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.
borderline
Israel Vibration Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi know you still dea Yah--o o o
And you see the activity--yea, o yea
Of them who fight against we yea, o yea
You have seen the influence of the oppressor
And the effect it has upon the people--woo
So they fight against each other
Destroying their sister and brother
It happens on the border line--woo
Wicked man in high olaces--yea
You evil have spread throughout all boundaries
And you rejoice within your dirty ways day by day,
Day by day, hear me say-o, o, o
You've been holding the reins of oppression for so long
Tormenting the poor with depression yea
Along with your evil advice...
You increase the pressure twice In these times.
Corrupt are they in their thinking
Also in their doing--yea now
They set themselves in high possession
Spreading so far across the region--woo yea
Then they leave you in confusion--woo
Until the situation gets fatal
Therefore you deal with your brother in a brutal
Manner--yea So they want you to be scatter
Far away from each other In these time, in these time
You can see war and crime
It happen on the border line--woo, yea
So father our ruler You must take over
Shower them with power
Let them know you control yah
Jah, Jah, Jah, In these times, in these times
You can see war and crime
It happens on the border line
In these times, In these times
You can see war and crime
It happens on the border line.
The lyrics of Israel Vibration's song "Borderline" speak to the pervasive influence of oppression and corruption in society, leading to conflict and violence among people. The singer addresses God as a ruler who sees the activity of those who fight against "we," presumably referring to marginalized and oppressed groups. The influence of the oppressor on society is described as leading to people fighting against each other and destroying their own community.
The lyrics also critique the wicked men in high places who have spread their evil ways across boundaries and who torment the poor with depression. These corrupt individuals set themselves in high positions and spread confusion and fatal situations, leading people to deal with each other in brutal manners. The result is people being scattered far away from each other, leading to war and crime happening on the border line.
Line by Line Meaning
O father our ruler
Addressing God as the one in charge of everything
Mi know you still dea Yah--o o o
Expressing belief that God is always present
And you see the activity--yea, o yea
Acknowledging that God sees everything that is happening
Of them who fight against we yea, o yea
Referring to those who are opposing Israel Vibration and their cause
You have seen the influence of the oppressor
God has witnessed the effects of those who oppress others
And the effect it has upon the people--woo
God has witnessed how oppression affects the community
So they fight against each other
The community is divided due to the influence of oppressors
Destroying their sister and brother
The community members turn against each other, harming their own kin
In these time, in these time, you can see war and crime
Currently, there is an increase in violence and criminal activity
It happens on the border line--woo
Most of the violence and crime takes place at the borders
Wicked man in high olaces--yea
Corrupt officials hold the reins of power
You evil have spread throughout all boundaries
Corruption has spread far and wide
And you rejoice within your dirty ways day by day,
The corrupt leaders are happy with their immoral deeds
Day by day, hear me say-o, o, o
The situation worsens every passing day
You've been holding the reins of oppression for so long
The corrupt leaders have been in power for too long, oppressing the people
Tormenting the poor with depression yea
The leaders make life difficult for the poor, leaving them in despair
Along with your evil advice...
The corrupt leaders give bad and immoral advice to the people
You increase the pressure twice In these times.
The corrupt leaders put more pressure on the people during tough times
Corrupt are they in their thinking
The corrupt leaders have twisted and immoral ways of thinking
Also in their doing--yea now
Their actions reflect their immoral thinking
They set themselves in high possession
The corrupt leaders hold high positions of power
Spreading so far across the region--woo yea
Their influence spreads throughout the region
Then they leave you in confusion--woo
The corrupt leaders leave the people confused and disoriented
Until the situation gets fatal
The situation will continue to deteriorate until it reaches a point of no return
Therefore you deal with your brother in a brutal
The oppressive situation makes people turn against each other viciously
Manner--yea So they want you to be scatter
The corrupt leaders want to divide and scatter the people
Far away from each other In these time, in these time
During these tumultuous times, the leaders want to disperse the community
You can see war and crime
This has resulted in an increase in violence and crime
It happen on the border line--woo, yea
Most of the violence and crime takes place at the borders
So father our ruler You must take over
Asking God to intervene and take control of the situation
Shower them with power
Asking God to give the community more power to fight the oppressors
Let them know you control yah
Asking God to make the oppressors aware that He is in control
Jah, Jah, Jah, In these times, in these times
Calling on God, using the Rastafari term 'Jah'
You can see war and crime
This has resulted in an increase in violence and crime
It happens on the border line
Most of the violence and crime takes place at the borders
In these times, In these times
During these times of hardship
You can see war and crime
This has resulted in an increase in violence and crime
It happens on the border line.
Most of the violence and crime takes place at the borders
Contributed by Abigail H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sunflower Jolley
The most truthful words I love them ..... love and respect Rasta 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Steph Calicdan
Blessed amounts of respect.
Ismael Goros
O Father our ruler,
Mi know you still dea yah.. o o o.
And you see the activity,
Of them who fight against we yea, o yea.
You have seen the influence of the oppressor,
And the effect it has upon the people, woo.
So they fight against each other,
Destroying their sister and their brother.
In these time, in these time, you can see war and crime,
It happens on the border line.. woo.
Wicked man in high places, yea.
You evil have spread throughout all boundaries.
And you rejoice within your dirty ways,
Day by day, day by day, hear me say, o.. o-o.
You've been holding the reins of oppression, for so long,
Tormenting the poor with depression, yea.
Along with your evil advice..
You increase the pressure twice, in these times.
Corrupt are they in their thinking,
Also in their doing, yea now.
They set themselves in high possession,
Spreading so far across the region.. woo yea.
Woo-woo. ooh..
(..)
Corrupt are they in their thinking,
Also in their doing, yea now.
They set themselves in high possession,
Spreading so far across the region.. ohh.. yea.
Woo-woo. ooh yeah.
Then they leave you in confusion, woo.
Until the situation gets fatal.
Therefore you deal with your brother in a brutal manner, yea.
So they want you to be scatter,
Far away from each other, in these time, in these time,
You can see war and crime,
It happens on the border line, woo.. yea.
So Father our ruler, you must take over,
Shower them with power.
Let them know you control yah.
Jah, Jah, Jah, in these times, in these times,
You can see war and crime,
It happens on the border line.
In these times, In these times,
You can see war and crime,
It happens on the border line. More firé 💥🔥🇯🇲 🦁🦁🇲🇽💯