Dennis Emanuel Brown (February 1, 1957–July 1, 1999) was a Jamaican reggae … Read Full Bio ↴Dennis Emanuel Brown (February 1, 1957–July 1, 1999) was a Jamaican reggae singer. He recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the pioneers of lovers rock. Bob Marley dubbed him the "Crown Prince of Reggae".

Brown's first recording was "Lips of Wine" recorded for Derrick Harriott (The Musical Chariot), but this was not released initially. He then recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, and Dodd released Brown's first single, "No Man is an Island". Brown recorded two albums for Dodd, No Man is an Island and If I Follow my Heart (the title track penned by Alton Ellis). Around this time, Brown recorded material for Lloyd Daley ("Baby Don't Do It" and "Things in Life") and material for Derrick Hariott, which was eventually released as the Super Reggae and Soul Hits album. He also worked for Earl Hayles and the Charmaine label early in his career. He had a Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom in 1977. This led to his contract with A&M Records, and to the formation of his own label, DEB records, which produced several hits, including many by Junior Delgado.

His first big hit was "Money In My Pocket" on the Joe Gibbs label, and by the late 1970s, Brown had recorded and performed chart-toppers such as "Sitting & Watching", "Wolves and Leopards", "Here I Come" and "Revolution"; many featuring Sly and Robbie as the rhythm section. As the dancehall era of the 1980s arrived, Brown frequently recorded with King Jammy and Gussie Clark. His song "Revolution" is featured on the reggae radio station K-JAH Radio West in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. According to some sources, Brown became addicted to crack cocaine, which affected his career and may have lead to his premature death. Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and opposition leader Edward Seaga of the Jamaica Labour Party both spoke at Brown's funeral, which was held on July 17, 1999 in Kingston, Jamaica. The service, which lasted for three hours, also featured live performances by Maxi Priest, Shaggy, and five of Brown's sons. Brown was then buried at Kingston's National Heroes Park.

Equal Rights
Dennis Brown Lyrics

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Every man has an equal right
To live and be free
No matter what colour, class or race he may be

Treat him right, Lord and oh, treat him good
Take a tip from me, don't hang him on a tree
You should never give against another man

'Cause every man has an equal right
To live and be free
No matter what colour, class or race he may be

Remember how we're all of flesh and blood
Lift your brother up, don't push him in the mud
You should never give against another man

Every man has an equal right
To live and be free
No matter what colour, class or race he may be

Treat him right, Lord and oh, treat him good
Take a tip from me, don't hang him on a tree
You should never give against another man, no

'Cause every man has an equal right
To live and be free
No matter what colour, class or race he may be

Remember how we're all of flesh and blood
Lift your brother up, don't push him in the mud
You should never give against another man, no

'Cause every man has an equal right

To live and be free
No matter what colour, class or race he may be

Overall Meaning

Dennis Brown's "Equal Rights" is a song advocating for equality and respect for everyone regardless of their social standing, race, or skin color. The song stresses that every individual deserves to live and be free without any form of discrimination. By stating that everyone has an equal right, the song touches on the fact that no one should be denied an opportunity simply because of their race, and that everyone should enjoy the same rights and freedoms. The song emphasizes that one can make a difference by treating others fairly and advocating for equal rights for everyone.

The song implores its listeners to treat others correctly and based on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. It acknowledges the fact that we are all human and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of our social or economic standing. Dennis Brown also stresses the importance of brotherhood and harmony, reminding listeners that we all come from the same human family and should, therefore, strive to lift each other up and not put each other down.

Overall, the song promotes love, unity, and fairness towards one another, and encourages listeners to treat others the way they would like to be treated. It sends a message of hope that a society that values equality and treats all its members with respect is possible.

Line by Line Meaning

Every man has an equal right
All human beings are entitled to the same rights, regardless of their race, class, or color.

To live and be free
The right to live with dignity and freedom is universal and applies to every individual.

No matter what colour, class or race he may be
Regardless of one’s race, social status, or ethnicity, every person deserves the same treatment.

Treat him right, Lord and oh, treat him good
Everyone should be treated with respect, love, kindness, and compassion, irrespective of their background.

Take a tip from me, don't hang him on a tree
Violence, discrimination and lynching must be avoided, and all people should be given the opportunity to thrive.

You should never give against another man
It is wrong to exhibit hatred, discrimination or bias against someone else, instead we should live peacefully.

'Cause every man has an equal right
The right to live with freedom and dignity is universal and applies to every individual.

Remember how we're all of flesh and blood
Regardless of where we come from or who we are, we are all human beings with a shared human experience.

Lift your brother up, don't push him in the mud
We should encourage, help and support each other, instead of tearing someone down or exhibiting hate.

You should never give against another man, no
Discrimination and hatred is never okay or acceptable, and everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.

'Cause every man has an equal right
Everyone has the right to live freely, with dignity and respect.

To live and be free
This line is repeated in the song to emphasize the importance of living freely and without discrimination.

No matter what colour, class or race he may be
Regardless of one’s race, social status, or ethnicity, every person deserves the same basic human rights.

Writer(s): SIBBLIS LEROY ANTHONY, MORGAN BROMMETT EARL ALPHANSO

Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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