As a youngster, Buju would often watch his favourite artists perform at outdoor shows and local dancehalls. At the tender age of 13 he picked up the microphone for himself and began toasting under the monicker of "Gargamel". His first single, "The Ruler" was released not long afterwards in 1987 under the production of Robert French at Penthouse Studios.
In 1991, Buju joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse Label and began a fruitful partnership with producer Dave Kelly. Buju is one of the most popular musicians in Jamaican history, having burst onto the charts there suddenly in 1992, with "Bogle" and "Love Me Browning/Love Black Woman", both massive hits in Jamaica. Controversy erupted over Love Me Browning which spoke of Banton's preference for light-skinned women: "Mi love mi car mi love mi house mi love mi money and ting, but most of all mi love mi browning." Some accused Banton of promoting a colonialist attitude and denigrating the beauty of black women. In response, he released "Black Woman" which spoke of his love for dark-skinned beauties: "Stop cry, fi all black woman, respect all the gyals with dark complexion." 1992 was an explosive year for Buju as he broke the great Bob Marley's record for the greatest number of number one singles in a year. Beginning with "Man fi Dead", Buju's gruff voice dominated the Jamaican airwaves for the duration of the year. Banton's debut album, Mr. Mention, includes his greatest hits from that year.
1992 was also the year in which the controversy over Buju's homophobic "Boom Bye Bye" exploded. The media in Great Britain picked up on Buju's less than admirable promotion of violence against homosexuals. Myrie, who had recently signed with Mercury records, refused to back down from his stance against homosexuals, claiming his religious beliefs prevented him from accepting homosexuality. Banton downplayed the violent content of his song, claiming that it was metaphorical. Gay Rights groups campaigned against Buju as well as Shabba Ranks who, when asked about the controversy on the British show The Word, stated, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." Shabba later apologized, but Buju refused to back down which drew the ire of various homosexual advocacy groups who continue to campaign against him.
Banton released the hard-hitting Voice of Jamaica in 1993. The album included a number of conscious tracks. These tracks included "Deportees" a song which criticized those Jamaicans who went abroad but never sent money home, a remix of Little Roy's "Tribal War", a sharp condemnation of political violence, and "Willy, Don't Be Silly" which promoted condom use. The conscious spin of this disc did little to stop the attacks of gay rights groups who felt that his continued performance of "Boom Bye Bye" was a slap in their faces. Some dancehall fans felt that Banton could have exploded onto the American scene if his homophobic song hadn't held him back. Nevertheless, Buju was adopted by many new fans who appreciated his gravelly vocals and cared little about his homophobia.
Til Shiloh (1995) was a very influential album, using a studio band instead of synthesized music, and marking a slight shift away from dancehall towards roots reggae for Banton. Buju turned Rasta and his new album reflected his new beliefs. Til Shiloh is one of the greatest dancehall albums of all time and successfully blended conscious lyrics with a hard-hitting dancehall vibe. The album included a single called "Murderer" which condemned the violence in Jamaican dancehall music, inspired by the murders of dancehall musicians Panhead and Dirtsman. The song inspired several clubs to stop playing songs with excessively violent subject matter. This conscious album had a large impact on dancehall music and showed the hunger the dancehall massive had for conscious lyrics. Dancehall music did not move away from slack and violent lyrics, but the album did pave the way for a greater spirituality within the music.
Inna Heights (1997) substantially increased Banton's international audience as Buju explored his singing ability and recorded a number of roots-tinged tracks. Banton covered The Silvertones' "Destiny" and recorded songs with such artists as Beres Hammond and the legendary Toots Hibbert. The album was well-received but had distribution problems. Also, some fans were disappointed, having hoped for another ground-breaking album like "Til Shiloh." Still, Buju's experimentation and soaring vocals impressed many fans and this album remains a highly regarded work.
In 1998, Buju met the punk band Rancid and recorded two tracks with them: "Misty Days" and "Life Won't Wait." The latter became the title track of Rancid's 1999 album, Life Won't Wait. Subsequently, Buju signed with Rancid's eclectic Anti, a subsidiary of Epitaph and released Unchained Spirit in 2000.
In March 2003 he released Friends for Life, which featured more sharply political songs, including "Mr. Nine", an anti-gun song that further verified his status as one of reggae's most anti-confrontational artists.
Banton's 2006 album Too Bad got him nominated for a second Grammy but despite the album's brilliance and artistic excellence "Too Bad" did not garner the award. "Too Bad" brings us back to the Buju of the nineties with his rough phenomenal voice backed by hypnotic beats and conscious lyrics that seem to stay on repeat in your head. "Too Bad" is a complete listen from start to finish and is an extra success because the Gargamel executive produced the album on his own label.
On April 21, 2009, Buju released the often delayed album Rasta Got Soul. This is Banton's ninth album and features the hit single Magic City. This release sees Buju returning to roots and culture reggae. The album received a Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category.
As of December 2009, Buju allegedly attempted to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Miami and faces up to life in prison if convicted. The trial of Banton began on September 20, 2010 in Tampa, Florida.
Give I Strenght
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Indeed I see pestilence and plague
But I'm not afraid
They are looking for what they can take
Come in all size appear in all shape
Lord give us the vision to differentiate
Yeah they lay wait, we shall escape
God who protect is greater than great
In all that we do He holds our fate
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Joy is a stream constantly flow
And I don't want to be unhappy
Let me live till I'm gray
I work hard to get pay
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
(Ras Shiloh's part)
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give us strength
Never let us fail
To live out the greater part of our days
Give us strength
(Ras Shiloh's part)
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Joy is a stream constantly flow
And I don't want to be unhappy
Let me live till I'm gray
I work hard to get pay
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
The song "Give I Strength" by Buju Banton is a plea to God or Jah to give the singer strength to face the challenges of life. The first verse begins with the singer asking for strength not to fail in living out the greater part of his days. He expresses his courage in the face of pestilence and plague, acknowledging that they are after whatever they can get. However, he is not afraid because God will protect them. In the second verse, the singer implores that the youths are taught and nurtured properly to flow in joy, and work hard to avoid the decay of education. The chorus is repeated throughout the song.
In general, the song "Give I Strength" seeks to inspire and give hope to people despite the challenges of life. Buju Banton, in this song, acknowledges that life is not always smooth, with several challenges that one has to face. He asks for strength not to give up but to keep the faith, work hard, and avoid negativity to live out the greater part of his days. The song can indeed apply to anyone facing hardship in life and needs motivation to continue pursuing their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord give I strength
Asking God to provide the strength to face challenges and overcome obstacles
Never let I fail
Requesting God's support to withstand any difficulties and to never give up
To live out the greater part of my days
Wishing to have a long and meaningful life, filled with accomplishments
Jah give I strength
Referring to God by his Rastafarian name and reinforcing the request for strength
Indeed I see pestilence and plague
The world is full of disease and suffering, which can make life challenging and difficult
But I'm not afraid
Despite the challenges, one has faith and courage to face them without fear
They are looking for what they can take
Evil forces seek to take advantage of others for their own gain
Come in all size appear in all shape
Evil can take many forms and can be present in any situation
Lord give us the vision to differentiate
Asking God to grant clarity of thought and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong
Yeah they lay wait, we shall escape
Evil forces may be waiting for us, but we have the strength to overcome them and be free
God who protect is greater than great
Emphasizing the power and protection of God against evil
In all that we do He holds our fate
Believing that God has a purpose for us and is in control of our destiny
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Encouraging the importance of education and teaching moral principles to younger generations
Joy is a stream constantly flow
Stressing the positivity and happiness that can be found throughout life's journey
And I don't want to be unhappy
Expressing the desire for a joyful and fulfilling life
Let me live till I'm gray
Wishing for a long and healthy life
I work hard to get pay
Highlighting the importance of hard work and self-sufficiency
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Avoiding gossip and negative influences that can harm relationships and one's reputation
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Emphasizing the importance of preserving knowledge and education
Jah give us strength
Asking for God's divine assistance for everyone, not just for oneself
To live out the greater part of our days
Wishing for a long and fulfilling life for everyone
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Donald Dennis, Lowell Dunbar, Mark Myrie, Donovan Germain, Steve Andrew Lindo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stanleyehijie5530
Lord give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Indeed I see pestilence and plague
But I'm not afraid
They are looking for what they can take
Come in all size appear in all shape
Lord give us the vision to differentiate
Yeah they lay wait, we shall escape
God who protect is greater than great
In all that we do He holds our fate
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Joy is a stream constantly flow
And I don't want to be unhappy
Let me live till I'm gray
I work hard to get pay
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
[Ras Shiloh's part]
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give us strength
Never let us fail
To live out the greater part of our days
Give us strength
[Ras Shiloh's part]
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Joy is a stream constantly flow
And I don't want to be unhappy
Let me live till I'm gray
I work hard to get pay
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
@trustreviewtv953
Still listening on a Sunday May 2021 ππΎπ―π²π―π²π―π²
@phillipjackson8112
When want to listen to good music I listen buju banton
@trinisoysoy4515
phillip jackson real music
@rachelalexander6802
phillip jackson true
@debbiegray-lewis9810
π
@empressinessalioness3570
4real
@dorrionclarke7667
Who u listen for bad music?
@takawirasangoya4188
Still sounding very good. Who is with me 2022
@heattransfersupplyfl6773
Who still listens to this in 2019 like
@868AIB
My βgoing to workβ tune...to face those demons