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)

hypocrites version 2:41
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dip for diplomatic;
'Yp for hypocratic;
Dry for dry-land tourist;
Tup for Topper Norris!

See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh! Man, go!

Dem cut - cut - cut against 'em one another;
Cut - cut - cut against 'em one another.
Oh, them teach to love one another;
Oh, them teach to love one another. Man, go!

Dem a rum - come - come wid a gravalicious;
Dem a rum - come - come wid a gravalicious;
Dem a rum-a - come-a - come-a wid a gravalicious;
Dem a rum-a - come - come-a wid a gravalicious.

See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh! Man, go!

Dip-a (for diplomatic);
A 'yp-a (for hypocratic);
Dry - dry - dry (for dry-land tourist);
A tup-pa - tup-pa - tup-pa (for Topper Norris)!

See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!

See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh! Man, go!

Overall Meaning

In "Hypocrites," Bob Marley & The Wailers call out the people who claim to be diplomatic and teach love, but are actually hypocrites. The lyrics mock the use of "dip" for diplomatic and "yp" for hypocrite, emphasizing the insincerity and phoniness of these individuals. The song calls for everyone to see and recognize these hypocrites and urges them to go away.

The repetition of "cut - cut - cut" suggests a dividing and conquering mentality, where the hypocrites turn people against each other rather than bringing them together in love. The use of "rum-a-come" and "gravalicious" possibly refers to the hypocrites spreading rumors and gossip to create further division amongst the people. The song is a warning to the listeners to beware of the fake people in their midst and instead unite in love and unity.

Line by Line Meaning

Dip for diplomatic;
Using polite phrasing that hides true intentions

'Yp for hypocratic;
Showing insincere concern for righteousness or truth

Dry for dry-land tourist;
Trivializing and exploiting the culture of the places they visit as a form of entertainment

Tup for Topper Norris!
Referring to someone as a fool or idiot, possibly as a result of feeling superior or envious

See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
Observe the hypocrites, how they act and move

Dem cut - cut - cut against 'em one another;
Continuously attacking and criticizing each other

Oh, them teach to love one another;
Claiming to promote brotherhood and love while their actions are contradictory

Dem a rum - come - come wid a gravalicious;
Indulging in alcohol and other vices excessively

See de 'ypocrites, them a-galang deh!
Observe the hypocrites, how they act and move

Dip-a (for diplomatic);
Pretending to be diplomatic to mask true intentions

A 'yp-a (for hypocratic);
Showing false concern for righteousness or truth