Piece Of The Pie
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The lion is weak and ready for his jungle
What is the jungle
Equal rights and justice
And if he doesn't get it
He's gon' to take it any way and anyhow
So you better give up

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

They run our fathers up their pole
And try to take their soul
We realize we know the score
So don't try that no more

No tricks, no traps, no lies, no gripes
Can't hold us anymore
We've had enough of jive and bluff
We want our share for sure

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

A hungry man is a angry man
I hope you understand
Because a hand to mouth won't work it out
Of this there is no doubt

We want our share, we have no fear
So you better beware
â??Cause a hungry mouth is a angry mouth
Worse without a job, hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie (A seh a seh a seh a so a seh)
Right here, right now (A seh a seh a so oh)

Bom dee long dong bom bong bom da ding dong
Bom la bom bom bom bom dey
Rom bom bom bom ding dong a ring rong a free mon
Bom bom bom bom dey hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

There's one thing we'd like to know
Where does the money go
â??Cause some got it, and some drop it
Well, someone ought to know

This life as living to offer
To every single one
Birds and bees, no woods and trees
There is no existence, hey

We want our piece of the pie, hey
Right now, right here
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey

Bom dee long dong bom bong bom da ding dong
Bom la bom bom bom bom dey
Da diddle ling ding dong, da diddle ling ding dong
Da dong dong hey

Hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey

We want our piece of the pie (A seh a seh a seh a so a seh)
Right here, right now (A seh a seh a so oh)
We want our piece of the pie (A seh a seh a seh a so a seh)
Right here, right now (A seh a seh a so oh oh so)

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now




We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Piece of the Pie" by Jimmy Cliff speak about a desire for equal rights and justice. The "jungle" referred to in the beginning represents society where there are power dynamics that favor certain groups over others, leaving a "lion," representative of the oppressed, weak and ready to fight for their share of the "pie." The "pie" symbolizes a fair distribution of resources and opportunities.


The lyrics emphasize the need to give people what they deserve, rather than what is simply given as a handout. It speaks about the inherent anger and frustration that arises in a society where basic needs are not being met. The song reflects the dissatisfaction and awareness of the exploitation and oppression of the working class at the time, and the need for them to demand their due rights.


Line by Line Meaning

The lion is weak and ready for his jungle
Society is unstable and in need of change


What is the jungle
Equal rights and justice


And if he doesn't get it
If a person is denied equal rights and justice


He's gon' to take it any way and anyhow
He will resort to any means necessary to obtain it


So you better give up
It is in society's best interest to grant equal rights and justice


We want our piece of the pie
We demand our fair share of resources


Right here, right now
Immediately


They run our fathers up their pole
Those in power oppress and subjugate our ancestors


And try to take their soul
They attempt to strip away their identity and culture


We realize we know the score
We are aware of the injustice and oppression we face


So don't try that no more
We won't stand for it any longer


No tricks, no traps, no lies, no gripes
Deceit, manipulation, and complaints won't deter us


Can't hold us anymore
We won't be oppressed or silenced any longer


We've had enough of jive and bluff
We are tired of empty promises and excuses


We want our share for sure
We demand our fair share of resources


A hungry man is a angry man
Poverty and hunger can lead to unrest and rebellion


I hope you understand
It is important to recognize the impact of poverty and hunger


Because a hand to mouth won't work it out
Living paycheck to paycheck isn't sustainable


Of this there is no doubt
It is an indisputable fact


We want our share, we have no fear
We demand our fair share of resources without intimidation


So you better beware
Those in power should be wary of our demands


A hungry mouth is a angry mouth
Poverty and hunger can lead to unrest and rebellion


Worse without a job, hey
Unemployment exacerbates poverty and hunger


There's one thing we'd like to know
We have a question


Where does the money go
We question the distribution of resources


“Cause some got it, and some drop it
Some people have access to resources while others do not


Well, someone ought to know
The distribution of resources should be transparent and fair


This life as living to offer
Every person has the right to a good life


To every single one
This right extends to every individual


Birds and bees, no woods and trees
Everyone deserves access to basic needs like food and shelter


There is no existence, hey
Without access to basic needs, life is not worth living


Bom dee long dong bom bong bom da ding dong
Nonsensical lyrics


Bom la bom bom bom bom dey
Nonsensical lyrics


Rom bom bom bom ding dong a ring rong a free mon
Nonsensical lyrics


Hey
Exclamation




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY CLIFF

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

TeAhu Adams

The lion is weak and ready for his jungle
What is the jungle
Equal rights and justice
And if he doesn't get it
He's gon' to take it any way and anyhow
So you better give up

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

They run our fathers up their pole
And try to take their soul
We realize we know the score
So don't try that no more

No tricks, no traps, no lies, no gripes
Can't hold us anymore
We've had enough of jive and bluff
We want our share for sure

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

A hungry man is a angry man
I hope you understand
Because a hand to mouth won't work it out
Of this there is no doubt

We want our share, we have no fear
So you better beware
â??Cause a hungry mouth is a angry mouth
Worse without a job, hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie (A seh a seh a seh a so a seh)
Right here, right now (A seh a seh a so oh)

Bom dee long dong bom bong bom da ding dong
Bom la bom bom bom bom dey
Rom bom bom bom ding dong a ring rong a free mon
Bom bom bom bom dey hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now

There's one thing we'd like to know
Where does the money go
â??Cause some got it, and some drop it
Well, someone ought to know

This life as living to offer
To every single one
Birds and bees, no woods and trees
There is no existence, hey

We want our piece of the pie, hey
Right now, right here
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey

Bom dee long dong bom bong bom da ding dong
Bom la bom bom bom bom dey
Da diddle ling ding dong, da diddle ling ding dong
Da dong dong hey

Hey

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now, hey

We want our piece of the pie (A seh a seh a seh a so a seh)
Right here, right now (A seh a seh a so oh)
We want our piece of the pie (A seh a seh a seh a so a seh)
Right here, right now (A seh a seh a so oh oh so)

We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now
We want our piece of the pie
Right here, right now



All comments from YouTube:

Bruno Bastos

“Não tenha limites, viva uma aventura. A adrenalina é melhor quando sentida ao extremo.”🍷🗿

Phil -

Playing REALLY LOUD in my neighborhood here in St. Croix !!!

One of the original Legends Jimmy Cliff they don't make them like this anymore.

Love & Strength to all Jah children in the four corners of the Globe

Edvaldo Arcanjo dos Santos

Jimmy Cliff é top.

jewellers100

I could play the 'Power and the Glory' LP from beginning to end both sides without skipping and then even repeat this time and time again. Never get tired of this LP. I swear I could never do this with any other LP or CD and I own over a 1000 discs. Album of the 80's

chouchou 68

This song
accompanied me during a very great moment of deliverance from my
existence, I had just avoided what would have been the worst moment of
my life, perhaps even the end. Listened and sang very loudly in my car, she was the best anti-depressant. Since then, it has a special place in my heart and my head.

svalerie98

I want to know more I’m curious

svalerie98

Omg get back to me!!! I've already waited 2 years

Carol Alphus

Still enjoying in 2020 love you Jimmy Cliff!!!!

Y Camara

Still LOVE this song

Lucy tchai

RELEMBRO MOMENTOS BOMS DA MINHA VIDA.

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