Damian was two years old when his father Bob died; he is the only child born to Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976. Damian's nickname Junior Gong is derived from his father's nickname of Tuff Gong. Damian has been performing since the age of 13 and released his first album in 1996, at the age of 18. He shares, along with most of his family, a full-time career in music. Unlike his brothers and sisters, however, his musical specialty is "toasting", a Jamaican vocal technique that is a predecessor to rapping.
Damian has 3 records to date, including the highest placed reggae album in the USA billboard album charts with Welcome To Jamrock, and the highest place reggae song in the UK Top 40 with Welcome to Jamrock.
Like his father before him and the rest of the Marley family, he is a Rastafarian and his music reflects the Rastafari guiding principles of love and political freedom.
It Was Written
Damian Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up in the book of life
That man shall
Endure forever more
And it was written
Up in the book of life
That man shall
Well did the pen is stronger than the knife
They can kill you once but they can't kill you twice
Did you know destruction of the flesh is not di ending to life
Fear not of the anti-Christ
Did you know that I exist before the Earth
An did you know that my eyes are windows to the world
Did you know you can't go ah Zion and wear Jerry curls
Can't tell di boys from di girls
Your body is just a vehicle transporting you soul
It's what's inside of people is beauty to behold
Fear not of evil
Every day dem flesh it grow old
Changes of the times take a toll
And it was written
Up in the book of life
That man shall
Endure forever more
And it was written
Up in the book of life
That man shall
Endure forever more
Fear is in the eye of the beholder
Love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer, live much longer
Fear is in the eye of the beholder
Love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer, live much longer
A vester on his chest
And Rastafari is his name
A gift of everlasting life for all us to sustain
Blessing that you all be got
Lessons taught you all forgot
Rasta call I shit you not
Do you remember Elijah and his chariot of flames
Same blood dat run through my veins
Fear is in the eye of the beholder
Love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer, live much longer
Fear is in the eye of the beholder
Love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer, live much longer
Careful how you entertain stranger
Selassie never born in a manger
And never crucified as a savior
And likkle himself from all di ruler
Babylon na function with a failer
So be careful of them cellular and pager
'Cause as I see them I see danger
So dem great but Selassie ah greater, yo
That man shall endure forever more
And it was written up in the book of life
That man shall endure forever more
Mi think mi wan lick upon shots upon a blood clot
And fill the block with bummer as cops
Cops mi nah talk mi know you watch me walks and
While black woman is getting raped across New York and
Before little brothers and chalks and
Imagine somebody say "That's your son dead" and
See us
We do the crime, we do the time
You get away scott free
So the police they gon' pop you for they pop me
'Cause if you get me, you got me, you shot me, no lock me
Carry shotty's since mom slapped me 'cause mi room sloppy
The youngest nigga out the camp, it's me
But nobody pampered me
So you better don't ran with me, for semi
Mi a player plenty
Chicks mi blaze many
Raise plenty a few dollars
Storm out mi Prada
Watch a bum holla
Watch em run, hit the floor
Told em come, come
No
Throw your guns up pon di air
Blow!
And it was written
Up in the book of life
That man shall
Endure forever more
Watch for sticks and stones
Stumbling blocks in piles
Life is one big road
Miles on top of miles
So blessed be the soul that always remains a child
When most people don't even smile
There's a natural mystic
Blow through the air
So keep in realistic and always be aware
The truth is crying out and it's so loud and so clear
But most people won't even hear
Spiritual pollution is in the atmosphere
And with so much confusion
Can one be happy here
The gift of Rastafari is for all man to share
But some would rather to be so unfair
And it was written
Up in the book of life
That man shall
Endure forever more
And it was written
Up in the book of life
That man shall
Endure forever more
The song "It was written" by Damian Marley ft Capleton Stephen Marley Dragon is a powerful reggae track that speaks about the enduring nature of humanity, the power of love and the importance of spiritual awareness. The song is filled with intricate rhythms and compelling lyrics that inspire listeners to embrace their true identity and live fearlessly.
The first two repeating lines of the song, "And it was written, Up in the book of life, That man shall Endure forever more" suggest that human beings have an innate strength that allows them to endure even in the face of great adversity. The following lines, "Well did the pen is stronger than the knife, They can kill you once but they can't kill you twice, Did you know destruction of the flesh is not di ending to life" underscore the idea that while physical harm can be inflicted on a person, it cannot destroy their spirit.
The song also touches on spirituality, with lines like "Fear not of the anti-Christ, Did you know that I exist before the Earth, An did you know that my eyes are windows to the world" highlighting the importance of spiritual awareness in one's life. The song also critiques societal ills, such as violence and discrimination, urging listeners to be careful of how they entertain strangers and reminding them that Rastafari offers a gift of everlasting life for all to sustain.
Line by Line Meaning
And it was written
There is a predetermined fate for humanity
Up in the book of life
This fate is recorded and known to a higher power
That man shall
All people will
Endure forever more
Continuously exist in some form or another
Well did the pen is stronger than the knife
Written word has more power than violence
They can kill you once but they can't kill you twice
Death in physical form is not the end
Did you know destruction of the flesh is not di ending to life
Physical death does not equate to the cessation of existence entirely
Fear not of the anti-Christ
Do not be afraid of those who oppose your beliefs
Did you know that I exist before the Earth
There is a spiritual existence beyond physical reality
An did you know that my eyes are windows to the world
One's perceptions shape their experience of the world
Did you know you can't go ah Zion and wear Jerry curls
To truly connect with a higher power, one must be genuine and true to themselves
Can't tell di boys from di girls
Gender and appearance do not define a person's worth or connection to spirituality
Your body is just a vehicle transporting your soul
The physical body is a temporary vessel that carries the eternal soul
It's what's inside of people is beauty to behold
One's true self and essence is more important than their outward appearance
Fear not of evil
Do not let fear control your actions or beliefs
Every day dem flesh it grow old
Physical bodies age and deteriorate over time
Changes of the times take a toll
The passing of time has an impact on society and individuals within it
Fear is in the eye of the beholder
Fear is subjective and varies from person to person
Love is in the presence of the love maker
Love is a divine force that comes from a higher power
Life is in the words of the comforter
Words of wisdom and guidance can bring comfort and meaning to life
Endure much longer, live much longer
Perseverance leads to a longer and more fulfilling life
A vester on his chest
A symbol of Rastafarianism on his clothing
And Rastafari is his name
A way of life and belief system
A gift of everlasting life for all us to sustain
Rastafarianism provides a path to eternal life
Blessing that you all be got
A blessing for all people
Lessons taught you all forgot
Society has forgotten important lessons and values
Rasta call I shit you not
A serious belief in Rastafarianism
Do you remember Elijah and his chariot of flames
A reference to a biblical story
Same blood dat run through my veins
A connection to a shared history and spiritual essence
Careful how you entertain stranger
Be cautious in who you allow into your life
Selassie never born in a manger
A rejection of traditional Christian beliefs about Jesus
And never crucified as a savior
A different interpretation of the life and death of Jesus
And likkle himself from all di ruler
Rejecting authority and oppression
Babylon na function with a failer
A criticism of corrupt systems of power
So be careful of them cellular and pager
Modern technology can be used to perpetuate oppressive systems
'Cause as I see them I see danger
The artist perceives a threat from these devices
So dem great but Selassie ah greater, yo
The power of Rastafarianism trumps other forms of authority
Mi think mi wan lick upon shots upon a blood clot
A desire for violence and revenge
And fill the block with bummer as cops
A rejection of police authority and a desire to retaliate
Watch for sticks and stones
Be aware of obstacles and challenges in life
Stumbling blocks in piles
Obstacles can accumulate and become overwhelming
Life is one big road
Life is a journey with many paths and experiences
Miles on top of miles
Life is long and full of twists and turns
So blessed be the soul that always remains a child
A child-like wonder and openness is a blessing in life
When most people don't even smile
Many people are closed off and unhappy
There's a natural mystic
A spiritual force that is present in the world
Blow through the air
A powerful and mysterious presence
So keep in realistic and always be aware
Stay grounded in reality and aware of spiritual forces
The truth is crying out and it's so loud and so clear
The truth is evident and impossible to ignore
But most people won't even hear
Many people are closed off to spiritual truths
Spiritual pollution is in the atmosphere
Negative energy and influence is present in society
And with so much confusion
Society is in a state of disarray and uncertainty
Can one be happy here
Is it possible to find peace and happiness in this world?
The gift of Rastafari is for all man to share
The spiritual truths of Rastafarianism are meant for everyone
But some would rather to be so unfair
Some people reject these truths and act in ways that harm others
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RUBEN CAPLETON, H GONZALEZ, DAMIAN ROBERT NESTA MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY, MEL SMALLS, O TOLEDANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@omarnoooz1587
And it was written
Up in the book of life
That a man shall
Endure forever more
[Verse 1: Damian Marley]
Well did you know the pen
Is stronger than di knife
And they can kill you once
But they can't kill you twice
Did you know destruction of di flesh is not di ending to life
Fear not of the anti-christ
Did you know that I
Exist before the earth
And did you know my eyes
Are windows to the world
Did you know you can't go ah Zion and ah wear jerry curls
Can't tell the boys from the girls
The body's just a vehicle
Transporting the soul
Its whats inside the people
Is beauty to behold
Fear not of evil
Everyday dem flesh it grow old
Changes of the times take the toll
[Hook]
[Verse 2: Capleton]
The one ya name, fear is in the eyes of di beholder
And love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer
Live much longer
Fear is in the eyes of di beholder
And love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer
Live much longer
[Verse 3: Damian Marley]
A vest around his chest and Rastafari is his name
The gift of everlasting life for us to all sustain
Blessing that you all be got
Lessons taught you all forgot
Rasta call it shit you not
Do you remember Elijah
And his chariot of flames
Same blood that runs thru my veins
[Verse 4: Capleton]
The one ya name, fear is in the eyes of di beholder
And love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer
Live much longer
Fear is in the eyes of di beholder
And love is in the presence of the love maker
Life is in the words of the comforter
Endure much longer
Live much longer
Careful how you entertain stranger
Selassie never born inna nuh manger
And him never crucify as nuh savior
Elect off himself inna the ruler
Babylon ah nah malfunction well dem a failure
So be careful of dem cellular and pager
Cause I sign see dem I see danger
So dem great but Selaisse I greater
@panstalowy4226
"That always remains a child
And most people donāt even smile
Thereās a natural mystic
Blowing in tru the air
So keep it realistic
And always be aware
The truth is crying out
And itās so loud and so clear
But most people wonāt even hear "
@Bunnisakizonu5756
Who is listening in 2024 šā¤ļø
@vernonprince5253
Here
@manhimself-Moodie-gaza876
ā¤
@joshuadesantos7679
It was writtenā¤ for iva shall uncover
@jacqueswestbrooks6054
Me
@graypie69
I had a homegirl introduce me to this song during our last time kickin it together smoking at a view before she ended up taking her own life.. listening always reminds me of her, such a beautiful soul and wish I wouldāve looked out for her.. hope youāre in a better place Lily, always filled the room with light and had such a beautiful smile, stay blessed yaāll and remember to love your friends.. never know the demons theyāre fighting.
@Yaga_xo
Why did she take her own life
@dano209
My brother took his life some time ago. So I take to music as my therapy. Miss him everyday. Canāt wait to see you again brother. God bless
@rage1868
Oh damn. I'm sorry for your loss. I share your pain.
@nasr-eddineamara7005
Ppppppppppp