighters
You may have lost a battle, but it's time to get back up and keep fighting.


Rise and take your stance again
Find your footing and be ready for the next battle.


'Tis he who fight and run away
It may seem cowardly, but sometimes retreating is the smart choice in order to fight again another day.


Live to fight another day
Surviving the battle is the most important thing in order to continue the fight for what you believe in.


As a man sow, shall he reap
You will reap what you sow, good or bad.


And I know that talk is cheap
Words are meaningless without action to back them up.


But the hotter the battle
The more difficult the challenge, the greater the reward.


A the sweeter Jah victory
The reward for persevering and overcoming obstacles is worth all the effort.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB MARLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@TestTest-ft9xh

"In this age of technological inhumanity
Scientific atrocity
Atomic misphilosophy
Nuclear misenergy
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity

We're the survivors, yeah!
We're the survivors!
Yes, the Black survivors!

We got to survive, y'all!"

Prophet Bob Marley



@TestTest-ft9xh

"In this age of technological inhumanity
Scientific atrocity
Atomic misphilosophy
Nuclear misenergy
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity

We're the survivors, yeah!
We're the survivors!
Yes, the Black survivors!

We got to survive, y'all!"

Prophet Bob Marley



All comments from YouTube:

@michaelgray9356

Being a drummer, I have to say Carlton Barrett is one of my all-time favorites. No one talks about him, but he is laying down the wood.😎

@pipinou-kc5qm

Bob doesn't sing he raises
This is not entertainment, this is education and a message for generations... yaa man fight the Matrix 🗣

@Trueskool90

Heightz!!!!!

@benzain100

very true

@maxcent9937

Bien ahi es verdad lo q decis

@HadiChabouni

​@@benzain100🎉 le n'a n'a

@abeydgreat

I can't count how many times I have watched this video. First off, you can tell that guitarist was playing from his soul and I also wonder how Bob put this band together then again I ask myself if Marley knew he would go on to be the Greatest Of All Times. No one comes close to Marley 🙌🙌

@marie-solangebouissac4420

I totally AGREE, I love so many musics from all around the world, BUT BOB IS THE BEST

@npjakson

Junior 💜

@smoothoperator7023

Love Bob too, but my favorite is Burning Spear✊🏾
Check out Door Peep live in Paris '88. 🔥🎸🔥

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