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/
Fourth Dimension
Groundation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They'll bomb the heavens and they'll blame us
They will despise us as a Juden
I can't believe them are the fourth dimension
I can't believe this is the fourth dimension
Oh why can't we be strong
Man a chant so loud a call to Jah
I can't believe them are the fourth dimension
I can't believe this is the fourth dimension
And if we were wrong
Oh let them hail Jah for all time
Hail Jah for the love
Oh Lord
Hail Jah for the light yes, yes,
I hail, hail, hail, Jah, Jah, for, for, the light
If they should laugh at you be strong
They chant so loud man "survival"
I pray to God, the Messiah
Is not the only one to break them chain Lord
Can't be the only one to break them chain Lord
Oh they lashed them in a Ghana
The man betrayed us in the tribal
They want to fight all dem culture
I can't believe this is the fourth dimension
I can't believe them are the fourth dimension
If they should laugh at you be strong
No one can change your heart but you Jah
Oh how blessed they are who find it
Still dem a search inna de fourth dimension
Still dem a look inna the fourth dimension
It has been written in the prayer
They'll bomb the heavens as a call to Jah
Looks like their soldiers might deliver
Nothing to fear for in my heart I know Jah (3x)
The lyrics to Groundation's "Fourth Dimension" convey a powerful message of resistance and resilience in the face of oppression. The song begins with a call to be strong in the face of laughter and blame, reminding listeners that the powers that be will do whatever it takes to maintain their control - even bomb the heavens - and will scapegoat those who resist them. The mention of being despised as a "Juden" emphasizes the historical context of colonialism and persecution. The singer expresses disbelief that this is what the fourth dimension - often understood as a spiritual realm - has become.
The chorus emphasizes the strength of the human spirit and the power of chanting to connect with the divine. The line "I can't believe them are the fourth dimension" highlights the gap between the spiritual realm and earthly reality, and suggests that the two are not always aligned. The following verses continue to explore the ways in which oppressive powers seek to divide and conquer, using betrayal, violence, and cultural erasure. Yet even in the face of such tactics, the singer insists on the power of love, light, and homage to Jah (short for Jahweh or Jehovah), echoing Rastafarian and other Afro-Caribbean spiritual practices.
Overall, "Fourth Dimension" is a meditation on the enduring nature of resistance and the ways in which spiritual traditions can help sustain us in times of darkness. Its lyrics suggest that even when the world seems to be controlled by corrupt and violent forces, we can still find hope and strength through connection to something greater than ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
If they should laugh at you be strong
Don't let others' ridicule affect you, be resilient.
They'll bomb the heavens and they'll blame us
The powerful will wage wars and attribute it to us.
They will despise us as a Juden
They hate and discriminate us like how they marginalize the Jews.
I can't believe them are the fourth dimension
Unbelievable how these oppressors represent the fourth dimension.
I can't believe this is the fourth dimension
It's hard to believe that this is the dimension we reside in.
Oh why can't we be strong
Why can't we be resilient?
Man a chant so loud a call to Jah
We are chanting and calling on Jah (God) with all our might.
Them carry the soul of the oppressor
The oppressors carry the spirit of evil.
And if we were wrong
If we made a mistake.
Oh let them hail Jah for all time
May everyone praise Jah forever.
Hail Jah for the love
Praise Jah for his love.
Oh Lord
Oh God.
Hail Jah for the light yes, yes,
Praise Jah for the light, absolutely.
I hail, hail, hail, Jah, Jah, for, for, the light
I praise Jah for his light.
They chant so loud man "survival"
We chant survival with such intensity.
I pray to God, the Messiah
I pray to God via the Messiah.
Is not the only one to break them chain Lord
May more break the chains of oppression.
Can't be the only one to break them chain Lord
It can't be only the Messiah to break the chains of oppression.
Oh they lashed them in a Ghana
They whipped people in Ghana.
The man betrayed us in the tribal
Someone betrayed us in tribal matters.
They want to fight all dem culture
They want to eliminate our culture.
Still dem a search inna de fourth dimension
They are still searching in the fourth dimension.
Still dem a look inna the fourth dimension
They are still looking in the fourth dimension.
If they should laugh at you be strong
Stay strong if others laugh at you.
No one can change your heart but you Jah
Only Jah and you have the power to shape your heart.
Oh how blessed they are who find it
Blessed are those who find it.
It has been written in the prayer
It is written in our prayer.
Looks like their soldiers might deliver
It appears as though their soldiers may succeed.
Nothing to fear for in my heart I know Jah (3x)
I have nothing to fear because Jah is in my heart.
Contributed by Oliver C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.