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/
Nonbeliever
Groundation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shackled all those nonbelievers
They want all ye face at water
Rock…you nonbeliever
They want all ye nonbelievers
To see them rock and roll man like deceivers
I’m alone…Jordan rescue me
In my cell, no one next to me
Global war man Jah-Jah know it all
Iyah! I yo-yo children Iyah
They want all those nonbelievers
To see them all fall like rain upon the sea Jah
(and of 1 ati.) But de man sail through the storm and this could not be Hando
Leafs a fall too bounce still na crumble
But in their faith alone they call we unfortunate
One free from poverty and this I must see…
Iyah! I yo-yo children Iyah
They want all those nonbelievers to conform
They are asking all those nonbelievers to conform
Still we have no rain upon our feet, yes
No one to talk to with no one else to meet
No waterfall reach upon the road
Jah children you are on your own, forever
Iyah! I yo-yo children Iyah
In my prison cell… no one follow me
I’m alone… Jordan rescue me
In my cell… no one next to me
A global war man Jah – ah – ah know it all
They want all those nonbelievers
Tell them we don’t believe yah
Tell them, tell them…
Weep not tell man tell them man we don’t believe ya
Ya better tell them we don’t believe ya…
Nonbeliever
The song "Nonbeliever" by Groundation speaks about the pressure that the society exerts on people to conform to a certain way of thinking and acting. The lyrics make references to Jah, which is the reggae term for God, and to a looming global war. The nonbelievers in the song are those who refuse to conform to the mainstream beliefs of the society and are seen as a threat to those in power. The first verse mentions the desire to shackle and corner these nonbelievers, forcing them to conform to the will of Jah. The next verse talks about how these nonbelievers are treated like deceivers, while in reality, they are the ones who are free from the shackles of mainstream thinking. The third verse refers to the prison cell, where the singer finds himself alone, with no followers. Jordan, another reference to God, is called upon to rescue the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
They want all against the wall Jah
They want all nonbelievers to be captured and punished by Jah.
Shackled all those nonbelievers
All nonbelievers are trapped and in bondage.
They want all ye face at water
They want all nonbelievers to see the outcome of their disbelief.
Rock…you nonbeliever
Taunt to a nonbeliever, suggesting that they will crumble under pressure.
They want all ye nonbelievers
To see them rock and roll man like deceivers
Believers want nonbelievers to see them with success, resembling that they are liars.
In my prison cell…no one follow me
I’m alone…Jordan rescue me
In my cell, no one next to me
Global war man Jah-Jah know it all
The singer feels isolated in a difficult situation, and does not believe that anyone else can help except for Jah.
They want all those nonbelievers
To see them all fall like rain upon the sea Jah
Believers want nonbelievers to witness their reckoning, similar to a devastating rainstorm.
(and of 1 ati.) But de man sail through the storm and this could not be Hando
Leafs a fall too bounce still na crumble
But in their faith alone they call we unfortunate
One free from poverty and this I must see…
The artist talks about someone triumphing over obstacles and points out that not all those who suffer are nonbelievers.
They want all those nonbelievers to conform
Believers want nonbelievers to conform to their beliefs and practices.
Still we have no rain upon our feet, yes
No one to talk to with no one else to meet
No waterfall reach upon the road
Jah children you are on your own, forever
The artist emphasizes that nonbelievers are often isolated, with no support or direction in life.
Tell them, tell them…
Weep not tell man tell them man we don’t believe ya
Ya better tell them we don’t believe ya…
Nonbeliever
The singer encourages others to speak up and say that they do not believe the lies that the believers are promoting.
Contributed by Anthony N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.