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
Too Long Now
Capleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ohh
Give Thanks for life
We give thanks for life
We give thanks for life
They doing it for too long now (for too long now)
Doing it for too long (its too long now)
Ask dem a whose land now
Them selling out the people
Ooh
They doing it for too long now (for too long now)
Why yuh have to do wrong now (why do wrong now)
Ask dem a whose land now
Them selling out the people
Alright again
Dah one yah name lightning and thunder
Ago shook dem
Man ago buke the farmer man dem
and de cook dem
And tell de ganja man fi plant de kush dem
When de yute dem a step up
Yuh betta push dem
Nuff bwoy bex how nuh gyal nah look dem
And dem bex how nuh promoter nah book dem
Say dat dem a soldier but me seh a some rook dem
Inna de bottomless pit dem me ago put dem
doing it for too long now (for too long now)
Doing it for too long (its too long now)
Ask dem a whose land now
Them selling out the people
Ooh
They doing it for too long now (for too long now)
Why yuh have to do wrong now (why do wrong now)
Ask dem a whose land now
Them selling out the people
Alright again
Cause Dem nuh fraid fi nil yuh
Dem nuh fraid fi kill yuh
Don't think for a second dat they wouldnt spill yuh
Dem nuh fraid fi kill yuh
Dem nuh fraid fi nil yuh
Babylon dem ready fi broke down
Dem nah guh build yuh
Dem nuh fraid fi kill yuh
Dem nuh fraid fi kill yuh
Don't think for a second dat they wouldn't spill yuh
Dem nuh fraid fi kill yuh
Dem nuh fraid fi kill yuh
Dem wah inject yuh and pill yuh
Me seh Day in and day out
Tell dem everyday
Rasta Far I
Seh we affi pray up
Beg jah fi mek we ting deh guh way up
Way up way up and stay up
Big chune a play
Yuh know we nah guh fail up
Bwoy diss de pot And nuh big ting neva display up
Neva affi beat it
Place neva affi nail up
Empire Selassie we hail up
Dah one yah name
too long now (for too long now)
Doing it for too long (its too long now)
Ask dem a whose land now
Them selling out the people
Ooh
They doing it for too long now (for too long now)
Why yuh have to do wrong now (why do wrong now)
Ask dem a whose land now
Them selling out the people
In the song "Too Long Now" by Capleton, the artist expresses gratitude for life and emphasizes the importance of appreciating and giving thanks for the gift of life. He repeatedly emphasizes this sentiment and urges listeners to recognize the value of life.
Capleton criticizes those who have been engaging in negative behavior for a prolonged period of time, suggesting that they have been doing wrong for too long. He questions the ownership of the land and accuses these individuals of betraying their own people. This highlights his disillusionment with those in power who prioritize personal gain over the well-being of their community.
The artist continues by using vivid imagery to convey his message. He compares the impact of his words to lightning and thunder, symbolizing their ability to create upheaval and shake those who oppose him. He also encourages farmers to cultivate valuable crops and urges the youth to assert themselves against those who oppose them.
Capleton asserts that these individuals who have been doing wrong for too long are not afraid to harm others. He warns that they are capable of killing and harming others without hesitation. Additionally, he suggests that they are willing to use drugs and manipulate others for their own benefit.
The song concludes with a plea to consistently seek spiritual guidance and pray to a higher power, such as Rasta Far I. Capleton emphasizes the need to stay uplifted and avoid failure, as well as the importance of standing up against those who disrespect others. He ultimately calls for unity and pays homage to Emperor Selassie, an important figure in Rastafarianism.
Overall, "Too Long Now" conveys Capleton's frustration with those in power who have been exploiting and neglecting their own people for an extended period of time. Through his lyrics and imagery, he encourages gratitude, self-empowerment, and resistance against injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
Give thanks for life
Express gratitude for the gift of life
We give thanks for life
We express gratitude for the gift of life
They doing it for too long now
They have been engaged in this behavior for an extended period of time
Doing it for too long
Continuing this behavior for an excessive duration
Ask dem a whose land now
Inquire about the rightful ownership of the land
Them selling out the people
They are betraying and exploiting the community
Why yuh have to do wrong now
Why are you choosing to engage in wrongful actions at this moment
Alright again
Okay, let's continue
Dah one yah name lightning and thunder
This particular situation is expected to cause chaos and disruption
Ago shook dem
It will greatly unsettle them
Man ago buke the farmer man dem
I will criticize the corrupt agricultural workers
and de cook dem
And also chastise the dishonest chefs
And tell de ganja man fi plant de kush dem
Instruct the marijuana cultivator to grow quality cannabis
When de yute dem a step up
When the young ones rise up
Yuh betta push dem
You better support and encourage them
Nuff bwoy bex how nuh gyal nah look dem
Many guys are angry because girls are not interested in them
And dem bex how nuh promoter nah book dem
They are frustrated because event promoters are not hiring them
Say dat dem a soldier but me seh a some rook dem
They claim to be soldiers, but I say they are just pawns
Inna de bottomless pit dem me ago put dem
I will cast them into an inescapable abyss
Cause Dem nuh fraid fi nil yuh
Because they are not afraid to harm you
Dem nuh fraid fi kill yuh
They do not hesitate to take your life
Don't think for a second dat they wouldnt spill yuh
Do not believe for a moment that they wouldn't harm you
Dem nah guh build yuh
They will not support your growth
Dem wah inject yuh and pill yuh
They want to drug and manipulate you
Tell dem everyday
Continuously emphasize to them
Rasta Far I
A reference to Rastafarian belief in the divinity of Haile Selassie
Seh we affi pray up
Suggests the importance of seeking guidance through prayer
Beg jah fi mek we ting deh guh way up
Requesting divine intervention for improvement in our situation
Way up way up and stay up
Progressing and remaining in an elevated state
Big chune a play
Playing a significant song
Yuh know we nah guh fail up
You know we will not fail
Bwoy diss de pot And nuh big ting neva display up
Someone disrespected the authority figure and didn't face consequences
Neva affi beat it
Never had to exert force
Place neva affi nail up
No need for aggression in securing the location
Empire Selassie we hail up
We show reverence to the legacy of Emperor Haile Selassie
Doing it for too long now
Engaging in this behavior for an excessive period of time
Why yuh have to do wrong now
Why are you choosing to do something immoral at this time
They selling out the people
They are betraying and exploiting the community
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Clifton George Bailey, Wayne Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reggae Music Playlist TV
BIG UP🔥🔥🔥👊💚💛❤️👊🔥🔥🔥BIG UP
Greetings CAPLETON and the Reggae Family worldwide with JAH🇯🇲LOVE✌️
kingabaddon music
Hi
Moniqula
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Tha I you so much for you great talent. Missing these music on the radio. Real soul music
Sting Dem
King of Kings bless capleton
Badboy Bones
THANKS AND PRAISES FOR NEW AGE PROFITS LIKE BROTHER CAPELTON 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽
Norbert Green
This is great works
Jose Sanchez
Fire amazing
ERASER SOUND TV
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤🔊
Head Slime2020
Blaze on 🔥 🔥
Sting Dem
Nice flow jah warrior