During 1970 and 1971, Wailer, Marley and Tosh worked with renowned reggae producers Leslie Kong and Lee "Scratch" Perry.
They released four albums before signing to Island Records in 1972. Two more albums were created before Tosh and Wailer left the band in 1974, citing grievances over label treatment and ideological differences. Marley carried on with a new line-up, including the I-Threes that put out seven more more albums. Marley died in 1981.
The Wailers were a groundbreaking ska and reggae group, noted for songs such as "Simmer Down", "Trenchtown Rock", "Nice Time", "War", "Stir It Up" and "Get Up, Stand Up".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley_and_the_Wailers
Studio albums
The Wailing Wailers (1965)
The Best of the Wailers (1970; released 1971)
Soul Rebels (1970)
Soul Revolution Part II (1971)
Catch a Fire (1973)
Burnin' (1973)
Natty Dread (1974)
Rastaman Vibration (1976)
Exodus (1977)
Kaya (1978)
Survival (1979)
Uprising (1980)
Confrontation (1983)
400 Years
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's the same, the same (wo-o-o-o) philosophy
I've said it's four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
Look, how long (wo oh oh oh)
And the people they (wo oh oh oh) still can't see
Why do they fight against the poor youth of today?
And without these youths, they would be gone
All gone astray
Come on, let's make a move (make a move, make a move, wo oh oh oh)
I can see time (wo oh oh oh), time has come
And if-a fools don't see (fools don't see, fools don't see, wo oh oh oh)
I can't save the youth
The youth is gonna be strong
So, won't you come with me (come with me)
I'll take you to a land of liberty
Where we can live (we can live), live a good, good life and be free
Look how long, four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Way too long! (Wo oh oh oh)
That's the reason my people (wo oh oh oh), my people can't see
Said, it's four hundred long years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
Give me patience (wo-o-o-o), same philosophy
It's been four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Wait so long! Wo oh oh oh, wo oh oh oh
How long, four hundred (four hundred years, four hundred years) long, long years
People hiding from reality
The lyrics to Bob Marley's "400 Years" express a deep sense of pain and frustration at the continued oppression and injustice suffered by black people over four hundred years. The repetition of the phrase "four hundred years" emphasizes the long history of this struggle and the continued existence of the same oppressive system. Marley calls attention to the fact that despite the passage of time, the same philosophy of domination and control persists.
The lyrics also point to the youth as a crucial part of the struggle for liberation. Marley questions why people fight against young people, and acknowledges their strength and importance to the cause. He invites the listener to join him in the pursuit of a land of liberty, where they can live a good life and be free. However, he also acknowledges the difficulty of this task, and the need for patience and persistence.
The final line, "People hiding from reality," speaks to the idea that many people are blind to the truth of the situation and are content to go along with the status quo, rather than fighting for change.
Overall, the lyrics to "400 Years" are a powerful call to action, urging listeners to recognize the persistence of oppression and to work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
The song talks about the awful duration of slavery, which lasted even longer than four centuries.
And it's the same, the same (wo-o-o-o) philosophy
Despite the length of this enslavement, the same philosophy of oppressing the black people continues till date.
I've said it's four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
The song reiterates the fact that the amount of time that has passed since slavery started is over 400 years.
Look, how long (wo oh oh oh)
This is an emphasis on how long the Africans have been oppressed and enslaved.
And the people they (wo oh oh oh) still can't see
Even after all these years, some people still can't see the damage and injustice that was done to black people.
Why do they fight against the poor youth of today?
The song addresses the oppression that young black people still face today.
And without these youths, they would be gone
Without the hope and spirit of young black people working towards liberating themselves, their oppressors would be forgotten and gone.
Come on, let's make a move (make a move, make a move, wo oh oh oh)
The song calls for action, urging its listeners to make a move towards change.
I can see time (wo oh oh oh), time has come
The songwriter sees that it's time for change, and there is a visible shift towards progress.
And if-a fools don't see (fools don't see, fools don't see, wo oh oh oh)
If some people do not realize the need for change and the problems with the status quo, they will not be advocates for progress.
I can't save the youth
The songwriter is not solely responsible for saving the youth--it's everyone's duty to ensure a better future.
The youth is gonna be strong
The young black people have the courage and strength to push for change and make a difference.
So, won't you come with me (come with me)
The songwriter invites his listeners to join him in his path towards activism and change.
I'll take you to a land of liberty
The songwriter promises a future where freedom and equality will be experienced by all.
Where we can live (we can live), live a good, good life and be free
This is the ultimate goal of the struggle--for black people to live their lives as they please, free from oppression and mistreatment.
Look how long, four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
The song emphasizes once again the devastating impact of 400 years of enslavement on black people.
Way too long! (Wo oh oh oh)
The songwriter expresses his indignation that an immoral institution could last for such a long time.
That's the reason my people (wo oh oh oh), my people can't see
The extensive period of enslavement is responsible for the lack of sight and the inability for black people to see the mistreatment they still face today.
Said, it's four hundred long years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
The song repeats the fact that slavery lasted for four centuries.
Give me patience (wo-o-o-o), same philosophy
The songwriter asks for patience, as change is a slow process that requires perseverance, the same philosophy that black people have been forced to adhere to for over four centuries.
How long, four hundred (four hundred years, four hundred years) long, long years
The songwriter once again laments the length of time black people have been oppressed and how much damage it has caused them.
People hiding from reality
The last line of the song points out that many people refuse to acknowledge the lingering issues from slavery and are therefore not working towards solving them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Peter Tosh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eddymanijean6794
Four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Mmm-mm-mm (Oh-hoo-ooo)
And it's the same, the same philosophy
I've said it's four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Look how long (Oh-hoo-ooo)
And the people they still can't see
Why do they fight against (fight against)
The poor youth of today
And without this youths (without this youths)
They will be gone, all gone astray
Come on, let's make a move (make a move, make a move, oh-hoo-ooo)
I can see time (oh-hoo-ooo)
Time has come
And if-a fools don't see (fools don't see, fools don't see, oh-hoo-ooo)
I can't save the youth
The youth is gonna be strong
So, won't you come with me (come with me)
I'll take you to a land of liberty
Where we can live (we can live)
Live a good, good life and be free
Look how long, four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Way too long! (oh-hoo-ooo)
That's the reason my people (oh-hoo-ooo)
My people can't see
Said, it's four hundred long years (four hundred years, four hundred years, oh-hoo-ooo)
Give me patience (oh-hoo-ooo)
Same philosophy
It's been four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Wait so long! (oh-hoo-ooo, oh-hoo-ooo)
How long, four hundred (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Long, long years
People hiding from reality
Auteurs-compositeurs : Peter Tosh
Pour utilisation non commerciale uniquement.
Données de : Musixmatch
@theloniouscoltrane3778
"400 Years"
400 years (400 years, 400 years. Wo-o-o-o)
And it's the same -
The same (wo-o-o-o) philosophy
I've said it's four hundred years;
(400 years, 400 years. Wo-o-o-o, wo-o-o-o)
Look, how long (wo-o-o-o)
And the people they (wo-o-o-o) still can't see.
Why do they fight against the poor youth of today?
And without these youths, they would be gone -
All gone astray
Come on, let's make a move:
(make a move, make a move. Wo-o-o-o, wo-o-o-o)
I can (wo-o-o-o) see time (wo-o-o-o) - time has come,
And if-a fools don't see
(fools don't see, fools don't see. Wo-o-o-o)
I can't save the youth:
The youth (wo-o-o-o) is gonna be strong.
So, won't you come with me;
I'll take you to a land of liberty
Where we can live - live a good, good life
And be free.
Look how long: 400 years, (400 years, 400 years) -
Way too long! (wo-o-o-o)
That's the reason my people (wo-o-o-o) - my people can't see.
Said, it's four hundred long years - (400 years, 400 years. Wo-o-o-o)
Give me patience (wo-o-o-o) - same philosophy.
It's been 400 years, (400 years, 400 years)
Wait so long! Wo-o-o-o, wo-o-o-o.
How long? 400 long, long years. [fadeout]
@jahniquasimmons
The song is actually directly talking about the most recent 400 years of slavery, also a general metaphor, and by extension, institutionalized oppression, i.e. poverty, etc & worldwide/rampant discrimination that the so-called "Black" (including Caribbean & African-American) people have endured.
You see, black is a color and therefore calling an entire group (the indigenous enslaved people of Africa known by many titles throughout time, namely Hebrew, etc), such is extremely derogatory, demeaning, illogical & a targeted form of erasure: of our roots, culture, true history.
All of which extends beyond the symbolic, shallow label of being from the African continent. Mind you, Africa is not 1 big country.
Before the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, we were traded & trafficked in various locations within & outside the mainland by other African groups, such as the Arabs, Egyptians & so-forth. The Portuguese & Spanish were the first European, non-native powers in recent history to continue the longstanding legacy in the 16th - 17th century.
Peter Tosh (and the Wailers) are both lamenting & proudly claiming this history and identity in relation to our ultimate triumph over the evils of centuries upon centuries of Anti-Black racism.
@MsWildberry1
This song was written and sung by Peter Tosh. Give Bush Doctor he just dues ❤💛💚🖤
@anthonyagbojo1408
He did that as part of the wailers. Everyone who knows Raeggae can tell Peter Tosh's voice.
@JJShalashaska
Bob was a Prophet. But this song was written by Peter Tosh, Who is also lead singer in this record
@79steelymatt
Peter Tosh is the true legend of reggae
@goldpharaoh6976
400 years is today
@danilofonsecaofficial3426
Yeh man big up niceness bumbaclaat
@DominarioFerreira
em termos de voz uma das mais belas que já vi peter Tosh
@DominarioFerreira
uma das vozes mais belas que já ouvi
@DominarioFerreira
uma das vozes mais belas que já ouvi
@bigworm2051
Nah mate it's today