1. Groundation is a Fusion-Reggae band based in Sonoma County, California. … Read Full Bio ↴1. Groundation is a Fusion-Reggae band based in Sonoma County, California. It was established in 1998 by Harrison Stafford, Ryan Newman and Marcus Urani upon their meeting at the Jazz program at Sonoma State University. Groundation's music incorporates the lyrical struggle of Roots Reggae, the progressive musicianship of Funk/Jazz fusion, and other-worldly transcendental Dub.

The 9-piece band creates an altogether new Reggae sound, featuring swirling horns, stout poly-rhythmics, and soulful harmony vocals. Their concerts utilize live improvisation, in classic jazz fashion, and are renowned for their high energy, communion-type atmosphere.

“Groundation” comes from the Rasta term "Grounation." Grounations were gatherings based on using music to attain common vibration, with the focus on manifesting positive energy to affect social change.

Having toured in over 30 countries on 4 continents, Groundation has truly become a world-wide movement and is the biggest American Reggae band touring the world today...come and find out why.

2. The original Groundation were formed in 1979 in Leicester, UK: http://spectrumleicester.co.uk/singer/groundation/

Don's Intro
Groundation Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You them criticize
All Jah musician's - in Iration
So they want
with them bag of lies
and all that they take they owe
So they want to burn up Zion - Gate - panya de man.
So block headed they don't know, and if so they,
Can't see Jah mount Zion, Iron sharpen in Iron.

And they build a road block in I man town.
Hold dem up in country - Hold them up in Tivoli

We a de, chant a de, Iya call!
enter into the gardens of life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Don's Intro" by Groundation are a powerful commentary on the struggles that musicians face while trying to spread the message of Jah, and the obstacles that they face from those who do not understand or appreciate their music. The first few lines of the song accuse people of being critical of Jah musicians, using lies and taking credit for their work. The danger in this, according to the lyrics, is that these people want to burn down the gateway to Zion, which is a symbolic representation of the Rastafarian idea of the divine city of peace and justice.

The next lines of the song speak to the ignorance of those who are critical of Jah music, who cannot see Jah's mount Zion, and are block-headed as a result. The idea of Iron sharpening Iron is a reference to Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another," which speaks to the idea of mutual resistance and growth. The reference to a road block in I man town, and holding people up in Tivoli, speaks to the theme of oppression and resistance that runs throughout Rastafarian culture. The chant at the end of the song is a call to enter into the gardens of life, a metaphor for the struggle to find meaning and purpose in an imperfect world.

Line by Line Meaning

You them criticize
You criticize them

All Jah musician's - in Iration
All the musicians of Jah in Iration

So they want
They want

with them bag of lies
with their bag of lies

and all that they take they owe
and they owe for all that they take

So they want to burn up Zion - Gate - panya de man.
So they want to burn up Zion-Gate and punish the man.

So block headed they don't know, and if so they,
They are so block-headed they don't know, and even if they do,

Can't see Jah mount Zion, Iron sharpen in Iron.
they can't see Jah's mount Zion, where iron sharpens iron.

And they build a road block in I man town.
And they build a road block in my town.

Hold dem up in country - Hold them up in Tivoli
Holding them up in the countryside or in Tivoli.

We a de, chant a de, Iya call!
We are chanting, Iya is calling!