Israel Vibration is a reggae harmony trio, originating from Kingston, Jamai… Read Full Bio ↴Israel Vibration is a reggae harmony trio, originating from Kingston, Jamaica. Lascelle "Wiss" Bulgin, Albert "Apple Gabriel" Craig, and Cecil "Skeleton" Spence all overcame adversity in the form of childhood polio and went on to be one of the most successful roots groups to form in Jamaica in the late 1970s. The trio initially met at a rehabilitation center.

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 the Rock
Israel Vibration Lyrics

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The one I send to vrew right through.
In cell block two. / And to you and you and you,
over there in a penitentiary.
Here today and gone tomorrow.
Who no dey a Booth Hill gone a Tamarind Farm.
Good friends we have, good friends we lost.
Who no pan the rock lock up in a penitentiary.
On the rock dem cell never empty.

On the rock, over there in penitentiary.
On the rock jail cell never empty.
On the rock big yard style, dem cell never empty.
Badness was around when Stantytown burn down.
And ruff neck was around when rude boy come from jail.
Remember when Hibbert had the number 54-46.
Warden man come around
with big clubs and baton stick.
On the rock, over there in penitentiary.
On the rock, cell block never empty.
Rule in pen you do not borrow or lend.
Because if you do so my friend, payback never end.
You idren in pen need commissary.
Because when you lock up in dem cell
and don't get no money...
This one I livicate to crew.
Right through in cell block two.

And to you and you and you.
Over there in penitentiary.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "On the Rock" by Israel Vibration talk about the harsh reality of life in prison. The singer dedicates the song to his friends who are incarcerated and he expresses his empathy for those who are locked behind bars. The first two lines of the song highlight the efforts of the singer to communicate to his friends in prison. He sends out the message that he is thinking about them and wishing them well even though they are in cell block two.

The song also alludes to the fact that life can be unpredictable and that we should be grateful for what we have. The line "Here today and gone tomorrow" emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and how things can change in an instant. The lyrics also mention the infamous Tamarind Farm prison in Jamaica, where many political prisoners were held during the 1970s. The line "Who no dey a Booth Hill gone a Tamarind Farm" acknowledges the fact that anyone can end up in prison regardless of their innocence or guilt.

The chorus emphasizes the point that life in prison is tough and that the cells are always full. The lines "On the rock dem cell never empty. On the rock, over there in penitentiary. On the rock jail cell never empty" show that the situation is dire and that there is little hope of ever getting out. The song ends with a message of hope and solidarity, where the singer dedicates the song to his incarcerated friends and urges them to stay strong.

Line by Line Meaning

The one I send to vrew right through.
I am directing my message to my crew, without any doubt.

In cell block two.
I know the harsh reality of being locked up in prison, feeling blue.

And to you and you and you, over there in a penitentiary.
This song goes out to all those incarcerated in the prison penitentiary.

Here today and gone tomorrow.
Life is unpredictable, it can be gone before you know it and end in sorrow.

Who no dey a Booth Hill gone a Tamarind Farm.
Those who have passed away in Booth Hill, end up in Tamarind Farm, their last abode where they can rest in calm.

Good friends we have, good friends we lost.
We have lost good friends in life, who will always remain in our hearts at any cost.

Who no pan the rock lock up in a penitentiary.
Those who are not steady in their faith, end up in the prison penitentiary, as a reality.

On the rock dem cell never empty.
Those who stand steadfast on their faith, in the prison cells, their spirits will always remain full, never empty.

On the rock, over there in penitentiary.
Those who stand firm in their beliefs, in the prison penitentiary, will always shine on, as a testimony.

On the rock jail cell never empty.
Those who hold on to their faith in the prison cells, their spirits will always remain full, never empty.

On the rock big yard style, dem cell never empty.
Those who stand steadfast in their faith, even in the prison yards, their spirits will never be empty.

Badness was around when Stantytown burn down.
When Stantytown burned down, chaos and badness were all around.

And ruff neck was around when rude boy come from jail.
When rude boys got out of jail, they caused mayhem and led to more young men being put into jails.

Remember when Hibbert had the number 54-46.
54-46 was a prison number assigned to Hibbert, a reminder of his incarceration and confinement.

Warden man come around with big clubs and baton stick.
The prison wardens can be violent and brutal with their clubs and batons, creating a difficult and oppressive atmosphere for prisoners.

Rule in pen you do not borrow or lend.
A rule in prison is to refrain from borrowing or lending, because the debts in the pen never end.

Because if you do so my friend, payback never end.
If one falls into debt in prison, the debt will never be settled and the cycle of debt and repayment will never end.

You idren in pen need commissary.
Those in prison need commissary, to survive the harsh conditions of prison and not be buried.

Because when you lock up in dem cell and don't get no money...
Being locked up in jail without any money is a truly difficult situation, one that is not funny.

This one I livicate to crew.
This song is dedicated to my crew, a message of hope to all of you.

Right through in cell block two.
I know what it's like being in cell block two, the difficult and oppressive conditions that ensue.

And to you and you and you. Over there in penitentiary.
My message of hope to those incarcerated in the penitentiary, you are not alone, you have me.

Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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