Born in Manchester, Jamaica, reggae singer Jah Mason made his debut in 1991… Read Full Bio ↴Born in Manchester, Jamaica, reggae singer Jah Mason made his debut in 1991 with the single "Selassie I Call We." Recorded for Junior Reid's record label, the single appeared under the name Perry Mason, a nickname Mason had picked up during his childhood due to his ability to settle arguments. He always preferred the country to the city since it was easier to meditate there and as Mason claims, "I can communicate with the birds and the trees." After hooking up with David House, who had successfully guided singer Capleton to international fame, this spiritual side of Mason began to flourish. In 1995 he became a member of the Rastafarian branch Bobo Ashanti, changed his performing name from Perry Mason to Jah Mason, and began recording conscious reggae where the message was as important as the music. Jamaican hits like "My Princess Gone" and "Lion Look" and guest shots on a few Jah Cure singles appeared before the full-lengths Keep Your Joy (Ghetto Technology) and Unlimited (Reggae Vibes) both landed in 2002. Never Give Up (On The Corner) from 2004 found him working with international producers including Dan "Piloni" Kark from Israel. The 2006 album Princess Gone: The Saga Bed appeared on the VP label, which was distributed by the worldwide giant Universal.

Wheat & Tears
Jah Mason Lyrics

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so let tha wheat and tears grow together
inity and strength keep us forever
the wheat and tears grow together
you got to have love how

some say it's simple living but living aint simple
so many young faces wearing old wrinkle
got to protect yuh heavens and a secure yuh temple

soft answer turn away wrath you got to be gentle
earth is for the meek likewise da humble
keep up firm neva you fumble
don't fall and don't you stumble
hail da most high nuh grumble
hey

when mankind fail tha most high never
living is so simple yet it's forever
never you stop your brother from climbing up the ladda
no badmind, nuh grudgeful no brabba (no i wont be)
like mi ital weed now wid no grabba (drugs)
ETHIOPIAN yuh done know mi a ragga
hail SELASSIE I MARCUS and dadda
got to be joyful cyaah sadda

some say it's simple living but living aint simple
so many young faces wearing old wrinkle
got to protect yuh heavens and secure yuh temple
soft ansa turn away wrath yuh got to be gentle
earth is for da meek likewise da humble
keep firm and never you fumble
don't you fall over and stumble
RASTAFAR I neva grumble

when mankind fail tha most high never
living is so simple yet it's forever
neva yuh stop yuh brother from climbing up the ladder
nuh badmind nuh grudgeful no brabba
ital weed wid no grabba
ETHIOPIAN dem done know mason a ragga

hail SELASSIE I and MARCUS and mi seh dadda
got to be joyful cyaah sadda

Overall Meaning

The song Wheat & Tears by Jah Mason is a call to humanity to embrace unity, love, and compassion towards each other. The lyrics imply that we should not discriminate against each other based on our differences but rather recognize that we are all made equal in the eyes of the Most High. Jah Mason asserts that despite life being complicated, living should be straightforward if we embrace empathy and care towards one another.

The metaphor of Wheat & Tears in the chorus emphasizes the fact that life is a mix of pain and joy, sorrow, and laughter. It is essential to have both in one's life as they bring balance, purpose, and growth. The wheat represents the sweetness and goodness of life, while the tears signify the suffering and hardships we endure. Jah Mason suggests that instead of fighting against each other, we should embrace our experiences and learn from them, enabling us to live in peace and harmony with one another.

The verse speaks of the need to live with humility, patience, and kindness towards each other. Jah Mason advises on protecting one's physical and spiritual space and nurturing one's connection with the Most High by living righteously. The song reminds us of the need to be our brother's keeper, to support one another without envy or resentment, and to always be joyful, even in trying times.

Line by Line Meaning

so let tha wheat and tears grow together
Sometimes in life, good and bad things grow alongside each other. We should accept this and let them grow together.

inity and strength keep us forever
Unity and strength are the key to living forever or being remembered forever.

you got to have love how
We should approach everything with love.

some say it's simple living but living aint simple
Living a simple life may sound easy, but it is not always so.

so many young faces wearing old wrinkle
Many young people bear the weight of the world and carry heavy burdens, making them look older than their age.

got to protect yuh heavens and a secure yuh temple
We need to guard our minds and bodies, making sure that they are safe and secure, like temples of our own.

soft answer turn away wrath you got to be gentle
Being gentle and calm, even during an argument, can defuse the situation and prevent further conflict.

earth is for the meek likewise da humble
The world belongs to those who are meek and humble.

keep up firm neva you fumble
We need to be steadfast and strong, never letting anything bring us down.

don't fall and don't you stumble
We should never give up or let obstacles stop us from achieving our goals.

hail da most high nuh grumble
We should give thanks to the Most High and not complain or grumble about life's challenges.

when mankind fail tha most high never
Even when humans let us down, we can always count on the Most High.

never you stop your brother from climbing up the ladda
We should support and lift up our fellow human beings rather than hold them back or tear them down.

no badmind, nuh grudgeful no brabba (no i wont be)
We should not be jealous, envious, or hold grudges against others.

like mi ital weed now wid no grabba (drugs)
We should enjoy the simple things in life, like eating natural foods and avoid harmful substances like drugs.

ETHIOPIAN yuh done know mi a ragga
The singer is proclaiming his Rastafarian identity and love for Ethiopia.

hail SELASSIE I MARCUS and dadda
Praising Emperor Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey, and their fathers.

got to be joyful cyaah sadda
We should always be joyful and not worry too much about things we cannot change.

Contributed by Cooper E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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