Jamaican natives, the Cimarons migrated to Britain in 1967 with a lineup co… Read Full Bio ↴Jamaican natives, the Cimarons migrated to Britain in 1967 with a lineup consisting of Franklyn Dunn (bass), Carl Levy (keyboards), Locksley Gichie (guitar), and Maurice Ellis (drums); vocalist, Winston Reid (better known as Winston Reedy) joined in London. They were primarily session musicians in Jamaica, and backed many artists, including Jimmy Cliff.

Their first LP In Time, on Trojan Records in 1974 featured a rendition of the O'Jays' "Ship Ahoy", "Utopian Feeling", "Over The Rainbow," and "My Blue Heaven". Vulcan Records released On The Rock two years later.

They switched to Polydor Records, releasing Live At The Roundhouse in 1978. Polydor released Maka the same year. Three more albums followed: Freedom Street, Reggaebility, and On The Rock Part 2. After the last of these, in 1983, they didn't surface again until 1995 when Lagoon Records released People Say, and Reggae Time, both compilations of earlier albums, followed by The Best Of The Cimarons, released in 1999 on Culture Press.

Reedy and Dunn continue to perform as The Cimarons.

We Are Not the Same
Cimarons Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look at me, can't you see my father?
You can't mistake me for my brother.
I don't care a damn for what he's done. No no,
All I know, I ain't the one.

Turn your dogs the other way,
'Cause they won't get no bait today.
Man, you know you're on your own.

So let me be, man,
Get along, get along,
Move along!
... on on on on on on.
On, on on on on on on.

I just want to live my life my own way,
Just live peacefully from day to day.
I don't want nobody by my side, no, no,
I don't need no light to be my guide,

'Cause I'm black the people say,
I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
Than live like, some dirty pig,
In some dirty, rotten sty!
... ai yi yi yi ai ai.
Ai, ai yi ai yi ai ai.

'Cause I'm black some people say,
I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
Than live like, some dirty pig,
In some dirty, rotten sty!
... ai yi yi yi yi ai.
Ai, ai yi yi yi yi yi.
Ai, yi yi yi yi yi ai.
No, no no no no no no.

'Cause I'm black some people say,
I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
Than live like, some dirty pig,
In some dirty, rotten sty!
... ai yi yi yi yi yi.
Ai, yi yi yi yi ai ai.
No, no no no no no no.
I ain't gonna do that!

'Cause I'm black some people say,
I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
Than live like, some dirty pig,
In some dirty, rotten sty!
... yi yi yi yi yi yi.
Ai, ai yi yi yi yi ai.
No, no no no no no no.

I ain't gonna do that!
You can bet your life...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cimarons' "We Are Not The Same" speak out against racial prejudice and discrimination, addressing the issue of people being judged or treated differently based on the color of their skin. The first two stanzas describe the singer's struggle to be seen as an individual, rather than lumped in with his family simply because they share the same ethnicity. He insists that he is not responsible for the actions of his brother or anyone else, and that he is his own person with his own beliefs and values.

The third stanza addresses the issue of police brutality and racial profiling, telling law enforcement to "turn your dogs the other way" because they will not find anything to incriminate him. The singer declares that he wants to live his life peacefully and without interference from others, and he does not need anyone's help or guidance to do so. He expresses a sense of pride in his identity as a black man, but rejects the notion that he must submit to anyone's authority or power simply because of his race.

Line by Line Meaning

Look at me, can't you see my father?
I am not just defined by my appearance or by my brother. Look at my father and my background, and see me clearly.

You can't mistake me for my brother.
I am an individual, distinct from my family members and their actions.

I don't care a damn for what he's done. No no,
I am not responsible for the actions of others, and I do not judge or condemn them for their mistakes or past deeds.

All I know, I ain't the one.
I am not the same as anyone else, and I cannot be held accountable for what others have done or what they think of me.

Turn your dogs the other way,
I refuse to let anyone harm or intimidate me in any way.

'Cause they won't get no bait today.
I am not afraid, and I will not let anyone use me or manipulate me for their own purposes.

Man, you know you're on your own.
I am independent and self-sufficient, and I don't need anyone else's help or approval to survive or succeed.

So let me be, man,
I am asking for respect and space to live my life on my own terms, without interference or judgment from others.

Get along, get along,
I am encouraging others to do the same--to mind their own business and focus on their own lives instead of trying to control or criticize mine.

Move along!
I am telling others to leave me alone and go about their own business, without trying to harass or bother me in any way.

... on on on on on on.

I just want to live my life my own way,
I am asserting my right to make my own choices and live my life according to my own values and priorities.

Just live peacefully from day to day.
I am seeking serenity and fulfillment in my daily life, and I do not want or need any drama or conflict to disrupt my peace of mind.

I don't want nobody by my side, no, no,
I prefer to be alone and independent, without being tied down or dependent on anyone else.

I don't need no light to be my guide,
I am confident in my own abilities and do not need anyone else's guidance or direction to navigate through life.

'Cause I'm black the people say,
I face discrimination and prejudice based on my skin color, and I reject any attempt to stereotype or marginalize me because of it.

I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
I refuse to be subservient or submissive to anyone who thinks they are superior to me or who does not respect my dignity and worth as a human being.

Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
I would rather die than compromise my integrity, dignity or self-respect by submitting to oppression or tyranny.

Than live like, some dirty pig,
I refuse to live in squalor, poverty or degradation that robs me of my dignity and self-worth.

In some dirty, rotten sty!
I refuse to live in an environment or society that degrades, oppresses or marginalizes me based on my race, gender, or any other characteristic.

... ai yi yi yi ai ai.

Ai, ai yi ai yi ai ai.

'Cause I'm black some people say,
I face prejudice and discrimination based on my skin color, and I reject any attempt to degrade or marginalize me based on it.

I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
I refuse to submit myself to anyone who does not respect my dignity and worth as a human being.

Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
I would rather die than compromise my integrity, dignity or self-respect by submitting to oppression or tyranny.

Than live like, some dirty pig,
I refuse to live in squalor, poverty or degradation that robs me of my dignity and self-worth.

In some dirty, rotten sty!
I refuse to live in an environment or society that degrades, oppresses or marginalizes me based on my race, gender, or any other characteristic.

... ai yi yi yi yi ai.

Ai, ai yi yi yi yi yi.

Ai, yi yi yi yi yi ai.

No, no no no no no no.
I reject any attempt to degrade, oppress or marginalize me based on my race, gender, or any other characteristic, and I assert my right to be treated with respect and dignity.

'Cause I'm black some people say,
I face prejudice and discrimination based on my skin color, and I reject any attempt to degrade or marginalize me based on it.

I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
I refuse to submit myself to anyone who does not respect my dignity and worth as a human being.

Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
I would rather die than compromise my integrity, dignity or self-respect by submitting to oppression or tyranny.

Than live like, some dirty pig,
I refuse to live in squalor, poverty or degradation that robs me of my dignity and self-worth.

In some dirty, rotten sty!
I refuse to live in an environment or society that degrades, oppresses or marginalizes me based on my race, gender, or any other characteristic.

... ai yi yi yi yi yi.

Ai, yi yi yi yi ai ai.

No, no no no no no no.
I reject any attempt to degrade, oppress or marginalize me based on my race, gender, or any other characteristic, and I assert my right to be treated with respect and dignity.

I ain't gonna do that!
I refuse to compromise my principles, my identity, or my values for anyone or anything, and I will always stand up for my rights and my dignity as a human being.

'Cause I'm black some people say,
I face prejudice and discrimination based on my skin color, and I reject any attempt to degrade or marginalize me based on it.

I'm gonna bow down to you and pray.
I refuse to submit myself to anyone who does not respect my dignity and worth as a human being.

Man, I'd rather lay down and die,
I would rather die than compromise my integrity, dignity or self-respect by submitting to oppression or tyranny.

Than live like, some dirty pig,
I refuse to live in squalor, poverty or degradation that robs me of my dignity and self-worth.

In some dirty, rotten sty!
I refuse to live in an environment or society that degrades, oppresses or marginalizes me based on my race, gender, or any other characteristic.

... yi yi yi yi yi yi.

Ai, ai yi yi yi yi ai.

No, no no no no no no.
I reject any attempt to degrade, oppress or marginalize me based on my race, gender, or any other characteristic, and I assert my right to be treated with respect and dignity.

I ain't gonna do that!
I refuse to compromise my principles, my identity, or my values for anyone or anything, and I will always stand up for my rights and my dignity as a human being.

You can bet your life...
I am confident in my beliefs and my ability to stand up for myself, and I am willing to risk everything to defend my dignity and my rights as a human being.

Contributed by David L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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