1. A roots regg… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists that have used this name:
1. A roots reggae band from Jamaica
2. A straight edge metalcore band from Florida, US
1. Culture was a Jamaican roots reggae group founded in 1976. Originally they were known as the African Disciples.
The members of the trio were Joseph Hill (lead vocals), Albert Walker (backing vocals) and Kenneth Dayes (backing vocals).
Shortly after Culture came together, they began working with the "Mighty Two" – producer Joe Gibbs and engineer Errol Thompson. While at Gibbs’ studio, they recorded a series of powerful singles, many of which ended up on their debut album ‘Two Sevens Clash’. After their success with Gibbs, the group went on to make a string of albums for producer Sonia Pottinger. Culture began working with some of the premier musicians of the day including Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar, Ansel Collins, Cedric Brooks and the ever-present percussionist Sticky. Virgin Records picked up the albums, and that added distribution enabled Culture to gain an even larger following outside of Jamaica.
Critically considered one of the most authentic traditional reggae acts, at the time of the first Rolling Stone Record Guide publication, they were the only band of any genre whose every recording received a five-star review (of bands with more than one recording in the guide).
In 1982 the three singers went their own ways. Hill carried on using the Culture name, and recorded the Lion Rock album, which was released in the United States by Heartbeat Records. For their part, Walker and Dayes recorded a handful of songs on their own – a few of which turned up on an album titled Roots & Culture. In 1986 the original line-up reformed to record two highly regarded albums – Culture in Culture and Culture at Work. These releases marked the beginning of a very busy period for the group, including annual albums and countless tours. The U.S. label Shanachie released a steady stream of new and old Culture albums up to Wings Of A Dove in 1992.
Joseph Hill, who came to symbolize the face of Culture, died in Germany on 19 August 2006 while the group was on tour. His son, Kenyatta Hill, now is the lead singer.
2) Classic mid/late 90s hardcore from Florida, celebrated for, among a handful of others, helping to cultivate the burgeoning metallic hardcore sound that became synonymous with the era.
CULTURE was known for aggressive social/political/ecological commentary, cautionary tales of reckless consumerism and industrial sprawl, and advocacy of the straightedge lifestyle.
Former members went on to Morning Again, Terror, As Friends Rust, Shai Hulud, Throwdown, Blood Has Been Shed and (most recently) ON BODIES.
In 2012, CULTURE played its first show since disbanding in 1998 (The Reel & Restless Fest in Miami, Florida). This fall, in August of 2013, the band will revisit Europe for Belgium's famed Ieper Hardcore Festival, and will then play three dates in Japan, including Tokyo's Bloodaxe Fest.
Members included:
Rich Thurston (Guitar: 1993-1997, Bass: 1993, Vocals: 1993, Drums: 1996)
Josh Williams (Drums: 1993-1997)
Stan Obal (Bass: 1993)
Mark Mitchell (Vocals: 1993, Vocals: 1996)
Pete Carreno (Bass: 1994)
John Wylie (Guitar: 1994-1995)
Damien Moyal (Vocals: 1994-1995, Vocals: 1997-1998)
Gordon Tarpley (Bass: 1995-1997, Guitar: 1998)
Louie Long (Vocals: 1995)
Anthony Conte (Vocals: 1995)
Steve Looker (Guitar: 1996-1997)
Jason Dooley (Drums: 1997)
Timothy Kirkpatrick (Drums: 1997-1998)
Joe Simmons (Guitar:1997-1998)
Floyd Beckham (Bass: 1998)
Kenneth Brian (Guitar: 1998)
Black Starliner
Culture Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things would be different
Today would be excellent of course
They took us away from our homeland
They took us away from our homeland
And we are slaving down here in Babylon
And we are slaving down here in Babylon
They are waiting on an opportunity
They are waiting on an opportunity
For the Black Starliner which is to come
For the Black Starliner which is to come
Not long Jah Jah Jah Jah not long
Not long Jah Jah Jah Jah not long
We are waiting on the Black Starliner
And we are still waiting on the Black Starliner
Wait on Jah
Wait on His works
I meekly wait and murmur not
I meekly wait and murmur not
For the Black Starliner shall come
For the Black Starliner must come
Still waiting on that opportunity
We are still waiting on the same opportunity
For the Black Starliner which is to come
For the Black Starliner which is to come
Marcus say so
Oh land of Africa
Holy Mount Africa
We want, we want to go
We want, we want to go
Sierra Leone and Ghana
Zimbabwe, Ethiopia
We want, we want to go (in a Kenya)
We want, we want to go
They took us away from our homeland
They took us away from our homeland
And we are slaving down here in Babylon
Don't want to be slaving down here in Babylon
Ethiopia stretch forth her hands
Ghana, say come home brother
We are slaving down here in Babylon
And we are slaving down here in Babylon
We want go eat fufu and palm wine
Eat some nice fish and have nice time
We are slaving down here in Babylon
We are slaving down here in Babylon
Want go look nice ladies
Want to see mother with their babies
We are slaving down here in Babylon
This is eternal hell
We are slaving down here in Babylon
Nothing for us
We are slaving down here in Babylon
And it a run red
We are slaving down here in Babylon
The song "Black Starliner Must Come" by the Jamaican roots reggae group Culture speaks about the yearning of African people to return to their homeland. The lyrics are a poignant cry for freedom from Babylon, the oppressor, while invoking the return of the Black Starliner, a ship that would take African descendants back to their native country. The song's verses speak of the pain and suffering of the African people who were taken away as slaves from their homeland and the longing to return to their roots. The song is a clear statement of Rastafarian beliefs and the desire for repatriation to Africa, which they consider their spiritual homeland.
The song is a reference to the Black Star Line, a shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader and activist, in the early 1900s. Garvey's vision was to create a shipping line that would provide transportation for Black people to travel back to Africa. The Black Starliner was the first ship intended to transport people to Africa, however, it was never completed. The Black Starliner became a symbol of hope for repatriation and liberation for the African-American community, and its imagery is often referenced in Rastafarian culture.
The song also honors Africa, with references made to specific African countries, such as Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. The lyrics express a deep longing to return to the homeland to partake in the food, culture, and beauty of Africa. The repeated refrain of "Wait on Jah" reinforces the idea that only divine intervention can bring about the repatriation of African people to their native homeland.
Overall, "Black Starliner Must Come" is a powerful tribute to African roots and a reminder of the ongoing struggle for liberation and repatriation. Through its lyrics, the song captures the deep sense of longing to return to the homeland and the hope that one day the Black Starliner, or something like it, will come and take African descendants back to their native land.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh if I knew yesterday what I know now
If I had known then what I know now, things would be different and today would have been better.
They took us away from our homeland
Some people took us from our home country and brought us here to Babylon.
And we are slaving down here in Babylon
We are working hard and struggling to survive in this new land.
They are waiting on an opportunity
Some of us are waiting for a chance to leave Babylon.
For the Black Starliner which is to come
We are waiting for a ship called the Black Starliner that will take us back home.
Not long Jah Jah Jah Jah not long
It won't be much longer until Jah, the almighty, brings the Black Starliner to us.
Wait on Jah
We must have faith and wait for Jah's plan to unfold.
I meekly wait and murmur not
I patiently wait without complaining for the Black Starliner to come.
Marcus say so
Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader, also spoke of the Black Starliner as a symbol of hope for the people.
We want, we want to go
We long to return to our homeland in Africa.
Don't want to be slaving down here in Babylon
We don't want to work and struggle in Babylon anymore.
This is eternal hell
Living in Babylon feels like we're in an endless hell.
Nothing for us
We have nothing to look forward to in Babylon.
And it a run red
Our blood is being spilled for the benefit of those in power in Babylon.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network
Written by: ALBERT WALKER, ERROL THOMPSON, JOSEPH HILL, ROY DAYES, VINCENT GORDON, Lloyd Dayes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cherylakinyi9845
Sierra Leone and Ghana, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Ena Kenya, we want to go 🇪🇹🇬🇭🇰🇪🇿🇼❤️
@kingao7854
From Ghana with love
@nabongblakkpyramid
And they sold all Black Starliner 😔 😢💔
@silence8806
Used to listen to this song when i was young. It became part of my soul. I am sorry to hear he died and so close to where i live. Greetings from germany.
@CheikhTidianeNDAO
Nuff respect and love 💓💓💓
@odehyiebaakwasi7367
We waiting on opportunity, for the black star line which is to come. We want go eat Fufu and palm wine🇬🇭 RIP LEGEND
@GAMBO998
Still waiting for the black starliner to come,Gamborez and the wailers in a KENIA
@erickkirui4622
In love with the song all the way from Kenya
@Vilasco25
Ghana doors are opened, come home brothers.
@stevejunor7336
One of the greatest reggae groups
With supreme original tracks which
Defined a incredible era of true roots
Music
RIP my great brother 🙏