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)
Talkin
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold ground was my bed last night (bed last night)
And rock was my pillow, too (doo-oo-oo-oo-oo!)
Cold ground was my bed last night (bed last night)
And rock was my pillow, too yeah!
I'm saying: talkin' blues (talkin' blues)
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues)
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues)
Your feet is just too big for your shoes (shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo)
Yeah, I've been down on the rock for so long, (so long)
I seem to wear a permanent screw (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
I've been down on the rock for so long (so long)
I seem to wear a permanent screw (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
But-a I I'm gonna stare in the sun
Let the rays shine in my eyes
I I'm a gonna take a just-a one step more
Cause I feel like bombin' a church
Now now that you know that the preacher is lyin'
So who's gonna stay at home
When when the freedom fighters are fighting?
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues)
They say your feet is just too big for your shoes, woe-oh-oh-oh!
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), keep on talkin' blues (talkin' blues)
They say you hear what they say
Didn't you hear?
Cold ground was my bed (bed last night)
Rockstone rockstone rockstone was my pillow
Cold ground was my bed last night (bed last night)
And rock was my pillow, too
Sayin' (talkin' blues, talkin' blues)
I seem to wear a permanent screw permanent screw
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues)
Feet is just too big for your shoes (Shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo)
The song "Can't Blame The Youth" by Bob Marley & The Wailers speaks about the damaging effects of the education system and societal norms on the younger generation, and how these factors can lead to misguided attitudes and behaviors. Marley sings about how young people are taught to believe in things that are not true, such as the cow jumping over the moon and the dish running away with the spoon. He also points out how historical figures such as Christopher Columbus and pirates like Hawkins and Morgan were presented as "great" despite their involvement in atrocities like genocide and theft.
The chorus of the song, "You can't blame the youths, you can't fool the youths," asserts that the younger generation should not be solely held responsible for their actions, as the society they grow up in has a significant impact on their attitudes and beliefs. The line, "When every Christmas come, you buy the youth a pretty toy gun," highlights how the glamorization of violence through media and consumerism can lead to aggressive behavior among young people.
In conclusion, "Can't Blame The Youth" is a powerful song that encourages us to critically examine the messages we send to young people and the impact they have on the formation of their attitudes and values.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't blame the youths
It's unfair to hold the younger generation responsible for societal issues
You can't fool the youths
It's impossible to deceive young, impressionable minds
You can't blame the youths of today
Once again, it's unjust to blame young people for problems they didn't create
You're teaching youths to learn in the school
And that the cow jumped over moon
Teaching youths to learn in the school
And that the dish ran away with spoon
Teaching children nonsensical things doesn't help them learn what they need to know
You teach the youths about Christopher Columbus
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Marco Polo
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Hawkins
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Morgan
And you said he was a very great man
Society glorifies problematic historical figures without acknowledging their wrongdoing
So, you can't blame the youths, when they don't learn
When kids are being taught falsehoods, it's not their fault for not knowing the truth
When every Christmas come
You buy the youth a pretty toy gun
When every Christmas comes around
You buy the youth a fancy toy gun
Encouraging kids to play with weapons promotes a culture of violence
So, you can't blame the youths when they get bad
Once again, it's unfair to blame young people for the negative consequences of society's actions
Said he was a very great man
Said he was a very great man
Reiterating that society glorifies destructive figures and encourages falsified views of history
You can't fool the youths, yeah
The younger generation is not easily fooled or manipulated
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARLTON BARRETT, LECON COGILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tpe54
Yeah! Oh, yeah! Now!
Cold ground was my bed last night (bed last night)
And rock was my pillow, too; (doo-oo-oo-oo-oo!)
Cold ground was my bed last night (bed last night)
And rock was my pillow, too. Yeah!
I'm saying: talkin' blues (talkin' blues),
talkin' blues (talkin' blues);
They say your feet is just too big for your shoes. (shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo)
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues):
Your feet is just too big for your shoes. (shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo)
Yeah, I've been down on the rock for so long, (so long)
I seem to wear a permanent screw; (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
I've been down on the rock for so long, (so long)
I seem to wear a permanent screw. (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
But-a I - I'm gonna stare in the sun,
Let the rays shine in my eyes.
I - I'm a gonna take a just-a one step more
'Cause I feel like bombin' a church -
Now - now that you know that the preacher is lyin'.
So who's gonna stay at home
When - when the freedom fighters are fighting?
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues):
They say your feet is just too big for your shoes, woe-oh-oh-oh!
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), keep on talkin' blues (talkin' blues);
They say - you hear what they say -
Didn't you hear?
Cold ground was my bed (bed last night),
Rockstone - rockstone - rockstone was my pillow;
Cold ground was my bed last night (bed last night),
And rock was my pillow, too.
Sayin': (talkin' blues, talkin' blues):
I seem to wear a permanent screw - permanent screw.
Talkin' blues (talkin' blues), talkin' blues (talkin' blues):
Feet is just too big for your shoes. (shoe-oo-oo-oo-oo) /fadeout/
@user-bd2ni1ee3n
i was 18years old when my brother played this song now i am 68years old.
@errolgavin6554
Nice to see old guys still Jah hard bless you bro I'm 53
@dereksealy1594
The first Bob Marley album l ever saw in our house way back in 76.
All of the rest followed...We even back-tracked to 'Burnin'..l
@jwbh7995
Happy 72nd birthday Bob. You are the greatest musician this world has ever known. Glad you left children behind to keep the Marley name around forever.
@AztekDeLaJungle
True 🔥
@velmasanders103
Bob. Listen to words. Will never die. Xx
@austinirabor5586
thank God for Bob Marley the greatest
@miRasJamal
Humbly proud to say that i was fortunate enough to visit and rest my head on that very rock Bob speak of in no other than Nine Mile Jamaica. Cant listen to this song without thinkin about my recent past trip there....Jah willing I hope to return within the next year or two!
@grumarnold9706
Proudly replicated Bob myself in nine mile and layed on the cold ground , and rested my head on the rock he speaks of , smoking a spliff .
@alechiggins6515
One of the best Bob songs!