Merry-go-round
Groundation Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Power’s pull, lure as the devil’s sunshine
Sparkled in an earthly glow
What did our old friend Columbus do for you?
Still we celebrating his birth today
Ask them why we celebrate
Don’t celebrate on my request
For all pirates fall down in the end
For fear of the Lord weighs heavy upon them
They cannot maintain, no they shall not remain
And so…

Flames burn hot and red, a fierce fire for them
No. I want this, No
But if it must be it must be
I can’t stop you from hating if you want to hate I, I
Rocking Rebel this I am yeah
You want to come at me?
Come at me with your gun
I, know, fire rain will fall down to the earth
Causing paralyzation, such a spell could never be undone
Oh

So if there’s one way, my way
One way, my way
You’ve got to learn to choose
Will you be a friend or enemy?
For sun rays light my path I go walking through the night
Let’s go, so let’s go
Believe you me
Merry this a merry-go-round I ain’t
But I don’t lose sleep
For the pressure you feel is getting stronger not weak
And you are getting older now, we are all getting older
Iya wo

Oh I ain’t telling you no story this is how it a go be
I ain’t telling you no story man you wonder why we stray
Ain’t telling you no story this is how it a go be




Ain’t telling you no story man and now you a go beg
May the sun or the moon shine come to / Brighten up your day and night / Rock it in the day or night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Groundation's "Merry-Go-Round" are complex and touch on numerous themes including power, struggle, society, and personal identity. The song starts off with a reference to the allure of power and how it can be just as dangerous as the devil. The lyrics then question the celebration of Columbus' birth, acknowledging the fact that his actions had lasting negative impacts on Indigenous peoples. The lyrics urge the listener to question societal norms and not blindly follow them just because everyone else is doing so.


The chorus speaks to the importance of choice and highlights the fact that every action has consequences, whether positive or negative. The song then takes a more personal turn, with the lyrics discussing the struggles of being true to oneself even if it means going against societal norms. The singer proclaims that they are not on a "merry-go-round" and will not lose sleep over the pressures of society. The lyrics end on a hopeful note, referencing the power of nature to brighten up one's life.


Overall, the lyrics of "Merry-Go-Round" encourage critical thinking and questioning of societal norms, urging the listener to choose their own path and not blindly follow the crowd.


Line by Line Meaning

Power’s pull, lure as the devil’s sunshine
The seductive force of power is like the appeal of the devil, drawing people in with a mesmerizing and dangerous allure.


Sparkled in an earthly glow
This power has a tempting, worldly quality that is impossible to ignore.


What did our old friend Columbus do for you?
The singer questions the legacy of Columbus and wonders if he truly deserves celebration given the harm he caused.


Still we celebrating his birth today
Despite Columbus's troubling history, people continue to commemorate his life and achievements.


Ask them why we celebrate
The artist urges people to critically examine why they are honoring Columbus and his legacy.


Don’t celebrate on my request
The singer does not want people to celebrate Columbus just because they are asked to or feel obligated to do so.


For all pirates fall down in the end
Wrongdoers will eventually be held accountable for their actions, just like pirates meet their downfall eventually.


For fear of the Lord weighs heavy upon them
The fear of divine retribution is a powerful force that weighs heavily on those who have done wrong.


They cannot maintain, no they shall not remain
Eventually, the wicked will be unable to continue their wrongdoing and will not be able to persist forever.


And so…
The artist leaves the idea hanging, perhaps suggesting that it is up to the listener to draw their own conclusions.


Flames burn hot and red, a fierce fire for them
Those who engage in malicious behavior will be met with fierce retribution, symbolized by flames burning hot and bright.


No. I want this, No
The artist appears to be rejecting something, suggesting that they do not want to be involved in a particular situation or behavior.


But if it must be it must be
Despite the singer's reluctance, they concede that there may be situations in which they have no choice but to go along with something unavoidable.


I can’t stop you from hating if you want to hate I, I
The singer cannot control how others feel or react, even if they hate the singer for some reason.


Rocking Rebel this I am yeah
The singer identifies themselves as a rebel, someone who goes against the norm and doesn't conform to expectations.


You want to come at me?
The artist challenges someone to confront them, suggesting that they are not afraid of a fight or being challenged.


Come at me with your gun
The artist is not afraid of physical violence and is prepared to face whatever weapons their opponent might use.


I, know, fire rain will fall down to the earth
The singer is resigned to the idea that trouble or punishment will come, like rain falling from the sky.


Causing paralyzation, such a spell could never be undone
The consequences of one's actions can have lasting and debilitating effects, making it impossible to reverse certain outcomes or circumstances.


So if there’s one way, my way
The artist believes in doing things their own way and sticking to their own path, even if it goes against the norm.


You’ve got to learn to choose
Each individual must learn to make their own choices and take responsibility for their own decisions.


Will you be a friend or enemy?
The artist is urging the listener to determine whether they will be a friend or foe, suggesting that their actions will affect the artist in some way.


For sun rays light my path I go walking through the night
The singer is guided by a sense of purpose or a strong conviction that they are heading in the right direction, even when it is dark or uncertain.


Let’s go, so let’s go
The artist is urging action or momentum, suggesting that it is time to move forward and make progress.


Believe you me
The singer is emphasizing the importance of their message, urging the listener to take their words seriously and trust in their intentions.


Merry this a merry-go-round I ain’t
The singer rejects the idea that life is always joyful or carefree, suggesting that it can be tumultuous and challenging.


But I don’t lose sleep
Despite the difficulties the singer faces, they remain strong and resilient, suggesting that they can handle whatever comes their way.


For the pressure you feel is getting stronger not weak
The challenges facing the artist are not going away or diminishing, but are in fact increasing in intensity over time.


And you are getting older now, we are all getting older
As time passes, people are growing older and perhaps not as resilient or energetic as they once were, making it more difficult to face challenges and overcome obstacles.


Iya wo
This phrase is likely a Jamaican patois expression without one specific meaning, but it may serve as a sort of exclamation or acknowledgement of the singer's message.


Oh I ain’t telling you no story this is how it a go be
The singer is emphasizing that what they are saying is not a made-up or fictitious story, but instead is an accurate representation of reality.


I ain’t telling you no story man you wonder why we stray
The artist is suggesting that people don't understand why things are the way they are, and that they might benefit from listening to the artist's message to gain insight.


Ain’t telling you no story this is how it a go be
The artist reinforces their point that they are not making things up, but are instead offering a truthful portrayal of reality.


Ain’t telling you no story man and now you a go beg
The artist is suggesting that people who previously ignored or doubted their message might now come to them seeking help or support.


May the sun or the moon shine come to / Brighten up your day and night / Rock it in the day or night
The singer ends the song with an expression of hope, wishing that positive things like sunshine and moonlight will bring happiness and joy to the listener, regardless of the time of day or circumstance they are in.




Contributed by Zoe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Joao Pedro

My preferred reggae band actually!!! They are like massage for my brain! Thank you professor!

tony sc

yo big bon reggae

TIRÉ

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