Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as The Wailers, and prior to t… Read Full Bio ↴Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as The Wailers, and prior to that The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers and The Teenagers) were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Robert Nesta Marley), Peter Tosh (Hubert Winston McIntosh), and Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston).

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)

The Singles: Small Axe
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why boasteth thyself
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever? Oh no
I said, you're working iniquity
To achieve vanity, yeah (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth forever

If you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Sharpened to cut you down (well sharp)
Ready to cut you down

These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
No weak heart
Shall prosper, oh no they can't!
And whosoever diggeth a pit, Lord
Shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, shall bury in it

If you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Sharpened to cut you down
Ready to cut you down

And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, shall bury in it

If you are the big, big tree
We have a small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
Sharpened to cut you down
If you are the big tree, let me tell you this
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
Sharpened to cut you down

If you are the big tree
We are the small axe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bob Marley's Small Axe can be interpreted as a message of power to the oppressed. The song addresses those who boast about their superiority and intelligence while neglecting to cultivate wisdom or honor their innate goodness. It is a call to dismantle oppressive systems and topple those who have unjustly positioned themselves as the "big tree."

Marley uses the metaphor of a tree and a small axe to convey this message. The "big tree" represents those who hold power and oppress others. The "small axe" signifies the oppressed, who, though they may seem insignificant, have the potential to bring about change and dismantle power structures. The lyrics suggest that those who dig pits to trap others will eventually fall into their own trap.

This song can be interpreted as a powerful anthem for marginalized groups, who, though they may seem to be at a disadvantage, actually hold tremendous power to bring about change. It encourages listeners to stand up against injustice and to use their power to bring about a more equitable society.

Line by Line Meaning

Why boasteth thyself
Why are you bragging?

Oh, evil men
Those who do bad things

Playing smart
You think you're clever

And not being clever? Oh no
But you're actually not smart at all.

I said, you're working iniquity
You are doing evil deeds

To achieve vanity, yeah (if a-so a-so)
To get something worthless

But the goodness of Jah, Jah
Goodness of God

I-dureth forever
Enduring forever

If you are the big tree
If you're powerful

We are the small axe
We are less powerful but can still do damage

Sharpened to cut you down (well sharp)
Prepared to bring you down

These are the words
These are the teachings

Of my master, keep on tellin' me
Of my leader who guides me

No weak heart
People who are not strong

Shall prosper, oh no they can't!
They will not succeed

And whosoever diggeth a pit, Lord
Those who harm others

Shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Will face consequences

Shall bury in it, shall bury in it
Will suffer from their own actions

If you are the big, big tree
If you are very powerful

We have a small axe
We still have the capability to bring you down

If you are the big tree, let me tell you this
If you think you are powerful

Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
We are ready to bring you down

Sharpened to cut you down
We have prepared ourselves to bring you down

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOB MARLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS