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The reggae group Inner Circle was formed in 1968 by the brothers Ian and Roger Lewis in Jamaica. At first they covered soul and R&B hits from the United States, and then also a few reggae songs, predominantly from Bob Marley.
The band released two albums as The Inner Circle in 1974 for jamaican label "Starapple"(and they were distributed by "Trojan" in UK), and resigned to Capitol Records in 1976, and Island Records(where the internationally successful album "Everything Is Great" originated. This album reached top 20 in the UK and preceded their other chart success by some years) in 1979.
Inner Circle was decidedly influenced through the original member Jacob Miller, the frontman and lead singer who was killed in a car crash on March 23, 1980. At the end of the 1970s Inner Circle with Jacob "Killer" Miller was more popular in Jamaica than Bob Marley. The band also appeared in the reggae cult film Rockers in 1978.
After the loss of Jacob Miller, Inner Circle broke up, but in 1982 another album called Something So Good was released. In 1986 Ian and Roger Lewis reestablished Inner Circle with the singer Carlton Coffie, and the band experienced a comeback with the album Black Roses.
In 1989, Inner Circle released the song "Bad Boys." Since then, the band calls itself "The Bad Boys of Reggae". They had another big hit with the 1993 song "Sweat (A La La La La Long)."
The lead singer Carlton Coffie was ill for a long period in 1995 and decided after his recuperation to start a solo career. The current singer Kris Bentley took his place.
Book Of Rules
Inner Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can clown their capers in sawdust rings, just like
Poor people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules
Each must make his life as flowing ink
Poor people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules
Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow
Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow
And I say small people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules (note 1)
Look where the rain is fallen from the sky
I know the sun will be only missing for awhile
And I say small people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules
Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow
Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow
And I say small people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules (note 1)
Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow
Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow
Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow
Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow
Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow
Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow
Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow
Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow
The lyrics of Inner Circle’s song “Book Of Rules” talk about the universal nature of life and how everyone, regardless of their social status, is given the same tools to build their own lives. The first verse draws a comparison between royalty and common folk, showcasing how both can enjoy the same things in life, like entertainment in a circus. Despite their different positions in society, each person is encouraged to make something of their life by using the tools they’re given, like a book of rules.
The chorus emphasizes this idea by saying that small people like the listener and the singer will be builders for eternity. They will each have to figure out how to navigate the shapeless lives they’ve been given by using the tools that they possess. The final verse brings in the idea of the natural cycles of life, how rain falls but the sun will come back. This is symbolic of the ups and downs that life presents and encourages listeners to remember that they have the tools to get through anything.
Overall, the song “Book of Rules” speaks to a universal human experience of trying to make a sense of the world and build a fulfilling life for oneself. It suggests that while people’s lives may be different, everyone has the same starting point, and it’s up to each individual to use what they have to create something worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't it strange how princesses and kings
Can clown their capers in sawdust rings, just like
Poor people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules
It's interesting to see how even those in positions of high power and wealth can still act silly and foolish at times, just like everyday people like us. Regardless of our social status, we all have an important role to play in shaping the world around us. We are all equipped with the necessary tools and guidelines to build a meaningful life for ourselves.
Each must make his life as flowing ink
Tumbling back on a stepping stone, just like
Poor people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules
Our lives should be like a never-ending story, with each day building upon the one before it. We will encounter obstacles along the way, but we should always strive to move forward and progress, even if it means taking baby steps. With our bag of tools and a set of principles to guide us, we are capable of creating something beautiful and lasting.
And I say small people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules (note 1)
It doesn't matter how insignificant or small we may feel in this world, we all have the ability to make a lasting impact through our actions. Our bag of tools and the guidance of our principles provide us with the power to shape our lives and the world around us.
Look where the rain is fallen from the sky
I know the sun will be only missing for awhile
And I say small people like you and me
Will be builders for eternity
Each is given a bag of tools
Shapeless lives and a book of rules
Even when things seem to be going wrong or life seems to be in a state of chaos, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow. The rain may fall, but the sun will always come back out. As small individuals, we have the tools to weather any storm and continue building towards a better future.
Pow wa pow pow, pow wa pa pa pow pow
Wa pa pa pow pow, wa pow pa pow pow pow
These are nonsensical sounds and have no discernible meaning within the context of the song or the lyrics.
Contributed by Mackenzie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alex Varges Andrade
Essa música é uma viagem chega arrepiar 😍😍😍😍😍
Cristino Virgilio Macedo
Música linda demais. Som profundo, marcante.
ANDRESSA ROQUE
Que musica linda!!!
Katiele Soares
Inner Circle é como um doce que têm junto o cítrico para dar equilíbrio. Gosto das originais mas prefiro as versões de Inner Circle pois dão vibração e suavidade na mesma canção. Obla di obla da é outro exemplo magnífico que também foi regravado por eles.
Marcelo Alves
Aí e pedra . Muito bom
João coringão
I have this CD. I bought in 1997 wow....time has passed so fast and I still like Inner circle and reaggae :)
Van Santos
Minha música favorita
EileenML aka Adamfulgence
Another great video! Great song with pefectly chosen images. Well done!
Bidias Oliveira
Me amarro nesse som pra caramba ....vivo ouvindo isso alto no meu possante .....
DJ Gustavvo
Meu sonho ter um carro legal pra ouvir essas tracks aí do passado