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.
On Borrowed Time
Israel Vibration Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes up, sometimes down
Skiving for meal inna the garbage bin
(?? for meal,?? for meal)
Nuff hungry homeless roam the land
Living in country bounty so plenty
(How come dem so hungry?)
Lord God knows, you know
It hurts so much, I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
River of tears long gone, run dry
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
The sky is the roof, the ground is their bed
Upon the concrete??
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh God, yeah
A river of tears long gone, run dry
A you don't know what tomorrows gonna bring
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time
You don't know what tomorrows gonna bring, yeah
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time
Skiving for meal inna the garbage bin
(?? for meal,?? for meal)
Nuff hungry homeless roam the land
It hurts so much, I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
(.)
A you don't know what tomorrows gonna bring
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time
You don't know what tomorrows gonna bring, yeah
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time, yeah
Skiving for meal inna the garbage bin
(?? for meal,?? for meal)
Nuff hungry homeless roam the land
Living in country bounty food so plenty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Nuff hungry pickney go to bed belly empty
Lord God knows, you know
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
What goes around, comes around, I say
Hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
Goes around, comes around
Sometimes up, sometimes down
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
The song "On Borrowed Time" by Israel Vibration deals with poverty and the harsh reality of life for many people in the world. The first verse describes the desperation of some to find food and shelter by "skiving for meal inna the garbage bin" while the second verse highlights the contrast of plenty in the country while "nuff hungry pickney go to bed belly empty" (many hungry children go to bed with empty stomachs). The repetition of "it hurts so much, I just can't cry" and "a river of tears long gone, run dry" suggests that the anguish felt by those living in poverty has become a pervasive and chronic condition.
The chorus "you don't know what tomorrow's gonna bring, life is one big road, you're living on a borrowed time" provides some insight into the perspective of those living in poverty. The uncertainty and transience of their lives are captured in the metaphor of "borrowed time" where time is a finite commodity and tomorrow is never guaranteed. The line "the sky is the roof, the ground is their bed, upon the concrete" paints a vivid picture of destitution and serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of inequality. The song ends with a message of karma, "what goes around, comes around" and reminds us that the vicissitudes of life can affect us all.
Line by Line Meaning
Goes around, comes around
The bad things you do will come back around to you in the future.
Sometimes up, sometimes down
Life has its ups and downs, good and bad days.
Skiving for meal inna the garbage bin
People are so poor and hungry that they have to search for food in the garbage.
(?? for meal,?? for meal)
The situation is dire, as people go very hungry and have no food to eat.
Nuff hungry homeless roam the land
There are many homeless people who wander around the country, without a place to stay and no food to eat.
Living in country bounty so plenty
There are a lot of resources available in the country, but somehow, people still go hungry.
(How come dem so hungry?)
Why are people starving when there are plenty of resources available in the country? Something is not right.
Nuff hungry pickney go to bed belly empty
Many children go to bed hungry at night with empty stomachs.
Lord God knows, you know
God and people are aware of the hunger and suffering going on, but somehow, it persists.
It hurts so much, I just can't cry
The pain and sorrow is so overwhelming that the person cannot even express it through crying.
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
The situation is so dire that the person cannot even express their emotions through tears.
River of tears long gone, run dry
The person has been crying for so long that they have no more tears left to cry.
The sky is the roof, the ground is their bed
Homeless people have no shelter, and the sky and ground become their only refuge.
Upon the concrete??
The homeless have nothing to sleep on but the hard concrete floors and streets.
A you don't know what tomorrows gonna bring
Nobody knows what the future holds or what might happen tomorrow.
Life is one big road (life)
Life is a journey with many twists and turns and unknown paths.
You're living on a borrowed time
Nobody knows how long they will live, so every moment alive is considered borrowed time.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh God, yeah
The situation is dire, and people cry out to God for help and relief.
(.)
A pause in the song.
What goes around, comes around, I say
The actions you take in life will have consequences that come back around to you.
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
The pain and suffering is so much that the person cannot even cry to express their emotions.
A river of tears long gone, run dry
The person has cried so much and for so long that there are no more tears left to cry.
Writer(s): CECIL SPENCE
Contributed by Alyssa B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@BCHBCH-iv1mc
Goes around, comes around
Sometimes up, sometimes down
Skiving for meal inna the garbage bin
(?? for meal, ?? for meal)
Nuff hungry homeless roam the land
Living in country bounty so plenty
(How come dem so hungry?)
Nuff hungry pickney go to bed belly empty
Lord God knows, you know
It hurts so much, I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
River of tears long gone, run dry
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
The sky is the roof, the ground is their bed
Upon the concrete ??
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh God, yeah
A river of tears long gone, run dry
A you don't know what tomorrows gonna bring
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time
You don't know what tomorrows gonna bring, yeah
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time
Skiving for meal inna the garbage bin
(?? for meal, ?? for meal)
Nuff hungry homeless roam the land
It hurts so much, I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
(..)
A you don't know what tomorrows gonna bring
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time
You don't know what tomorrows gonna bring, yeah
Life is one big road (life)
You're living on a borrowed time, yeah
Skiving for meal inna the garbage bin
(?? for meal, ?? for meal)
Nuff hungry homeless roam the land
Living in country bounty food so plenty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Nuff hungry pickney go to bed belly empty
Lord God knows, you know
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
What goes around, comes around, I say
Hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
It hurts so much that I just can't cry
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
A river of tears long gone, run dry
Goes around, comes around
Sometimes up, sometimes down
(Hurts so much, can't cry)
@hildegardecucul5324
this is one of my favorite songs on borrowed time ..Isreal vibes..reggae strong
@dariuskathenge7250
Yeah a very great reggae track, welcome bro
@dariuskathenge7250
This is another God sent reggae song to mankind
@dariuskathenge7250
Yeah you don't kno what tomorrow is gonna bring life is one big road..goes around comes around
@dariuskathenge7250
Try brother big up
@dariuskathenge7250
Most welcome brother, take tym and listen to jah Mali real issues
@tshikalambiye8559
C'est une de mes chansons préférées de ce groupe, très agréable à écouter
@kingarthur6683
The Sky is the Roof, The Ground is their Bed... They hurt so much that they just cant cry.....Big tchune
@i.d.kwhattonamethischannel7529
King Arthur
@theknowledgevault4600
Rest in peace Skelly,Israel Vibration forever! Rest in peace Apple Gabriel.