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.
So far away
Israel Vibration Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So far away
So far away
With guns and ships and deadly whips
So far away
So far away
So far away
Far...far...far...far away
So far away
They took us so far away
We are they who were taken away
Brought down here just to work as slaves
And no more we can take it
No more
They took us away
So far away
Took us so far away
Africa...Africa...Africa
Some makin plan to stay ina babylon
So far so far
Away
Africa land Africa land Africa land
Liberation for everyone
Africa land Africa land Africa land
Where every man should live as one
Africa we want to go
Africa we want to
Go
Africa land
Way above sea level yeah!
The song "So Far Away" by Israel Vibration revolves around the theme of slavery and the physical and emotional distance it caused for the African people who were taken away from their homeland. The lyrics describe the painful and brutal journey of these people, who were taken away by force, leaving their families, homes and everything familiar behind. Guns, ships, and whips are mentioned as tools used to control and discipline the enslaved people, showing the inhumane treatment they received at the hands of their oppressors. The repetition of the phrase "so far away" emphasizes the deep sense of loss and separation from their roots and culture.
The second half of the song shifts to a message of hope as they sing about their longing to return to their ancestral land of Africa, where they can be free from the oppression and live as one. The lyrics suggest a strong desire for liberation and a recognition of the importance of solidarity among all African people. The mention of "above sea level" implies that Africa is a place of spiritual elevation and higher consciousness beyond the materialism and shallowness of Babylon.
Line by Line Meaning
They took us away, so far away
We were forcefully taken away from our home and brought to a distant place.
So far away
The distance between our original home and the place we were brought is great.
So far away
The distance between us and our loved ones who were left behind is immense.
With guns and ships and deadly whips
We were treated with immense cruelty and brutality, subjected to torture and pain.
Far...far...far...far away
We were taken incredibly far from everything we knew and loved, causing immense loneliness and despair.
We slaved so hard in the burning sun
We were forced to perform manual labor, working tirelessly under the scorching hot sun.
So far away
Our lives and well-being were completely detached from everything we knew and loved.
They took us so far away
We were ripped away from our homes and forced to start anew in an unfamiliar and distant place.
We are they who were taken away
Our identities and sense of belonging were stripped away from us when we were taken.
Brought down here just to work as slaves
Our sole purpose for being brought to this place was to serve as forced labor, with no regard for our well-being.
And no more we can take it
We can no longer withstand the immense suffering and pain we have endured.
No more
We have reached our limit and can no longer bear to endure any more suffering.
They took us away
We were forcibly taken from our homes and loved ones, causing immense emotional pain and despair.
Took us so far away
We were brought to a distant and unfamiliar place, far from everything we knew and loved.
Africa...Africa...Africa
Our hearts belong to Africa, our true home and place of belonging.
Some makin plan to stay ina babylon
Some people have accepted their new life in this foreign and oppressive place, but we cannot.
So far so far
The distance between us and our homeland is immense, making our longing for it even stronger.
Away
Our forced separation from Africa causes immense pain and longing.
Africa land Africa land Africa land
Our hearts long to return to the land we call home.
Liberation for everyone
We long for freedom not just for ourselves, but for all who have been oppressed and enslaved.
Where every man should live as one
We dream of a world where all people can coexist in peace and unity, free from hate and discrimination.
Africa we want to go
Our hearts are set on returning to Africa, our true home and place of belonging.
Africa we want to
Our longing for Africa is so strong that we cannot ignore it.
Go
Our desire to return to Africa and reunite with our homeland is all-consuming.
Africa land
Our souls belong to Africa, our one true home.
Way above sea level yeah!
We long to return to Africa, a place that is not only our home, but a place where we can flourish and thrive as human beings.
Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Garvey Ufot
on Friday Evening
Oh may take a while, Rasta
Oh rabam rabam bastira
Give thanks that you can find it in this time
It′s Friday evening, can't even find a dime, yeah
I say I feel like committing a crime, nooo
Still I know Jah will never leave me behind, no way
Pickney deh a-yard, seh dem waan food
(Friday evening) hey, hey (so deceiving)
Wife a cuss landlord, seh dem get rude
(Friday evening) hey, hey (unbelieving)
I man a-find it hard, in a bad mood
Woah, yeah
Give thanks that you can find your fish and bread (Friday evening, yeah)
It′s Friday evening and I man belly well red (seh the system dread)
I man so hungry, I man a-get swell head, yeah
Can't 'member when I've eaten fish and bread, nooo, hey
Stera stera sterara tenam
Stare stera stare tera tena
Stera stera sterara stera
Woah, woah, woah yeh
Pickney deh a-yard, seh dem waan food
(Friday evening) hey, hey (so deceiving)
Wife a cuss landlord, seh dem get rude
(Friday evening) hey, hey (unbelieving)
I man a-find it hard, in a bad mood
Woah oh, woah oh
Give thanks that you can find your fish and bread (Friday evening, yeah)
It′s Friday evening and I man belly well red (seh the system dread)
I man so hungry, I man a-get swell head, yeah
Can't 'member when I've eaten fish and bread, nooo
Friday evening, yeah (Friday evening)
Can′t even find a dime (so deceiving)
Friday evening, yeah (Friday evening)
Can't really get what′s mine (unbelieving)
It's Friday evening, yeah (Friday evening)
I don′t enjoy it, anyway (Natty crying)
Friday evening, yeah (Friday evening)
Man feel like destroy it, hey, hey (nothing eating)
It's Friday evening (Friday evening)
Woah oh, woah oh, oh, oh, oh (so deceiving)
It's Friday evening (Friday evening)
Woah oh (unbelieving)
It′s Friday evening, yeah (Friday evening)
Weche
on back staba
You skin up your teeth with I and you don't like the rasta dreadlocks
Jacob said we inna tenament yard a bagga wolf de amongst the dread
Licky Licky laba laba susu susu
Demma backstabba
Me back bigger than your dartboard, ooh
You wet your mouth like I told u so
..........
Bredda Michael
on Ball Of Fire
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?
James Bouryiotis
on Why Worry
these are entirely different lyrics!
Paul Salcido
on I'll Go Through
These are not the lyrics!!!!
Mitchell Nobles
on Red Eyes
i love the music everything i go in the street..
Eh Shehu
on My Master's Will
good weed boy