Forward Jah Jah Children
Jacob Miller Lyrics


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Africa must be free
South Africa
Blood fire rastafari

[Chorus]
Forward jah jah jah jah children
Forward jah jah jah jah children
The time has come when we all should sing unto jah
Day after day the children of zion try to reach up to you
But they stopping us with their guns and brutality
Oh lord!

[Chorus]

Let's sing praises unto the most high jah rastafari
I and I I jah rastafari, I and I I jah rastafari
Wowowooo yes yes yes yes come on now men
Can ever be free our own land
Can ever be free our own land
The wicked them turn it into battle ground
Can even smoke our little ilie (collie)
Can even smoke our little ilie
Let's sing praises unto jah
I and I I jah rastafari, I and I I jah rastafari
Yes yes yes yes come on now men

[Chorus]

Let's sing praises unto the most high jah rastafari
I and I I jah rastafari, I and I I jah rastafari
Yes yes yes yes
Oh now now now




I never know, never know
I say forward jah jah children

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jacob Miller's song "Forward Jah Jah Children" speak to the struggle for freedom and equality in Africa, particularly in South Africa, where apartheid was still in effect during the time the song was written. The opening lines "Africa must be free / South Africa / Blood fire rastafari" express solidarity with the Black South Africans fighting for their freedom and the belief that their struggle is part of a broader movement for African liberation.


The chorus, "Forward jah jah jah jah children," encourages a sense of unity and perseverance among those fighting for freedom. The rest of the lyrics continue with calls to sing praises to Jah, the Rastafarian name for God, and lamentations about the violence and oppression faced by Black Africans. The lines "But they stopping us with their guns and brutality / Oh lord!" express the frustration and pain of those facing violent repression.


Overall, the lyrics to "Forward Jah Jah Children" are a rallying cry for unity and perseverance in the struggle for freedom and equality, particularly in Africa. The song highlights the connection between African liberation and Rastafarian spirituality, and the deep sense of faith and hope that sustained those fighting for freedom.


Line by Line Meaning

Africa must be free
The African people should be free from oppression and colonization.


South Africa
Specifically, apartheid in South Africa needs to end for African people to be truly free.


Blood fire rastafari
A call to unite and take action against the injustices that are happening to African people. Blood and fire referring to determination and action, while Rastafari is a reference to the religious and cultural movement that Jacob Miller belongs to.


[Chorus] Forward jah jah jah jah children Forward jah jah jah jah children
A repeated message to urge everyone to keep moving forward and fighting for their freedom.


The time has come when we all should sing unto jah
A call to action to come together and sing praises to Jah (God) to give strength and courage in the fight for freedom.


Day after day the children of zion try to reach up to you
The African people are persistently fighting for their freedom and trying to get closer to their God, Jah.


But they stopping us with their guns and brutality Oh lord!
Despite the peaceful efforts of the African people, they are met with violence and brutality from their oppressors with no end in sight.


Let's sing praises unto the most high jah rastafari I and I I jah rastafari, I and I I jah rastafari Wowowooo yes yes yes yes come on now men
A reminder to stay united and continue singing praises to Jah for strength and encouragement.


Can ever be free our own land The wicked them turn it into battle ground
A lamentation that it feels impossible for African people to be free in their own land due to the violence and conflict caused by their oppressors.


Can even smoke our little ilie (collie) Can even smoke our little ilie
Even the small joys and freedoms, like smoking marijuana (a practice that is culturally significant in Rastafarianism) are being taken away from the African people.


Oh now now now I never know, never know
Expressing disbelief and shock at the extent of the violence and oppression that African people are facing.


I say forward jah jah children
Another call to keep moving forward and fighting for freedom with the strength and guidance of Jah (God).




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACOB MILLER, ROGER M. LEWIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Old Atlanta 404

Blood Fire 🩸 🔥
Jacob Miller the real Rastafari 💯
Give thanks to Jah

Rene Rodrigues

Curto essa faixa todo dia essa e eterna na minha vida.

TNToncourt

Still gets me rockin after all these years.

Pery Ko

Gran tema del maestro Jacob Miller

funnynative

I love this song! It reminds me high school! xoxo

Dj Rickey Ricardo

😱🔥🙏this chune is very powerful !! especially the king tubby dub side!

Fenty Valencia

Muy buena melodía para dar bendición al pueblo de javeh Jah rastafari forever de Mufasa roots para toda la hermandad rastafari

Cyril Blondeau

Big big tunes i love Jacob Miller!

Mathias Sanchez

He is so great.

NAGA Samurai Go Ichi

I once heard this song in a dub and have been searching for it for months. I am so happy to find this song and it is now officially my second favorite reggae song just after rude boy Jamaican by eek a mouse

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