Slave Driver
Bob Marley /The wailers Lyrics


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Ooh-ooh-oo-ooh. Oo-oo-ooh! Oo-oo-ooh.
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, you gonna get burn (catch your fire) wo, now!

Every time I hear the crack of a whip
My blood runs cold
I remember on the slave ship
How they brutalize the very souls
Today they say that we are free
Only to be chained in poverty
Good God, I think it's illiteracy
It's only a machine that makes money
Slave driver, the table is turn, you'll ooh-ooh-oo-ooh

Slave driver, uh! The table is turn, baby, now (catch your fire)
(Catch your fire) so you can get burn, baby, now (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
(Catch your fire) so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)

Every time I hear the crack of a whip
My blood runs cold
I remember on the slave ship
How they brutalize your very soul

Oh God, have mercy on our souls!
Oh, slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn (catch your fire)




Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn

Overall Meaning

"Slave Driver" is a compelling and masterful song by the legendary Bob Marley. The song shines a spotlight on the topic of slavery by using metaphors that encompass the entire institution of slavery. The lyrics "Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)" conveys the idea that the roles are reversed now and the oppressors become the oppressed. It urges the slave driver to feel the same pain that they inflicted on the slaves for decades. The remainder of the song takes a retrospective account of the brutality and suffering endured by the slaves.


The song also makes a profound statement about modern-day society. Marley states that people are still enslaved despite the law being changed. He says, "Today they say that we are free, only to be chained in poverty." Marley is informing people that the world's poor are still being exploited and mistreated, and it is a central theme of his message of love, justice, and equality.


In summary, "Slave Driver" is Marley's powerful musical message of the inequality and exploitation that still evident in the world. The song ends on a prayerful note, asking for mercy on all souls, including those who perpetuated the slave trade.


Line by Line Meaning

Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
The one who used to oppress others is now in trouble


Catch your fire, so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Suffer the consequences of your own actions


Every time I hear the crack of a whip, My blood runs cold
The sounds of slavery still haunt me deeply


I remember on the slave ship, How they brutalize the very souls
The horrors of slavery still linger in my mind


Today they say that we are free, Only to be chained in poverty
The freedom we gained is not enough to escape poverty and inequality


Good God, I think it's illiteracy, It's only a machine that makes money
The root cause of these problems is ignorance and the greed of those in power


Oh God, have mercy on our souls!
We need divine intervention to help us overcome these struggles




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOB MARLEY

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

@theloniouscoltrane3778

"Slave Driver"

Ooh-ooh-oo-ooh. Oo-oo-ooh! Oo-oo-ooh.
Slave driver, the table is turn; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire, so you can get burn, now. (catch a fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire: gonna get burn. (catch a fire) Wo, now!

Ev'rytime I hear the crack of a whip,
My blood runs cold.
I remember on the slave ship,
How they brutalize the very souls.
Today they say that we are free,
Only to be chained in poverty.
Good God, I think it's illiteracy;
It's only a machine that makes money.
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all. Ooh-ooh-oo-ooh.

Slave driver, uh! The table is turn, baby, now; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire, so you can get burn, baby, now. (catch a fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire: so you can get burn, now. (catch a fire)

Ev'rytime I hear the crack of a whip,
My blood runs cold.
I remember on the slave ship,
How they brutalize the very soul.

O God, have mercy on our souls!
Oh, slave driver, the table is turn, y'all; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire, so you can get burn. (catch a fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire ... [fadeout]



@eddymanijean6794

Slave Driver (Esclavagiste)

Slave driver the table is turned
Esclavagiste les choses ont changé
Catch a fire so you can get burned
Attrape un feu et tu peux te brûler
Slave driver your table is turned
Esclavagiste tes choses ont changé
Catch your fire, you're gonna get burned
Attrape ton feu, tu vas te brûler





Ev'ry time I hear the crack of a whip
Chaque fois que j'entends le claquement d'un fouet
My blood runs cold
Mon sang se glace

I remember on the slave ship
Je me rappelle sur le bateau d'esclaves
How they brutalised their very souls
Comment ils brutalisaient nos âmes
Today they say that we are free
Aujourd'hui ils disent que nous sommes libres
Only to be chained in poverty
Seulement d'être enchaînés dans la pauvreté

Good god, I think it's all illiteraci
Bon Dieu, je crois que tout ca est illégal
It's only a machine that makes money
C'est seulement une machine qui fait de l'argent



@eddymanijean6794

Slave Driver (Marchand D'esclaves)

Slave driver the table is turned
Marchant d'esclaves les choses ont changé
Catch a fire so you can get burned
Attrape un feu et tu peux te brûler
Slave driver your table is turned
Marchant d'esclaves tes choses ont changé
Catch your fire, you're gonna get burned
Attrape ton feu, tu vas te brûler





Ev'ry time I hear the crack of a whip
Chaque fois que j'entends le claquement d'un fouet
My blood runs cold
Mon sang se glace

I remember on the slave ship
Je me rappelle sur le bateau d'esclaves
How they brutalised their very souls
Comment ils brutalisaient nos âmes
Today they say that we are free
Aujourd'hui ils disent que nous sommes libres
Only to be chained in poverty
Seulement d'être enchaînés dans la pauvreté

Good god, I think it's all illiteraci
Bon Dieu, je crois que tout ca est illégal
It's only a machine that makes money
C'est seulement une machine qui fait de l'argent



All comments from YouTube:

@Polygor2

I prefer the Jamaican version of the album as everything sounds clearer

@maryajones3147

The very 1st Bob Marley and the Wailers album I ever purchased👌

@Johnelienyc187

Same here

@adhominemsis-t.australisensis

And the best!

@annalishagoring

@@adhominemsis-t.australisensis one of the best yes

@WMAGene

This song pours from the speakers like slow syrup. Delicious!

@marcelo_koman

Sweet and Saucy

@Zlervo

Yes please 😍

@levicanterbury797

Um

@kevincarrillo9627

Amén

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