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.
Take It Slow
Israel Vibration Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many obstacles we know
Life ain't easy(easy)
So learning it as we go
It ain′t easy(easy)
Oh take it slow
Life ain't easy(easy)
So going to ride as we go
If it ain't one thing then it′s the other
And tracks the facts of life and ain′t no other
Cause if the right foot don't and the left one with
You can feel the chilly, you got to pay those bills
Life ain′t easy
So we're starting it slow, slow
Life ain′t easy(easy)
So we're riding as we go(as we go)
Trying so hard to achieve it(oh no)
Now you fighting so hard just to keep it
Keeping your head above the water(oh jah)
Surviving financial disaster
They say that, life′s for free
But somehow it does seem to be
Taxes keeps on rising
And your salary just keeps on decreasing
Life ain't easy, ha(easy)
So we're starting it slow
It ain′t easy(easy)
We′re in a ride as we go
We taking it easy(easy)
So we're starting it slow
Life ain′t easy(easy)
We're in a ride as we go, hey
Try so hard to achieve it(achieve it)
Now we fighting so hard just to keep it(keep it)
Keeping your head above the water
Surviving financial disaster
Sufferation, tribulation, genocide, sometimes suicide
Trying to fit a circle in a square
Oh my Lord, what a nightmare
It ain′t easy(easy)
So, so we're taking it slow yeah
Life ain′t easy(easy)
We going to start it as we go
It ain't easy(easy)
So we're starting it slow
Well life ain′t easy(easy)
We doing the riding as we go
If it ain′t one thing then it's the other
That′s the facts of life and there ain't no other
Cause if the right foot don′t and the left one will
You can feel the chilly, you got to pay those bills
It ain't easy(easy)ha
So we′re starting it slow
Also me it ain't easy(easy)
So we learning it as we go
Life ain't easy(easy)
Uh starting it slow
Uh life ain′t easy(easy)
So we′re learning it as we go
Well well well well all these go
La life la life life life
Uh cause it ain't one thing, life
It ain′t easy no
Israel Vibration's song Take It Slow is a commentary on the hardships and difficulties of life, specifically in relation to the financial struggles of everyday people. The lyrics convey an understanding that life is full of obstacles and it is necessary to take things slow while learning to navigate the challenges that come with it. The costs of living are not easy to maintain, and there are constant battles to fight in order to survive financially. The song highlights that life is not straightforward and if one thing does not get you then something else will. The chorus emphasizes the importance of pacing oneself and handling the ride one day at a time.
The song is also an acknowledgment of the mental and emotional strain that financial hardship can cause, touching on themes of suffering, tribulation, and even suicide. It is a reflection on how one tries to keep their head above water, surviving financial difficulties, and dealing with setbacks. The song closes with a call to action, acknowledging that life isn't easy, but it is a journey to learn as one goes.
Line by Line Meaning
Cost of living ain′t easy(easy)
The expenses involved in living are difficult to manage
So many obstacles we know
We are aware of the numerous difficulties we face
Life ain't easy(easy)
Life is full of hardships
So learning it as we go
We are discovering how to handle life as we move forward
It ain′t easy(easy)
It is not a smooth ride
Oh take it slow
We should proceed at a relaxed pace
So going to ride as we go
We shall navigate the challenges as they come
If it ain't one thing then it′s the other
Challenges are always arising, always something new
And tracks the facts of life and ain′t no other
These struggles we face are a part of life
Cause if the right foot don't and the left one with
If one problem subsides then another shall arise
You can feel the chilly, you got to pay those bills
The consequences of not managing living expenses are dire
Trying so hard to achieve it(oh no)
Working hard to attain success
Now you fighting so hard just to keep it
Maintaining success is an ongoing battle
Keeping your head above the water(oh jah)
Struggling to stay afloat
Surviving financial disaster
Overcoming money-related disasters
They say that, life′s for free
People say that life is easy and without cost
But somehow it does seem to be
That statement does not reflect reality
Taxes keeps on rising
Taxes continue to increase
And your salary just keeps on decreasing
Your income is continuously being reduced
Life ain't easy, ha(easy)
Life is difficult to manage
We're in a ride as we go(as we go)
We are navigating situations as they arise
We taking it easy(easy)
We are proceeding slowly and calmly
So we're starting it slow
We are gradually beginning the journey of life
Well life ain′t easy(easy)
Life is difficult to manage
We doing the riding as we go
We are navigating the difficulties as they come
Sufferation, tribulation, genocide, sometimes suicide
Life can be filled with suffering, hardship, violence, and hopelessness
Trying to fit a circle in a square
Attempting to make things fit that are incompatible
Oh my Lord, what a nightmare
This situation is a terrible nightmare
So, so we're taking it slow yeah
We are proceeding at a comfortable pace
Also me it ain't easy(easy)
For me as well, life is difficult
So we learning it as we go
We are learning how to manage life as we move forward
Uh starting it slow
We are slowly and cautiously beginning
Uh life ain′t easy(easy)
Life presents many difficulties
Well well well well all these go
These are the realities we face
La life la life life life
This is what life is like
Uh cause it ain't one thing, life
Because there is never just one thing happening in life
It ain′t easy no
Life is difficult
Writer(s): Cecil Spence
Contributed by Elizabeth B. 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