Burn One Down
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics


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You tell lies thinking I can't see
You can't cry 'cause you're laughing at me
I'm down, I'm down, I''m down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down

Man buys ring, woman throws it away
Same old thing happen every day
I'm down, I'm down, I''m down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down

We're all alone and there's nobody else
She'll still moan "Keep your hands to yourself"
I'm down, I'm down, I''m down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down, woo

A baby you know I'm down
I guess I'm down
I'm down on the ground
I'm down
Ah, baby I'm upside down




Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I'm down

Overall Meaning

In Burn One Down, Bob Marley & The Wailers express their frustration towards someone who is constantly lying and laughing at their pain. The first verse describes the liar's hypocrisy in not being able to show genuine emotions and failing to acknowledge the sufferings of others. The second verse talks about the cycle of relationship issues where a man buys a ring for his partner and yet it is thrown away, and this pattern repeats every day. In the third verse, the song talks about seduction and temptation, portraying the seducer as selfish and inconsiderate towards the sufferings of others as they still continue to moan despite knowing the other person's vulnerability.


The song has a deeper meaning to it, it talks about the insensitivity of people towards the sufferings of others. It is also a cry for help by those who are down and vulnerable, urging others to acknowledge their pain. Burn One Down is a powerful and emotionally charged song that exposes the flaws of human nature and our tendency to be self-centered.


Line by Line Meaning

You tell lies thinking I can't see
You lie to me assuming that I am blind to your deception


You can't cry 'cause you're laughing at me
You are not capable of expressing genuine remorse because you find my struggles amusing


I'm down, I'm down, I''m down
I am feeling low and depressed, experiencing hardship and pain


How can you laugh when you know I'm down
It is deeply hurtful and insensitive to laugh at someone who is suffering and in a difficult situation


Man buys ring, woman throws it away
A man buys an engagement ring for a woman, but she rejects his romantic gesture


Same old thing happen every day
This kind of disappointment and heartache happens repeatedly and becomes a routine part of life


We're all alone and there's nobody else
We are isolated and without support, facing our problems alone


She'll still moan "Keep your hands to yourself"
Even though we are physically close, she does not want to be touched or comforted


A baby you know I'm down
It is abundantly clear that I am feeling sad and overwhelmed


I guess I'm down
I suppose that I am in a state of despair and hopelessness


I'm down on the ground
I feel like I have fallen and hit rock bottom, with nowhere to go but up


Ah, baby I'm upside down
Metaphorically, my life has been turned upside down and I am struggling to find my footing


Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing emotional distress and disappointment


I'm down
Emphasizing the feeling of being in a state of sadness and despair




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY

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

@nonethelessbysignificantvi197

What he sang back then is proof,we had once a real prophet in disguise alive and breathing amongst us!!.. He just told the world what he always saw in his life through his own eyes..
Being genuine and humble without fear is a lost art in human social behavior nowadays with people..Not only are we losing family values but we're becoming all mostly individualists,there's too much need for attention or self-adulation..Too many are desperate to fit in with everybody..Being self-centered,the need to feel important,they keep on taking selfies with their cells and putting it out on Facebook as if they was stars!! Do you still watch America's got talent?
Racial profiling against black people, islamophobics and those eagle eyeing arabs or foreigners,the way Native Americans are being treated here in North America..What the Palestinians are going through in the hands of Israeli forces to me echoes the police brutality and even the citizen persecution done on others that occurs way to often here in North America with so many type of minorities in hate crimes!! Systematic discrimination can still be a major problem for any minority with ambition..Aside this covid-19 nuisance, we have pure madness out there with to many bullets flying in our schools,homes and general public spaces,I have now grudges against anyone believing in guns,"crazy bald heads" you feeding the beast in the lake of fire!! And what's up with these men killing their wife or girlfriends,even our news has mothers murdering their children...Has a biracial man myself I live the lie and denial existence,all I understand or was thaught is contradictions from both ends!! What is the best of both worlds,if someone can still treat me has the nigger they want me to be??God is the only one I believe for sure is on my side no matter what!!
Maybe some of us are little sensitive but I think anyone treating someone indifferently for whatever reasons,is concealing some form of bigotry in their hearts and it's sometimes felt!!..
So many out there just hurting and who is still always in need!!
Hatred isn't the only disease needing a cure,so is greed,blind ignorance or self-entlitlements which is always what's masquerading someone as being secretly selfish or even envious of your potential!!
What is cultural standards or social politics?Who is anyone to judge you?
Reality is better than illusion,harmony feels good while conformity feels fake!!..What is social expectations or society classifications base on ethnicity or religion,if there's indeed supposed to be freedom for everyone?
Freedom to live,freedom of choice,freedom in being in unity with one another or with anyone that makes you feel good..Love is indeed without doubt,there's no conditions for it,God gives it to the good and even the bad,that's how great his benevolence is!!Redemption is for sure the best and easiest honest way to forgiveness!!
I learned so much from his music and from him seeing the world for what it really is,he just played and sang it!!
A true once in a life time genius,one of the very best of our human kind!!
Out of anyone else in the music industry history for me,even with all sport phenom heroes or any other type of celebrity that ever came out in mainstream over the years..
No one ever touched me deep down in my soul like Bob Marley did or spoke of true human conditions like that!! Look at his clothes! You can not only realize but also see,image and vanity ment nothing to him!!
Been playing his music since we had turntables back in the day as a child till now with our mp3s..
Bob Marley is the greatest ever and so many out there already know that. Those who chooses to marginalized him or his impact on our world,in our lives I'm reminded of "The parables of the seeds" truth is not for everyone!!..God bless everybody who's still listening tho and knows what it is :)



All comments from YouTube:

@imakedreamsshop3781

i really lose my mind when i listen to this. I feel such a power coming trough the body and mind. Love seeing how much people still showing love to this Man! His Music is infinite! ONE LOVE

@ndihomarley9668

It happens to me when I am listening to Get up, Stand up; the Heathen, Africa United,...

@MihaiAfloarei

I do too to this song..and to satisfy my soul

@Syakinongwa

Right you are. Music so touching. Spiritual.

@Thegothicrasta

The Spirit of Bob moving through InI

@neils8443

Yes! I'm a white boy and Bobs music is in my Heart!

18 More Replies...

@omanmc

Goosebumps, shivers, great memories. Bob's charisma is incredible.

@LenoxMhlanga

Spiritual

@markjayasinghe3119

Same i love the song from a long day ago

@aframaco9491

So well said ! Charismatic to the core!

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