After going their separate ways, and each converting to the Rastafari movement, they reunited in Kingston and formed a vocal group. Funding for their first album came in the form of a grant from the Twelve Tribes of Israel branch of Rastafari after Hugh Booth, a member of the Twelve Tribes, had overheard the three men singing in a wooded area outside Kingston. Apple and Wiss were living in the area, which they had converted into a home.
Israel Vibration recorded three albums; "The Same Song", "Unconquered People", and "Why You So Craven" before temporarily disbanding in 1981 after recording sessions for the latter were left incomplete. The three men moved to the United States to seek professional health care and escape the growing Dancehall movement in Jamaica. In 1988, Gary "Dr. Dread" Himmelfarb, founder of RAS Records, urged the trio to reunite and record an album. Skelly, Apple, and Wiss were flown to Washington, D.C. to record a new album at Lion and Fox Recording Studios. "Strength of my Life", the group's fourth album and first of 18 CD releases on the RAS label, was met with great praise and is considered one of the few post-golden era touchstones of the roots reggae genre.
In 1997, Apple Gabriel left the group to pursue a solo career. Skelly and Wiss continue to record albums and tour the world as Israel Vibration, backed by longtime associates Roots Radics.
Ball Of Fire
Israel Vibration Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flowers dyin' in their bed, oh, yeah
Why is everyone crying
Don't you know you can see
Shining down on you and me, yeah
And the ball of fire in the sky, yeah
Keeps watching over you and I, way up high
And the ball of fire in the sky, come on
And now the towers are fallin'
Tumblin' down, tumblin' down
Oh, can't you hear the angels callin'
Oh, yeah, listen
Shinin' through eternity
As it was, so it shall be, yeah
And the ball of fire in the sky, yeah
Keeps watching over you and I, way up high, yeah
And the ball of fire in the sky
Keeps watching over you and I, you and I, yes, it does
And the ball of fire in the sky, come on
It keeps watching over you and I, way up high, come on
And the ball of fire in the sky, yeah
Keeps watching over you and I, you and I, way up high
And the ball of fire in the sky, yeah
It keeps watching over you and I, way up high
And the ball of fire in the sky, come on
It keeps watching over you and I, way up high
Pretty and red, pretty and red
Flowers dyin' in their bed, oh, yeah
Israel Vibration's song Ball of Fire speaks to the universal experience of the hardships, tragedies, and uncertainty that we all face. The opening lyrics are a delicate reminder of the impermanence of life, specifically in reference to the frail beauty of flowers fading away. The question asked by the songwriter - "Why is everyone crying?" - is a poignant commentary on the intense emotions felt during tough times. They follow up with a reassuring message that the sun will still shine and that it watches over all of us "way up high" in the sky like a "ball of fire."
The song becomes particularly poignant when it mentions the collapse of towers and the angels' call. While it's unclear what specific event the lyrics refer to, it could be interpreted as a reference to the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. However, these tragic events are balanced with the message of hope that the "ball of fire in the sky" provides. It's a reminder that even in our darkest moments, the universe is still moving forward and watching over us all as we journey through this thing called life. The final repetition of "pretty and red, pretty and red" might represent the cyclical nature of life and death, as well as the resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty and red, pretty and red
The beauty of flowers is fading and they are morphing into something else.
Flowers dyin' in their bed, oh, yeah
The flowers are dying in their natural habitat and there is nothing we can do about it.
Why is everyone crying
People are crying because they are hurting, they are traumatized and hopeless.
Don't you know you can see
You can still see beauty even in the midst of chaos and sorrow.
Shining down on you and me, yeah
The sun still shines for us and lights up the day despite world circumstances.
And the ball of fire in the sky, yeah
The sun is just a ball of fire in the sky.
Keeps watching over you and I, way up high
The sun still shines for everybody and everybody benefits from it equally.
And now the towers are fallin'
The events of the world are crashing down or failing.
Tumblin' down, tumblin' down
Everything is falling apart or tumbling down, becoming ruined.
Oh, can't you hear the angels callin'
Spirits are crying out for help.
Shinin' through eternity
The light of the world spans for all time.
As it was, so it shall be, yeah
History repeats itself.
It keeps watching over you and I, you and I, yes, it does
The sun still shines and provides for everybody, reminding us that we are all in this together.
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bredda Michael
Ahhh-ah-ah,
Ahh-ah,
Ahh-ah.
Say, say, say, now.
(CHORUS) 2X
Ball,
Ball of fire,
Ball of fire,
Gonna…
Clap up inna Babylon.
Ten thousand
Careless Ethiopians,
Went down…
Down inna ground…
Hey-hey,
Hey, Big man,
Your ‘ealth, nor your wealth can save you now (cyan’ save you)
Drivin' in your big limo trap,
Chauffeur-driven an’ you sittin' in di back (when you wake up in fire).
Inna dem a-time, I know,
Fire gonna burn mi den… (gonna burn mi easy).
I-a congo natty rastaman know
That it-a gonna be dread.
(CHORUS)
You can seh yuh know…
Ten thousand
Careless Ethiopians,
Went down…
Down inna ground…
Hey, Big Man
Your ‘ealth, nor your wealth can save you now. (cyan’ save you)
Drivin' in your big Cadillac,
You’re chauffeur-driven an’ you jammin' in di back (when you wake up in fire)
Where ya gonna run?
When this-a fire start to burn? (gonna burn mi easy).
Ten thousand careless Ethiopians,
Went down with Babylon.
(CHORUS)
Where ya gonna run? Where ya gonna run?
When this-a fire, this-a fire start to bu’n?
Ten thousand careless Ethiopians
Clap up inna Babylon.
To di rock,
Waan di Christ for ‘imself
When a fire isn’t the worst, it’s something else
Weh ya gonna run? Weh ya gonna run?
When this-a fire, this-a fire start to bu’n?
@BrownstoneAruba
Oh oh-oh oh-oh oh-oh
Say say say
Oh oh
Ball, ball of fire
Ball of fire
Gonna clap-up inna babylon
Ball, ball of fire
Ball of fire
Gonna clap-up inna babylon
Ten thousand careless Ethiopians
Went down, down on the ground (died down)
Hey, hey, hey big man!
The health nor your wealth can't save you now (can’t save you)
Trithin' in the big limmo track
Chauffeur driven and you sittin' in the stack (but you steep in fire)
Inna dem a time, I know
Fire gonna burn me down (gonna burn me, whay!)
I a congo natty rastaman oh!
That he gonna be dread
Ball, ball of fire
Ball of fire
Gonna clap-up inna babylon
You can say you know
Ten thousand careless Ethiopians
Went down, down on the ground (died down)
Hey big man!
Ye health nor your wealth can't save you now (can’t save you)
Tridin’ in your big Cadillac
Chauffeur driven and you jammin’ in the stack (but you steep in fire)
But where you gonna run, when is a fire start to burn (gonna burn me, whay!)
Ten thousand careless Ethiopians
Went down with babylon
Ball, ball of fire
Ball of fire
Gonna clap-up inna babylon
Where you gonna run, where you gonna run (ball)
When this ya fire, this ya fire start to burn (ball of fire)
Ten thousand careless Ethiopians (ball of fire gonna)
Clap-up inna babylon
To the rock wanna praise for himself (aaaaah aah-aaah))
When a fire start to work something else (ah-aaah)
Where you gonna run, where you gonna run (aaah)
When this ya fire, this ya fire start to burn (aaah)
@brunorocksan8907
Isso é bom demais!!!
@GanjhaLovah-uj8el
Popooo skelly ton son les ariV jko fin fond dla tribss xrioxiaaa TA VOI ELLE RÉSONNE 🎉✌️🤜🤛💯❤️🔥
@nicolasolazzo-qt2dx
Jah Music❤
@moseswanyoike486
We still here
@brandonspence6459
Jah Rastafari live
@DannyMoon73
🙏🏽 thank you Skelly for the music. like the ball of fire you shine on ☀️RIP
@nicletteahondjo7382
Blessed man...
@waksoulkanaky2326
❤❤
@moseswanyoike486
Love you I.V! Jah guide and bless your soul..2023 we dey still