Capital Letters were a big band, eight-strong (adding another guitarist/vocalist for their 1979 John Peel radio session), that boasted four vocalists, two drummers (one the conga player) and two percussionists among their ranks. In Jamaica, brass and/or organ filled out the arrangements.
Unfortunately, Capital Letters were also a relatively-short lived band. After Headline News they only released one other LP--Vineyard on a minor German label in 1982--and it is rarely in print. That and a handful of fine 12" were all the Capital Letters wrote.
Goodnews CAPITAL LETTERS the band are now practising and will be playing out soon doing all their tracks and more , I should know I'm the keyboard player Perch.
Run Run Run
Capital Letters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Babylon dem a come
Run run run
Babylon dem a come
Cause I'm a righteous rastaman
I can't stop to fight against the babylon
Cause if I stop I shall kill the babylon
Run run run
Babylon dem a come
Run run run
Babylon dem a come
We the black generation
We can have no peace in this land
The babylon they hide on every street corner
Seeking to cause trouble ever more
Amongst us black people
So what can we do
We got to keep on the move
So run yeah run
Run run run...
The lyrics of the song "Run Run Run" by Capital Letters immediately foreground a sense of urgency and danger, as hinted at by the repeated phrase "Babylon dem a come." The term "Babylon" here, as in many reggae songs, refers to the oppressive forces of the government or police, and is part of a wider critical discourse about the ways in which black people face institutionalized forms of discrimination and violence. The singer, who identifies as a "righteous rastaman," feels compelled to fight against Babylon, understanding that stopping could result in lethal consequences. This dynamic is used as an analogy for the broader experience of being a black person in a world that is hostile to them.
The second verse expands on this theme, with the singer addressing the wider struggle of the black generation against Babylon. The idea that there can be "no peace in this land" is a stark reminder of how deeply ingrained institutionalized discrimination is, and how difficult it is to escape. The specificity of the fear that Babylon "hide on every street corner" emphasizes the idea that there is no escape; danger is present everywhere. The song ends with a call to action, urging black people to keep moving, to keep running, because this is the only way to find safety in such an oppressive environment. This idea of running is significant, as it emphasizes the ways in which black people are constantly on the move, searching for safety, and the ways in which they are denied the ability to ever truly settle anywhere.
Line by Line Meaning
Run run run
The singer urges to run away from Babylon.
Babylon dem a come
Babylon, the oppressive system, is on its way to do harm.
Cause I'm a righteous rastaman
The singer is a person who follows the Rastafarian way of life, which promotes peace and dignity.
I can't stop to fight against the babylon
The singer believes in resisting Babylon and can’t afford to give up.
Cause if I stop I shall kill the babylon
If the singer doesn't keep fighting, Babylon will win and cause more harm.
So run yeah run
The singer repeats the chorus, urging people to keep running from Babylon.
We the black generation
The singer addresses black people, emphasizing the importance of their unity.
We can have no peace in this land
The current system won't give black people peace and freedom.
The babylon they hide on every street corner
The Babylonian oppressors are everywhere, making it hard to escape their grasp.
Seeking to cause trouble ever more
Babylon is always looking for ways to cause chaos and disrupt the community.
Amongst us black people
Babylon is specifically oppressing black people, and they must unite against it.
So what can we do
The singer asks a rhetorical question, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
We got to keep on the move
The solution is to keep resisting Babylon and not give up.
Contributed by Madison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.