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)
Brain Washing
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old Mr. Joe, he build a house away
On top of some hill
Old Mr. Joe knew he had to go, so
He got right down and wrote bank will
He say now, here's to mother hen
And her chicken, Lord have mercy now
Master, will you take a roll in the mud
The old barnyard, the old barnyard
Birds and the chick, ooh-wee
Who's got to watch out for brother mongoose
With his top hap and walking-stick?
It's just the poor's brain washing
(Poor's) They told me a long time ago
It's just the poor's brain washing, ooh-wee
(Poor's brain washing) Now look at a thing like this
Cinderella and her long lost fellow
In the midnight hour, she lost her silver slipper
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
While Jack and Jill had themselves a fall
It's just the poor's (brain washing)
And I don't need it no longer (washing)
It's just the poor's brain washing
Coming through to a poor man's child, ooh-wee, look at this
Little Miss Muffet she sat on a tuffet
While Little Red Riding Hood delivered her grandmom's food
Ooh-wee ooh-wee
Ooh-wee, look at one more thing like this
The cow jumping over the moon
While the dish got jealous, he grabbed the handy spoon
It's just the poor's brain washing
And I don't need it no longer, I don't want it no longer
I don't need it no longer (washing)
And I don't care for no more brain washing (washing)
The lyrics to Bob Marley's "Brain Washing" paint a picture of a society whose people have been indoctrinated into a certain way of thinking. The song starts with a story of Old Mr. Joe, who builds a house on top of a hill and leaves his possessions to Mother Hen and her chicken. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for those in power, who have hoarded wealth and resources for themselves, leaving little for the rest of society. The line "Master, will you take a roll in the mud like you know you should?" can be seen as a call to those in power to humble themselves and serve the greater good.
The chorus "It's just the poor's brain washing" sheds light on the idea that those in power can manipulate the thoughts and beliefs of those in poverty in order to maintain their position of power. The following verses reference classic children's stories and nursery rhymes, which can be seen as a commentary on how society perpetuates certain narratives and ideologies from a young age.
Line by Line Meaning
Old Mr. Joe, he build a house away
Old Mr. Joe built his house far from society
On top of some hill
His house was built on a hill
Old Mr. Joe knew he had to go, so
Old Mr. Joe knew he had to leave the world soon
He got right down and wrote bank will
He wrote his will before dying
He say now, here's to mother hen
He gave his blessings to mother hen
And her chicken, Lord have mercy now
And her chicken too, God bless them
Master, will you take a roll in the mud
He wondered if the wealthy master would be humble
Like you know you should?
As one should if he wants to live modestly
The old barnyard, the old barnyard
The setting of the next few stories is the barnyard
Birds and the chick, ooh-wee
The variety of animals in the barnyard included birds and chicks
Who's got to watch out for brother mongoose
One needs to be careful of the mongoose in the barnyard
With his top hap and walking-stick?
The mongoose carries a hat and a stick
It's just the poor's brain washing
The non-realistic stories people tell kids is nothing but the effect of poverty
(Poor's) They told me a long time ago
He was taught these stories when he was poor, long ago
Now look at a thing like this
Now see the impact of these unrealistic stories
Cinderella and her long lost fellow
The story of Cinderella and her lost love
In the midnight hour, she lost her silver slipper
Cinderella lost her silver slipper at night
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
The story of Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall
While Jack and Jill had themselves a fall
The story of Jack and Jill falling down
And I don't need it no longer (washing)
He doesn't need these stories anymore
Coming through to a poor man's child, ooh-wee, look at this
These stories are passed on to poor children, and that is a problem
Little Miss Muffet she sat on a tuffet
The story of Little Miss Muffet sitting on a stool
While Little Red Riding Hood delivered her grandmom's food
Little Red Riding Hood taking food to her grandmother's house
Ooh-wee ooh-wee
Exclamation of surprise and wonder
Ooh-wee, look at one more thing like this
Another example of these kinds of stories
The cow jumping over the moon
The story of the cow jumping over the moon
While the dish got jealous, he grabbed the handy spoon
The story of the dish getting jealous and grabbing a spoon
And I don't care for no more brain washing (washing)
He doesn't want any more unrealistic stories for children
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEVILLE LIVINGSTON, BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
constantin
on Could You Be Loved
i so loved to make my own could you be loved music video! thanks to that!
bubble wand
on Could You Be Loved
so sick
Stuart Essex
on Could You Be Loved
For you Becky :-) xx
Martial Bapst
on Exodus
Only the best!!!
Robi Andi
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Bob Marley , mantap..!
Rodrîîgo Silva
on Three Little Birds
#suave
Akbar Sulaeman
on Redemption Song
good bob marley ??
Abate Kidus
on Buffalo Soldier
good
Valmir Machado
on Lively Up Yourself
mano o bagulho é loko
Volnei Santos da Silva
on Concrete Jungle (JAD)
bob jungle