Third World People
Jimmy Cliff Lyrics

Third world people
Addressing the people living in third world countries

Remember where ya' comin' from
Don't forget your roots and origin

Know where you belong
Be aware of your identity and culture

Mother country, mother country
Referring to the idea that colonial powers claimed ownership over the third world countries

We 'ave been told
The common narrative promoted by colonial powers

That it's England, France, Germany, Portugal
These countries were believed to be the origin of the civilization in third world countries

Since the days of old
This false narrative has persisted for centuries

But I know that life could not start in a refrigerator
True civilization did not originate in Europe

Has to be in an incubator
Civilization has roots in Africa, the cradle of humanity

So mark I words, mark these words
Listen carefully to this message

Well, I'n'I could never be the third
Refusing to accept a position of inferiority as dictated by colonial powers

Father country, my father country
Refers to the idea that the third world countries are children of colonial powers

Says America, France, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy or Spain
These are the countries that have claimed ownership of third world countries

But I know that it's hungry Europe, barren Asia and bountiful Africa
True wealth and resources come from Africa, not from Europe or Asia

So you see now, you know who is first
No longer accepting the colonial narrative about inferiority of third world countries

Well, I'n'I could never be the worst
Refusing to accept a position of inferiority and worthlessness

They want to keep you down in perpetual
The colonial powers want to suppress and exploit the people of third world countries

Insecurity, ignorance and poverty
By creating these conditions, the colonial powers maintain control over the people

By keeping the pressure on the innocent ones
Oppressing and exploiting the ones who are harmed the most by the conditions they created

Continually, this can't go on
Refusing to accept continued oppression and exploitation

I'n'I remember where ya' comin' from
Repeating the message of not forgetting one's roots and origin

Bona fide, dis third world people
Referring to the true and authentic third world countries and people

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Repeating the chorus

Civilization did not go up the Nile
Referring to the fact that ancient Egyptian civilization emerged in Africa

It went down the Nile
And eventually spread to other parts of the world

And it reached Europe last
Rejecting the idea of Europe being the birthplace of civilization

So if you not 'ave the roots
Without knowing and acknowledging one's roots and origin

You just can't know the
One cannot truly understand

Just can't know the truth, now
The truth about one's identity, culture, and history

Africa, my country, my land
Declaring Africa as the true motherland of the people in third world countries

Africa, where the plants come from, I love to be
Acknowledging the rich biodiversity of Africa and the joy of being connected to it

Africa, our wonderful Africa
Appreciating the beauty, culture, and identity of Africa

Where the gold comes from
Pointing out the wealth that comes from Africa

The diamonds come from
Highlighting the valuable resources that come from Africa

The platinum, the lignum, the oil
Enumerating the rich resources that come from Africa

The rubber, ya' name it
Listing the various other resources that come from Africa

We got it, we got it, we got it, we got it
Proudly claiming the richness and abundance of Africa

Ooh, ooh, ooh
Repeating the chorus