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.

Terrorist
Israel Vibration Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

John is a youth growing up in the ghetto.
He never trouble no one.
He went to school, and was taught the rule,
Of how not to be a fool.
He knows the streets the corners, and the lanes,
Where pebbles just a shower like rain,
And with all of that he wasn't involve,
For that's not his problem to solve

No, no. no, no, no

So he walked away, away, away
And headed up the road
There he met his brethren
So they start to reason
About what was taking place
Right in front of their very face.

Terrorist crawl in
And it's a awful scene
Blood and fire, vapours of smoke
And I know that's not a joke.
See it a gwaan down the lane
Watch how the people them a run up and down.
All over

Two man make a dip
Then they ease the tool off their hip
So they release the clip
Shot start fly
Man and woman a run up and down

All over town
See it deh now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Israel Vibration's song Terrorist tell the story of John, a young man growing up in the ghetto. Despite being taught to avoid trouble, John finds himself in the midst of chaos and violence as terrorists enter his neighborhood. The violent scene is described vividly, with blood and fire filling the air. The song highlights the devastating impact of terrorism on everyday people, with innocent men and women running for their lives.

Israel Vibration's lyrics are particularly powerful because they capture the fear and helplessness that people feel in the face of terrorism. John's story represents the experiences of many people who are caught up in violence that they did not cause. The song also suggests that society as a whole has a responsibility to prevent terrorism by promoting peaceful solutions to conflict.

The lyrics are set to a reggae beat, which adds to the emotional impact of the song. Reggae is known for its social and political commentary, and Israel Vibration is among the most revered reggae bands for their ability to confront difficult issues in their music.

Line by Line Meaning

John is a youth growing up in the ghetto.
The singer, John, is a young person who lives in a disadvantaged neighborhood.

He never trouble no one.
John is a law-abiding citizen who does not cause trouble.

He went to school and was taught the rule, Of how not to be a fool.
Although John grew up in the ghetto, he received an education on how to make wise decisions and avoid foolish behavior.

He knows the streets, the corners, and the lanes, Where pebbles just a shower like rain.
John is familiar with the roads and corners of his community where small stones are often thrown like rain.

And with all of that he wasn't involve, For that's not his problem to solve, No, no. no, no, no
Despite being familiar with his community, John does not involve himself in the violent activities that occur because he believes it is not his responsibility to solve.

So he walked away, away, away And headed up the road There he met his brethren So they start to reason
John walks away from the violent situation and meets some friends with whom he discusses the situation.

About what was taking place Right in front of their very face.
They analyze the violent incident that is unfolding before them.

Terrorist crawl in And it's a awful scene Blood and fire, vapors of smoke And I know that's not a joke.
Terrorists have come into the community, causing destruction and harm. It is a serious and terrible situation.

See it a gwaan down the lane Watch how the people them a run up and down. All over.
The violence is happening along a stretch of road, and people are franticly running all around trying to avoid the danger.

Two man make a dip Then they ease the tool off their hip So they release the clip Shot start fly Man and woman a run up and down All over town See it de now
Two people pull out guns and start shooting, causing chaos and panic throughout the town.

Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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