King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet.

A wise man onc… Read Full Bio ↴King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet.

A wise man once said that a prophet is not without honour save in his own country and so it has been with Capleton. While the veteran DJ's words and works long ago earned him the title of "The Prophet", the respect and honor that should rightfully be his have been a long time coming. "Anytime you try to uplift righteousness and upliftment of the people them, then you ah go get a fight", says the hottest entertainer in the worldwide reggae fraternity. "Bob Marley come do it and them fight him. And when Bob Marley dead, that's when they start to endorse him. I already aware of this, I am not unaware. So I know the more them fight I is the more I get stronger" In the fast-moving world of dancehall reggae, fame and success are hard to obtain and easy to lose. Fans can be fickle, and trends change in the blink of an eye, leaving most entertainers with painfully short career spans. Only a rare few can remain relevant from year to year, holding their audience's attention and leaving them crying for more. His lyrics are deep, precise, and thoughtful. His stage shows are nothing less than dynamic, explosive performances. But his remarkable staying power and longevity may be Capleton's greatest gift.

Born Clifton George Bailey III on April 13, 1967, in the rural parish of St. Mary, Capleton earned his future stage name from friends who were so impressed with his sharp reasoning skills that they named him after the most famous lawyer in town. From a tender young age, he was a lover of the traveling sound systems, sneaking out at night to catch the vibes until dawn. But it wasn't until he turned 18 and moved to Kingston that he was able to realize his destiny.

It was Stewart Brown, owner of a Toronto-based sound called African Star, who gave the untested artist his first break, flying him to Canada for a stage show alongside giants like Ninjaman and Flourgon. The audience poured out their appreciation, and he never looked back. When Capleton first burst on the scene in the late 1980s, the dancehall was a very different place than it is today. Slackness and gun talk were the order of the day. This bright promising newcomer announced his arrival with a string of hit songs from "Bumbo Red" to "Number One on the Look Good Chart" and "Lotion Man." Everything he touched hit the sound-good charts, and the youthful artist with the nimble vocabulary and hardcore voice quickly established himself as one of dancehall's most reliable hitmakers. But even he could not have predicted that eleven years later, at the start of the new millennium, he would be dancehall's ruling voice.

"I think the people dem see say me really deserve that because of the amount of years me put in," Capleton says, "and we never really bow and we still hold the faith. We stand up for whatever we a say. Yeah and we really work for it. And them say by your works, a so you get your pay. The people them see the amount of fight me face and the whole heap of accusation. And me still never give up"

When he dropped the tune "Alms House" in 1992, Capleton established himself as more than an entertainer but as a guiding light of righteousness through music. "United we stand and divided we fall," he sang for the benefit of his fans and dancehall comrades. "Nuff of them nah go know themself till them back against the wall." A few years later he came back with yet another antidote to the clashing and rivlary that had taken hold of the dancehall business. "Music is a mission," he reminded his fellow artists, "not a competition. Some man use the music to cause confusion." The path of this dancehall Prophet was clearly established in 1994 with a string of songs that declared his newfound faith in Rastafari. "INI sight up the light and see say really, yunno, Rasta is real," he recalls. "founder of the world, because Rasta did come set the trend. Y'unnerstand. Rasta is life."

The first words of his mega-hit "Dis The Trinity" made it plain that the DJ had experienced some kind of revelation. "I was once lost but now I'm found," he stated, "Selassie I live every time." Capleton became a strong advocate of the teaching of the Jamaican National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and advocate of universal black repatriation. "Babylon rewarded us with hatred for our love," he declares. "They taught us to rape, steal and kill. For instance, they stole our literature and taught it back to us in a different manner so as to infiltrate our minds with foolishness and other misconceptions. Now we as black men do not see ourselves as prince and prophets, but as punks and guys. Our women do not see themselves as queens, princesses or empresses anymore, but as harlots and concubines." The only solution, as Bob Marley advocated, is to emancipate oneself from mental slavery.

"Over the years INI as a nation and a people, them no really teach INI nuttin' bout INI black self. You know I mean? Them teach INI them give we European philosophy. So INI and some other youths a try emerge now, we ask certain question and we ask fi certain things. Caw we know say an institute, or in a college, or in a certain organization we need we Ethiopian curriculum, we need the black man thing. We need to know about weself. Becaw the prophet Marcus Garvey did show we say, A nation without no knowledge of them own history is like a tree without a root. And if you don't know where you're coming from, you're not gonna know where you're going."

Even as he uplifts the black race, Capleton always makes a point of clarifying that he does not seek to alienate any race. "We are not being racial nor prejudiced star," he says. "Becaw we know Jah is for everyone. But where history and prophesy in concerned, that is our witness and we have to be ourself, and we cannot hide from the truth. Caw we woulda be a traitor and a sellout to ourself. And you cannot sell out yourself."

Soon thereafter came the song "Tour" a blazing state of the dancehall report written in the weeks following the slaying of Panhead and Dirtsman, two of Capleton's fellow artists. That song not only became an anthem of the roots revival within the dancehall, but a hip hop flavored remix of that song hit the Billboard charts, opening up a huge new audience to Capleton's messages of righteousness.

There followed a relationship with Def Jam records, who released two Capleton albums, Prophecy and I-Testament, which featured memorable collaborations with rap stars like Method Man and Q-Tip. Both records were warmly accepted by the international audience, but as the millennium drew to a close, Capleton sensed that it was time to return to his core audience. He had work to do. "I have to be myself, right? And I only can be me," he reasons. "So whichever way fi make me be me, I work with dat. Y'understand."

Capleton is now at the height of his powers. 1999 and 2000 have brought a ceaseless string of sound system favorite and dancehall chart toppers like the anti-violence anthem "Jah Jah City" and "Good In Her Clothes," a message of respect for the sisters who carry themselves like Empresses rather than. But even as he completes his mission of upliftment, Capleton has had many critics. One of his biggest hits, in fact, is addressed the naysayers in the press and the ivory towers of power. "Critics won't leave I alone," chats the Prophet. "They say they can't take the fire weh me put pon Rome"

Many of Capleton's songs "and most of his critics" make mention of this blazing fire. Capleton hopes to clear up the confusion once and for all. "Is not really a physical fire. Is really a spiritual fire, and a wordical fire, and a musical fire. You see the fire is all about a livity. But is people get it on the wrong term. People get confused.So when a man say "more fire" him think that mean say you fi go light the cane field or go light the church." Fire, Capleton explains, is a way of reminding one's brother that they are going astray. "That way a man know say him doing something wrong. That even give him the urge to know say Yo check up on yourself. What you're doing is not right, or else him would not say "Fire fi dat," or "Burn dat" or "More fire." "If we go check it back now," he continues, "fire is for the purification of earth, anyhow you check it. This earth itself have to even emerge from the literal fire also, which is the volcanic activity, we a talk bout lava. The hottest element to rise us in the morning is the sun. The water cleanse, but it's still the support from the fire that burn the water, burn out of the bacteria so the water coulda heal we fi cleanse. The herb heal, but it's still the fire fi burn the herb so the herb coulda heal we also."

{Bio is courtesy of Rob Kenner} www.vprecords.com

Guerilla Warfare
Capleton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hak olan özgürlüğü hiç kimse dilenmesin
Bu bi halk bilenmesi, ayakta kal #direngezi
Yüzbinler sokaktayız polis, halk ve siren sesi
Faşizme karşı 480 saat #direngezi

Gün doğdu ve biz uyandık, dirilip ayaklandık
Bir birine düşman edilenler kardeş sen san başkası
Gerçeğin hası; tüm insanları kandıran yandaş basın

Sorunum şeref yoksunu medya iktidar anlaşması

Ana akim medya kukla üç primat felsefesi
Gökte Gezi, yerde Gezi, bak tv'de nerde Gezi?
Birleşmiş resmen yurdun her deseni
Faşist polis can alırken haber kanalında penguen belgeseli

Parayla topla binleri bu tam bir cahil felaketi
Ölen masumlar gitmedi haklarını helal edip
Astığınız Deniz'ler okyanus olup geri geldi
Tomalarla karşılandı lan Ethem'in cenazesi

Karıştı aşka kan, istendi istifan
Kaçtın Fas'a, Tunus'a pes et artık densiz şarlatan
Bu bariz zarar ziyandaki sorumlu sensin
Abdullah Cömert'in katilide sensin başbakan

Ve en çevreci sensin ama sopalarla sokaktasın
Faşizan fikirlerin hayatları karartması
Taciz edien türbanlıyı taciz eden polis
Ve vahşet polisin her meydanı tomalarla boşaltması

Polisin görevi halkı korumak iktidarı değil
Sen bi' gazla 10 kişiyi boğdukça 100 yenimiz geliyor
30 liraya satın aldığın yüzde ellin alkışlarken
Geriye kalan yüzde 50 senden nefret ediyor

Ölüm kokan sokaklarda kanlı katliam
Nasıl hayal eder cenneti bu zulme göz yuman
Uyan! İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!

Umutların vadisinde dört yanımız gaz
Bizim bu sokaklar, gözlerimiz yaş
Bak ayrı düşüyor iki cihan yine
İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!

Ölüm kokan sokaklarda kanlı katliam
Nasıl hayal eder cenneti bu zulme göz yuman
Uyan! İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!
Umutların vadisinde dört yanımız gaz

Bizim bu sokaklar, gözlerimiz yaş
Bak ayrı düşüyor iki cihan yine
İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!
Sokakta yaşlı, genç ve bekleme diktaya evet dememi

Sokakta işçisi, işsizi, vatana emek vereni
Ey haddini bilmeyen ne hakla terörist ilan ettin
Meydanda direnen kardeşlerine yemek vereni
Tüm onurlu doktorlar ve avukatlar göz altında

Eğer damla şerefin varsa sorunlarını çöz halkınla
Korkaktık şimdi sokağı korkaklar bastı
Tek egemen halk olduk "All Cops Are Bastards"
Mesele tabiki ağaç değil, artık mesele Reyhanlı

Mesele özgürlük, ihlal edilen insan hakları
Katile teşekkür eden Gökçek ve benzeri beyinlerden
Bu milletin torunlarına iç savaş kalır
Yapılan tüm yalnışlıkların video ile var kaydı

Ne değişti polis aynı, dikta aynı, halk aynı
Değişen bu biz değiştik
Yazıklar olsun Yiğit Bulut, Melih Gökçek, Avni Mutlu, Fatih Altaylı
Bu şiddeti derhal kır, halkla konuşmaktan aciz
Sözde sanatçı temsil eder kalkıp
Ben Red Hack, ben Çarşı, ben Taksim, ben Kızılay, ben Çallı
Kısacası tüm meydanlar benim ve ben halkım
Mehmet Ali Alabora, Demet Evgar, Levent Üzümcü ve daha nice gerçek sanatçı,
Ultraslan, Genç Fenerliler, 07 Gençlik ve direnen tüm taraftar grupları,
Halk TV, Ulusal Kanal ve işini hakkıyla yapan tüm diğer yayın organları,
Ve ismini sayamadığımız tüm direnişçiler; selam olsun...
Ölüm kokan sokaklarda kanlı katliam
Nasıl hayal eder cenneti bu zulme göz yuman
Uyan! İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!
Umutların vadisinde dört yanımız gaz
Bizim bu sokaklar, gözlerimiz yaş
Bak ayrı düşüyor iki cihan yine
İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!
Ölüm kokan sokaklarda kanlı katliam
Nasıl hayal eder cenneti bu zulme göz yuman
Uyan! İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!
Umutların vadisinde dört yanımız gaz
Bizim bu sokaklar, gözlerimiz yaş

Bak ayrı düşüyor iki cihan yine
İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Capleton's song Guerilla Warfare feature a powerful message of resistance against oppression and fascism. The lyrics highlight the importance of fighting for freedom and standing up for what is right, even in the face of violence and intimidation. The song speaks to the struggles faced by the Turkish people during the Gezi Park protests in 2013, as well as to similar struggles around the world.

The lyrics are a call to action, urging listeners to join the fight for freedom, justice, and equality. The opening lines, "Hak olan özgürlüğü hiç kimse dilenmesin / Bu bi halk bilenmesi, ayakta kal #direngezi" ("No one should beg for the right to freedom / This is a lesson for the people, stand up and resist #direngezi"), set the tone for the rest of the song, which is filled with themes of solidarity, courage, and defiance.

Throughout the song, Capleton references events and people from the Gezi Park protests, including the "faşist polis" (fascist police), the "480 saat #direngezi" (480 hours of resistance), and the deaths of innocent protesters like Abdullah Cömert. The lyrics also call out politicians and media figures who have supported the oppressive regime, stating that they are responsible for the violence and corruption in society.

Line by Line Meaning

Hak olan özgürlüğü hiç kimse dilenmesin
Freedom that is rightfully ours should not be begged for.

Bu bi halk bilenmesi, ayakta kal #direngezi
This is a matter of the people, stay strong and resist.

Yüzbinler sokaktayız polis, halk ve siren sesi
Hundreds of thousands are on the streets with police, people and sirens blaring.

Faşizme karşı 480 saat #direngezi
Resist fascism for 480 hours.

Gün doğdu ve biz uyandık, dirilip ayaklandık
The day has dawned and we have woken up, risen and taken a stand.

Bir birine düşman edilenler kardeş sen san başkası
People who were once enemies are now brothers with you being someone else.

Gerçeğin hası; tüm insanları kandıran yandaş basın
The crux of the matter is the media that deceives all people.

Sorunum şeref yoksunu medya iktidar anlaşması
My problem is the collaboration between shameless media and those in power.

Ana akim medya kukla üç primat felsefesi
The mainstream media operates on the three monkey philosophy of being a puppet.

Gökte Gezi, yerde Gezi, bak tv'de nerde Gezi?
Gezi is in the sky and on the ground, where is it on TV?

Birleşmiş resmen yurdun her deseni
Every corner of the country unites officially.

Faşist polis can alırken haber kanalında penguen belgeseli
While fascist police take lives, news channels air penguin documentaries.

Parayla topla binleri bu tam bir cahil felaketi
Collecting people with money is a complete disaster of ignorance.

Ölen masumlar gitmedi haklarını helal edip
The innocent who died did not leave without pardoning their rights.

Astığınız Deniz'ler okyanus olup geri geldi
The Denizs you hanged have become an ocean and returned.

Tomalarla karşılandı lan Ethem'in cenazesi
Ethem's funeral was met with TOMA vehicles.

Karıştı aşka kan, istendi istifan
Love mixed with blood, resignation was requested.

Kaçtın Fas'a, Tunus'a pes et artık densiz şarlatan
You fled to Morocco and Tunisia, shameless charlatan, give up now.

Bu bariz zarar ziyandaki sorumlu sensin
You are clearly responsible for the damage and loss.

Abdullah Cömert'in katilide sensin başbakan
You are also the killer of Abdullah Cömert, Prime Minister.

Ve en çevreci sensin ama sopalarla sokaktasın
You are the biggest environmentalist but on the streets with batons.

Faşizan fikirlerin hayatları karartması
Fascist ideas ruining lives.

Taciz edien türbanlıyı taciz eden polis
Police harassing a woman who wears a headscarf.

Ve vahşet polisin her meydanı tomalarla boşaltması
And the police clearing every square with TOMA vehicles brutally.

Polisin görevi halkı korumak iktidarı değil
The police's job is to protect the people, not the government.

Sen bi' gazla 10 kişiyi boğdukça 100 yenimiz geliyor
As you suffocate 10 people with gas, 100 new ones arise.

30 liraya satın aldığın yüzde ellin alkışlarken
As you applaud those you paid 30 lira to.

Geriye kalan yüzde 50 senden nefret ediyor
The remaining 50 percent hates you.

Ölüm kokan sokaklarda kanlı katliam
Streets reeking of death and bloody massacres.

Nasıl hayal eder cenneti bu zulme göz yuman
How can you imagine heaven while turning a blind eye to this oppression?

Uyan! İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!
Wake up! Rebellion, resistance, freedom!

Umutların vadisinde dört yanımız gaz
We are surrounded by gas in the valley of hope.

Bizim bu sokaklar, gözlerimiz yaş
These streets are ours, our eyes are full of tears.

Bak ayrı düşüyor iki cihan yine
Two worlds are divided once again.

İsyan, direniş, özgürlük!
Rebellion, resistance, freedom!

Sokakta yaşlı, genç ve bekleme diktaya evet dememi
Old and young on the street, not accepting dictatorship.

Sokakta işçisi, işsizi, vatana emek vereni
Workers, unemployed, and those who contribute to the country on the street.

Ey haddini bilmeyen ne hakla terörist ilan ettin
Oh, shameless one, how dare you declare them terrorists?

Meydanda direnen kardeşlerine yemek vereni
Giving food to the brothers/sisters who resist in the square.

Tüm onurlu doktorlar ve avukatlar göz altında
All honorable doctors and lawyers are detained.

Eğer damla şerefin varsa sorunlarını çöz halkınla
If you have a shred of honor, solve the problems with your people.

Korkaktık şimdi sokağı korkaklar bastı
We used to be afraid, now the streets are taken over by cowards.

Tek egemen halk olduk "All Cops Are Bastards"
We are the only rulers, "All Cops Are Bastards."

Mesele tabiki ağaç değil, artık mesele Reyhanlı
The issue is not just about trees, now it's about Reyhanlı.

Mesele özgürlük, ihlal edilen insan hakları
The issue is freedom, violated human rights.

Katile teşekkür eden Gökçek ve benzeri beyinlerden
Thanks to murderers like Gökçek and similar minds.

Bu milletin torunlarına iç savaş kalır
This nation will be left with a civil war for its grandchildren.

Yapılan tüm yalnışlıkların video ile var kaydı
All the mistakes made have been recorded on video.

Ne değişti polis aynı, dikta aynı, halk aynı
What has changed, the police are the same, dictatorship is the same, and the people are the same.

Değişen bu biz değiştik
The only thing that's changed is we have changed.

Yazıklar olsun Yiğit Bulut, Melih Gökçek, Avni Mutlu, Fatih Altaylı
Shame on Yiğit Bulut, Melih Gökçek, Avni Mutlu, Fatih Altaylı.

Bu şiddeti derhal kır, halkla konuşmaktan aciz
Stop this violence immediately, you are incapable of speaking with the people.

Sözde sanatçı temsil eder kalkıp
So-called artists stand up to represent.

Ben Red Hack, ben Çarşı, ben Taksim, ben Kızılay, ben Çallı
I am Red Hack, I am Çarşı, I am Taksim, I am Kızılay, I am Çallı.

Kısacası tüm meydanlar benim ve ben halkım
In short, all the squares are mine and I am the people.

Mehmet Ali Alabora, Demet Evgar, Levent Üzümcü ve daha nice gerçek sanatçı,
Mehmet Ali Alabora, Demet Evgar, Levent Üzümcü and many other real artists,

Ultraslan, Genç Fenerliler, 07 Gençlik ve direnen tüm taraftar grupları,
Ultraslan, Genç Fenerliler, 07 Gençlik and all the supporting fan groups who resist,

Halk TV, Ulusal Kanal ve işini hakkıyla yapan tüm diğer yayın organları,
Halk TV, Ulusal Kanal and all other media outlets who do their job properly,

Ve ismini sayamadığımız tüm direnişçiler; selam olsun...
And all the resistors whose names we cannot mention; greetings to them...

Writer(s): Gray, Victan Paul Edmund

Contributed by Ellie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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