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)
Burnin’ & Lootin’
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This morning I woke up in a curfew
Oh God, I was a prisoner, too
Could not recognize the faces standing over me
All dressed in uniforms of brutality
How many rivers do we have to cross
Before we can talk to the boss?
We must have really paid the cost
That's why we gonna be burnin' and a-lootin' tonight
We're burnin' and a-lootin' tonight
Burnin' all pollution tonight
Oh, we're burnin' all illusion tonight
Ey!
Oh, give me the food and let me grow
Let the Roots Man take the gold
I say, 'cause all them drugs gonna make you slow, now
It's not the music from the ghetto
Eh!
Weeping and a-wailin' tonight
Weeping and a-wailin' tonight, lord, lord, lord, lord
Eh! (weeping and a-wailin' tonight)
Oh, (weeping and a-wailin' tonight) yeah!
How many rivers
How many rivers
Do we have to cross?
Talk to the boss
And one more, if all we got, we have lost
What I mean yeah, we must have really paid the cost
That's why we gonna be (burnin' and a-lootin' tonight)
Burning and a-lootin'
(Burnin' and a-lootin' tonight) lord, oh, lord, oh, lord, oh, lord
Burnin' all pollution tonight
(Burnin' all illusion tonight) eh!
(Weeping and a-wailin' tonight)
(Weeping and a-wailin' tonight) lord, oh, lord, oh, lord, oh, lord
(Weeping and a-wailin' tonight) who can stop the tears tonight?
(Weeping and a-wailin' tonight) so, pretty no, no tears tonight, eh!
The lyrics of Burnin' and Lootin' were written in 1973 when Jamaica was going through a difficult time where there were curfews, government corruption, and a great deal of violence. Bob Marley, in this song, describes waking up while there is still a curfew with uniformed officials, who are supposed to protect, standing over him. The song is a heartbreakingly realistic portrayal of a harsh, oppressive society.
Bob Marley's frustration with the political situation and the state of the country is captured in the following lines: "How many rivers do we have to cross before we can talk to the boss? ..all we got, it seems we have lost." Here, he is expressing the feeling of hopelessness and despair that is prevalent when a government becomes authoritarian.
However, the end of the song is hopeful. Instead of giving up, Bob Marley declares the power of the people: "That's why we gonna be burnin' and a-lootin' tonight. We're burnin' and a-lootin' tonight / Burnin' all pollution tonight / Oh, we're burnin' all illusion tonight." He's urging the people, instead of crying, to take action and destroy the illusion that they are powerless. The song, therefore, gives hope that things can get better if people stand in solidarity.
Line by Line Meaning
Ey!
An exclamation used to grab attention and set a serious tone for the song.
This morning I woke up in a curfew
The singer woke up in a situation he was not free to leave.
Oh God, I was a prisoner, too
The singer felt trapped and helpless in the situation.
Could not recognize the faces standing over me
The people in charge of the situation were strangers to the singer.
All dressed in uniforms of brutality
The people in charge of the situation were displaying their power and control through their uniforms.
How many rivers do we have to cross
A metaphorical question about how long the singer and his people will have to struggle to achieve their goal.
Before we can talk to the boss?
Asking how long it will take to get the attention of those in power and have their voices heard.
I'm saying, all we got, it seems we have lost
The singer believes his people have lost everything they had left and are desperate for change.
We must have really paid the cost
Acknowledging the sacrifices made to get to this point and emphasizing the urgency for change.
That's why we gonna be burnin' and a-lootin' tonight
The people are resorting to extreme measures in order to be heard and effect change.
Burnin' all pollution tonight
Destroying all forms of oppression and negativity tonight.
Oh, we're burnin' all illusion tonight
The people are rejecting false promises and misguided beliefs tonight.
Oh, give me the food and let me grow
The people are asking for basic needs and the freedom to prosper and succeed on their own.
Let the Roots Man take the gold
The people want to empower those with roots to build up their communities.
I say, 'cause all them drugs gonna make you slow, now
A warning against distractions and false promises that lead people to be content with their oppressed situation.
It's not the music from the ghetto
The people's cause cannot be dismissed as simply noise or unimportant because of their socioeconomic status.
Weeping and a-wailin' tonight
Expressing the overwhelming sorrow and pain the people have been subjected to.
Talk to the boss
Again emphasizing the need to be heard by those in power.
What I mean yeah, we must have really paid the cost
Reiterating the high cost paid by the people and the importance of change.
Burning and a-lootin'
Continuing the rebellion in search of change.
who can stop the tears tonight?
A desperate plea for the suffering to end and for progress to be made.
(Weeping and a-wailin' tonight) so, pretty no, no tears tonight, eh!
Urging the people to be strong and have hope for a better tomorrow.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zach Higgins
This morning I woke up in a curfew;
O God, I was a prisoner, too
Could not recognize the faces standing over me
They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality.
How many rivers do we have to cross
Before we can talk to the boss?
All that we got it seem we have lost
We must have really paid the cost.
(That's why we gonna be)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(Say we gonna burn and loot)
Burnin' and a-lootin' tonight;
(One more thing)
Burnin' all pollution tonight;
(Oh, yeah, yeah)
Burnin' all illusion tonight.
Oh, stop them!
Give me the food and let me grow
Let the rude man take a blow
All them drugs gonna make you slow now
It's not the music of the ghetto
Weeping and a-wailin' tonight;
(Who can stop the tears?)
Weeping and a-wailin' tonight
(We've been suffering these long, long-a years!)
Weeping and a-wailin' tonight
(Will you say cheer?)
Weeping and a-wailin' tonight
(But where?)
Give me the food and let me grow
Let the rude man take a blow
I say all them drugs gonna make you slow
It's not the music of the ghetto
We gonna be burning and a-looting tonight
(To survive, yeah!)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(Save your baby lives)
Burning all pollution tonight;
(Pollution, yeah, yeah!)
Burning all illusion tonight
(Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord!)
Burning and a-looting tonight;
Burning and a-looting tonight;
Burning all pollution tonight.
Sergio yabadhu
This morning I woke up in a curfew
O God, I was a prisoner, too - yeah!
Could not recognize the faces standing over me
They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality. (Ay!)
How many rivers do we have to cross
Before we can talk to the boss? (Yeah!)
All that we got, it seems we have lost
We must have really paid the cost
(That's why we going to be)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(Say we going to burn and loot)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(One more thing)
Burning all pollution tonight
(Oh, yeah, yeah)
Burning all illusion tonight
Oh, stop them!
[Chorus]
Give me the food and let me grow
Let the Roots Man take a blow
All them drugs going to make you slow now
It's not the music of the ghetto. (Ay!)
[Verse 2]
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(Who can stop the tears?)
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(We've been suffering these long, long-a years!)
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(Will you say cheer?)
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(But where?)
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
We going to be burning and a-looting tonight
(To survive, yeah!)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(Save your baby lives)
Burning all pollution tonight
(Pollution, yeah, yeah!)
Burning all illusion tonight
(Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord!)
[Outro]
Burning and a-looting tonight
Burning and a-looting tonight
1ryanwilliam
The fact that this song is so perfectly relevant today just shows exactly how much has changed...
Zach Warren
Or just how little has changed ;)
Juniorh
Thats just the way of the world. Any song like this will always be prophetic.
Water Graves
Nothing has changed, so that’s our mission today. Change this shit.
Fernando Flores
The Mexakinz -La Plaga
Paul Morris
This song changed my life when it was first released. It woke me up to the real world and it gave me the courage to stand up and be counted. Still does!
James Hetfield
How many rivers do we have to cross...?
Before we can talk to the boss?
Bob Marley eterno!
Essa música me faz chorar, retrata a realidade de muita gente.
Só eu em 2018 escutando música boa?
don seymour
Soul of a poet, Heart of a Warrior. RIP
Nordeste Gang
obrigado Bob Marley por ter deixado esse legado , por me da essa musica
T A
My favorite song on this album AND this is my favorite album of Bob Marley and the Wailers. 🙌