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
Nah Bow
Capleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Incomprehensible] revolutionary
[Incomprehensible] majesty
Nah bow could neva
Nah bow could neva
Nah bow could neva
Nah bow could neva
Well, but a weh dem a go do now
Now dem see rasta nah bow 'cause rasta man no sell ollogyow
Weh dem a go say now dem see bingi nah bow
We nah eat dem goat an cow then again
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know Jah, Jah truth nuff a dem nah go find?
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know their own truth they will have to find?
How can I put them on my mind when dem never see
When Jah, Jah show dem the sign when nuff a fight fi position?
All dat encourage I said is division
With dem politricks and dem old religion
All it create is just war and bare friction
Well, bingi man deh yah fi make a decision
Can't make dem distract we from Jah, Jah mission
Dem a worry 'bout we sight ask 'bout we vision
Dem want know weh certain things it derive from
From the injustice and the manipulation
Death without dignity and exploitation
Disregarded not regarded of dem illusion
Dem get the dream but a we get the vision
Jah inspire man with the perseverance
Vision and the will fi burn down Babylon
Nya man gwaan chant mi song
Oonu, now dem see rasta nah bow
'Cause rasta man no sell ollogyow
Weh dem a go say now dem see bingi nah bow
We nah eat dem goat an cow then again
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know Jah, Jah truth nuff a dem nah go find?
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know their own truth they will have to find?
How can I put them on my mind when dem never see
When Jah, Jah show dem the sign when nuff a fight fi position?
Well, go tell dem, ras a no style nor trend
Go tell dem, ras a the high testament
Manifestation is there for everyone yah mi friend
Only the righteous man observe dem
Straighten your crooked ways if you know seh dem bend
Unbelievable crime nuff commit yah mi frien'
True a infatuation motivate dem
Nuff a dem go bow down to ornament
True dem no have a clean heart nor a clear conscience
And dem no render dem heart dem go render garments
Dem no stop from oppose, no stop from offend
Till dem become vampire and pestilence
Till dem drinking the blood of dem children
So dem destined to a long age of punishment
Go tell dem, dem make the wrong commitment
'Cause on dem roll call, nuff nah go present
Nuff name nah go call that mean dem absent
While the rastaman still a chant him reverence
Emperor Selassie I is omnipotent well again
Oonu, now dem see rasta nah bow
'Cause rasta man no sell ollogyow
Weh dem a go say now dem see bingi nah bow
We nah eat dem goat an cow then again
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know Jah, Jah truth nuff a dem nah go find?
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know their own truth they will have to find?
How can I put them on my mind when dem never see
When Jah, Jah show dem the sign
Well, refrain from the negativity that we believe
I have to achieve what I have to achieve
For my sisters and my brothers the youths dem need
True nuff can't suppress resist anger and greed
Well, dem become liars and become thieves
Jah, Jah all a warn dem and dem still nah take heed
So dem become deserter, no stop from deceive
The blood of corruption dem surely shall bleed
Nuff a dem heart whe the bingi man a read
And get to over stand seh nuff a dem a bad seed
Dem fell amongst the stone and the thorn and get squeeze
So nya man go rout out the bad weed
[Incomprehensible] now dem see rasta nah bow
'Cause rasta man no sell ollogyow
Weh dem a go say now dem see bingi nah bow
We nah eat dem goat an cow then again
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know Jah, Jah truth nuff a dem nah go find?
How can I put dem on my mind
When I know their own truth?
Capleton's song "Nah Bow" is a declaration of independence from the oppressive forces of Babylon, a term used in Rastafarian culture to describe the corrupt system and institutions that oppress black people. The opening line of the song calls for a fiery destruction of Babylon, highlighting the revolutionary spirit of Rastafarianism. Capleton proclaims that he and his fellow Rastafarians will never bow down to Babylon, as they refuse to conform to the beliefs and practices imposed upon them. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself, and not surrendering to the pressure to conform to society's expectations. Capleton also critiques the hypocrisy of Babylonian culture and politics, noting that it only creates division, war, and friction. Throughout the song, Capleton encourages his listeners to focus on their own spiritual journey, to seek Jah's truth, and to reject Babylon's illusions.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot a fire burn down Babylon again
There is a revolutionary fire burning down Babylon again.
[Incomprehensible] revolutionary
The revolutionary message is incomprehensible to some.
[Incomprehensible] majesty
The majesty of Jah is incomprehensible to some.
Nah bow could neva
We will never bow down.
Well, but a weh dem a go do now
What will they do now?
Now dem see rasta nah bow 'cause rasta man no sell ollogyow
They see that Rastafarians will not bow down because they do not sell out their beliefs.
Weh dem a go say now dem see bingi nah bow
What will they say now that they see the Binghi will not bow down?
We nah eat dem goat an cow then again
We do not eat their meats, but that does not mean we will bow down.
How can I put dem on my mind
How can I think about them?
When I know Jah, Jah truth nuff a dem nah go find?
When I know that many of them will never find the truth of Jah.
How can I put them on my mind when dem never see
How can I think about them when they do not see?
When Jah, Jah show dem the sign when nuff a fight fi position?
When Jah shows them the sign and many are still fighting for position?
All dat encourage I said is division
All that they encourage leads to division.
With dem politricks and dem old religion
With their politics and outdated religion.
All it create is just war and bare friction
All it creates is war and friction.
Well, bingi man deh yah fi make a decision
Binghi man is here to make a decision.
Can't make dem distract we from Jah, Jah mission
We will not be distracted from Jah's mission.
Dem a worry 'bout we sight ask 'bout we vision
They worry about our sight and vision.
Dem want know weh certain things it derive from
They want to know where certain things come from.
From the injustice and the manipulation
From the injustice and manipulation.
Death without dignity and exploitation
Death without dignity and exploitation.
Disregarded not regarded of dem illusion
Disregarded and not regarded of their illusion.
Dem get the dream but a we get the vision
They have dreams, but we have visions.
Jah inspire man with the perseverance
Jah inspires man with perseverance.
Vision and the will fi burn down Babylon
The vision and will to burn down Babylon.
Nya man gwaan chant mi song
The Nyahbinghi man continues to chant his song.
Well, go tell dem, ras a no style nor trend
Tell them that Rastafarianism is not a style or trend.
Go tell dem, ras a the high testament
Tell them that Rastafarianism is the testament to the Most High.
Manifestation is there for everyone yah mi friend
The manifestation is there for everyone, my friend.
Only the righteous man observe dem
Only the righteous will observe them.
Straighten your crooked ways if you know seh dem bend
Straighten your crooked ways if you know they are not right.
Unbelievable crime nuff commit yah mi frien'
Many unbelievable crimes are committed, my friend.
True a infatuation motivate dem
Infatuation motivates them.
Nuff a dem go bow down to ornament
Many of them will bow down to ornaments.
True dem no have a clean heart nor a clear conscience
Because they do not have a clean heart or clear conscience.
And dem no render dem heart dem go render garments
And because they do not give their hearts, they offer garments instead.
Dem no stop from oppose, no stop from offend
They continue to oppose and offend.
Till dem become vampire and pestilence
Until they become vampires and pests.
Till dem drinking the blood of dem children
Until they drink the blood of their own children.
So dem destined to a long age of punishment
They are destined for a long age of punishment.
Go tell dem, dem make the wrong commitment
Tell them they made the wrong commitment.
'Cause on dem roll call, nuff nah go present
Because many of them will not be present on the roll call.
Nuff name nah go call that mean dem absent
Many names will not be called, meaning they are absent.
While the rastaman still a chant him reverence
While the Rastafarian continues to chant his reverence.
Emperor Selassie I is omnipotent well again
Emperor Selassie I is omnipotent once again.
Well, refrain from the negativity that we believe
Refrain from the negativity that we believe in.
I have to achieve what I have to achieve
I have to achieve what I am meant to achieve.
For my sisters and my brothers the youths dem need
The youth need their brothers and sisters.
True nuff can't suppress resist anger and greed
We cannot suppress the resistance to anger and greed.
Well, dem become liars and become thieves
They become liars and thieves.
Jah, Jah all a warn dem and dem still nah take heed
Jah warns them, but they do not listen.
So dem become deserter, no stop from deceive
So they become deserters, always deceiving.
The blood of corruption dem surely shall bleed
The blood of corruption will surely bleed.
Nuff a dem heart whe the bingi man a read
Many of them have hearts that the Binghi man reads.
And get to over stand seh nuff a dem a bad seed
And understand that many of them are bad seeds.
Dem fell amongst the stone and the thorn and get squeeze
They fell among the stone and thorns and were squeezed.
So nya man go rout out the bad weed
So the Nyahbinghi man will root out the bad weed.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: CLIFTON BAILEY, S BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Truth teller
on Who Dem
Say me nah keep no funny man friend
Tell me say me nah keep no
(Edit)
Friend
Tell them say me nah keep no funny man friend
Tell them say me nah keep no sodomite friend
Truth teller
on Who Dem
Ruben ah wah we a go do to dem
What actions are we going to take against them?
Slew dem, who dem
We must defeat them, who are they?
Who demwell done, yo
Whoever they are, we've done a great job against them
So me seh again
Let me say it again
Slew dem ah pure feeling dem a carry
We must defeat them because they only carry negative energy
Dem done bow already and dem can't say dem sorry ya
They have already lost and they can't even apologize
Unno wan do dem something for me again well yo yo it name
Let's do something against them again, it's what we do
Who dem ah couldah, wha dat dem a try
Who do they think they are, what are they trying to do?
Dem go dis King Selassie watch all a dem die yo
By opposing King Selassie, they will face repercussions
Who dem me go see dem wit dem spell
Who are they that use witchcraft?
Dem dis Emmanuel and dem soul gone a hell
By opposing Emmanuel, they will lead themselves to hell
Who dem a coulda, who dem waan cuss, dem dis Marcus
Who do they think they are, disrespecting Marcus?
And now dem all bite de dust ya
Now they are facing the consequences of their actions
Who dem and me go tell dem fi splurt
We will tell them to flee and never come back
Tell dem dem can't dis mama earth
They cannot harm mother nature
Say me nah keep no funny man friend
I won't be friends with those who are not honest and sincere
Tell me say me nah keep no
I am told to not keep a
Friend
dishonest friend
Nah go stoop low me trod di rocky road dem
I won't lower myself to their level and will keep to my difficult path
Da fire ya, it redder dan red, da one yah name
The fire that burns within me is intense and unstoppable
So me bun out dem dutty heart
I will remove those with evil intentions
Dem evil heart and dem corrupted thought nyam too much
They have too much greed and corrupt thoughts
Snake under grass, bow to de boss
Snakes hide under the grass and serve their boss
Move too fast, me tell dem bout dem
They move too fast, I will let them know
Who go tell dem to provoke de youths dem to wrath
Who told them to provoke the youth to anger?
Now de youth dem seh dem nah trust no shadow after dark
Now the youth don't trust anyone in the dark
Nah tek no check nor no fool fool talk
They won't take any payments or foolish talk
Dem know who and who ah come straight from dem heart
They know who is sincere and genuine
Know who a hypocrite from de way how dem talk
They know who is dishonest based on their speech
Dis de emperor and watch de whole a dem loss
Opposing the emperor will lead to their downfall
Can't even find food to put inna dem troft
They are so impoverished they can't even afford food
Not even bicycle much less donkey cart
They can't even afford basic transportation
Can't even creep, much less fi walk
They can't even crawl, let alone walk
Dem can't even smile nor laugh da one yah name
They can't even enjoy life's simple pleasures
Who dem ah dem ah want ah treasure
They are after treasure
Tell dem dem caan dis mama 'mega
They cannot disrespect mother nature
Sense did a gi weh like dem never get a pence
They are senseless, they can't even think logically
Seems like dem gone school and go warm bench
It seems like they went to school to waste time
Dem nah have no faith no confidence
They don't have any faith or confidence in themselves
Nah hold no faith nah block no reverence
They don't hold any faith or respect
Find out say nuff a dem disobedient
Many of them are disobedient
So me find out dem no have no conscience
I found out they have no conscience
Dem no have a clean heart nor a clear conscience
They don't have a pure heart or a clear conscience
Dis king Selassie I it never mek sense
Opposing King Selassie I is nonsensical
Dis Emmanuel and dem get kick of a de bench
By opposing Emmanuel, they will be defeated
Dis Marcus Garvey ah weh the case dem get drenched
Opposing Marcus Garvey was an unfavorable decision
Who dem, who dem yo
Whoever they are, who are they?
noah's ark
on Babylon Judgement
Mystery Babylon is the new world order
Sherry
on Bad Mind
Bad Mind- Jealousy or Envy The song is about people with the problem and how to avoid having bad mind