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Born in Kingston, Jamaica as Ripton Hylton, Eek-a-Mouse began his foray into reggae music when he was in college, but did not begin to garner a substantial audience until 1979 with his hit "Once a Virgin". This same year, he changed his singing name to "Eek-a-Mouse", the name of the racehorse he always bet on. In 1981, he cheered up the Reggae Sunsplash Festival, which was still mourning over the death of reggae icon Bob Marley. After this, his fame continued increasing through the year 1982 until 1988, when he released "Eek-A-Nomics", his last full-length CD until 1996.
Eek-a-Mouse is a regular at the Jamaican music festival Reggae Sunsplash and often teams up with reggae duo Michigan and Smiley. He has also been featured on Christian rock group P.O.D.'s (Payable on Death) album Satellite, lending his vocals to the rock-reggae track "Ridiculous".
War Don't Pay
Eek-a-Mouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woi woi woi
Woi woi woi
Woi woi woi
War dont pay my brothers
War dont pay it lead you astray
So live in love and unity
Going around filling the bay
And thats a shame thats really a shame
Showing down of your bomb
Earning down of sham
Now the people they are homeless
Tell me what must they do
War dont pay it lead you astay
War dont pay it under way
War dont pay my friend
War dont pay its lead you astay
Now the children think of crying
Because your guns are firing
How can they find some food
When you had burn away their crop
War dont pay my friend
No no no no war dont pay it lead you astay
Wo wo wo wo woi war dont pay
War it lead you astray
So live in love and unity
Struggle for your right and humanity
Going around killing the babes
And thats a shame wo thats a shame
Wa wo wo wo woi
Woi
Woi
Wo woi
Woi
Showing off your bomb
Burning down of shams
Now the people they are so homeless
Tell me what can they do
Wo wo wo wo woi
War dont pay it lead you astray
Now the peeps they are crying
And your gun it still is firing
Ena moena moi
Wo wo wo wo woi
The song "War Don't Pay" by Eek-a-Mouse is a powerful anti-war song that delivers a clear message on the futility and destruction caused by war. The repetition of "Woi woi" throughout the song creates a hypnotic effect and emphasizes the urgency of the message.
The first verse emphasizes the idea that war does not pay and instead leads people astray. The singer urges people to live in love and unity and to struggle for their right and humanity instead of engaging in war. The second verse goes on to describe the destruction caused by war, including the displacement of people from their homes and the destruction of their crops. The chorus reinforces the message that war does not pay and instead leads people astray and causes suffering.
The bridge of the song takes a more personal tone, describing the impact of war on children who are left crying as a result of the violence. The singer questions how people can find food when their crops have been burned away and emphasizes that war does not pay.
Overall, Eek-a-Mouse's "War Don't Pay" is a powerful anti-war song that encourages people to live in love and unity and to struggle for their rights and humanity instead of engaging in destructive conflicts.
Line by Line Meaning
Woi woi
Intro/Outro
War dont pay my brothers
War is not beneficial to my people
War dont pay it lead you astray
War causes people to lose their way
So live in love and unity
Togetherness and love is the key
Struggle for your right and humanity
Fight for your rights as a human being
Going around filling the bay
Killing people with no regard
And thats a shame thats really a shame
It's a pity, it's very unfortunate
Showing down of your bomb
Bringing destruction with weapons
Earning down of sham
Destroying everything in their path
Now the people they are homeless
People are now without homes
Tell me what must they do
Asking for a solution
War dont pay it under way
War is currently ongoing and not profitable
War dont pay my friend
War doesn't yield anything beneficial to anyone
Now the children think of crying
Children are scared and traumatized
Because your guns are firing
Due to the active gunfire and violence
How can they find some food
How will they get basic necessities?
When you had burn away their crop
When you've destroyed their source of livelihood
No no no no war dont pay it lead you astay
War doesn't lead to anything positive
Wo wo wo wo woi war dont pay
Chorus/Repetition
Going around killing the babes
Indiscriminately killing children
Wa wo wo wo woi
Chorus/Repetition
Showing off your bomb
Displaying weapons in a threatening way
Burning down of shams
Burning down homes and properties
Now the people they are so homeless
People are now without homes
Tell me what can they do
Asking for a solution
Now the peeps they are crying
People are now in tears
And your gun it still is firing
The violence and fighting is still going on
Ena moena moi
Chorus/Outro
Writer(s): Henry Lawes, Ripton Hylton
Contributed by Jacob K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Annette Guerrero
on There's A Girl In My Life
I think it says
Or the riches I ain't got.
Annette Guerrero
on There's A Girl In My Life
I don't care
If I don't go inside
All I know
I'm gonna get you tonight
Gina AllenAnnette Guerrero
on There's A Girl In My Life
And I dont know why
Maybe it the color of my skin
All the riches I am bound ?