Joe Higgs (June 3, 1940 – December 18, 1999) was a reggae musician from Jam… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Higgs (June 3, 1940 – December 18, 1999) was a reggae musician from Jamaica. In the 1960s he was part of the duo Higgs and Wilson together with Roy Wilson.

Higgs knew Bob Marley from the early 1960s. In fact, Marley acknowledged later on that he had been an influential figure for him. Most people interested in classical reggae do not recognize his name, however Higgs has been regarded as the "Father of Reggae' by Jimmy Cliff. For a while Higgs toured with Cliff as well as The Wailers when Bunny Wailer refused to go on the tour in mid 1970s while The Wailers were having disputes.

A majority of Higgs' songs were connected to his impoverished life in Trenchtown where he grew up. Higgs considered that it was out of the poverty and violence of Kingston's shantytowns such as Trenchtown and Johnstown that the reggae music had grown. Before reggae hit big on the western music scene with Bob Marley, it was understood as a "ghetto music". Higgs was the very first artist out the ghetto music scene to have lyrics which primarily dealt with every day troubles.

Higgs died of throat cancer on 18 Dec' 1999.

Small Axe
Joe Higgs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why boasteth thyself
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever?
I said, you're working iniquity
To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth forever

So if you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down

These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it (fall in it)

If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe, sharp and ready
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down

(to cut you down)
(to cut you down)
These are the words
Of my master, tellin' me that
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, uh, bury in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, uh (bury in it)

If you are the big, big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
If you are the big, big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)

To cut you down
Sharpened

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joe Higgs's song Small Axe are a piece of social and political commentary. The song tackles the issue of power dynamics between the oppressor and the oppressed. The opening lines "Why boasteth thyself, oh evil men, playing smart and not being clever?" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The song calls out those in power who use their position to achieve vanity through working iniquity. The goodness of Jah, Jah (Jah is an abbreviation for Jehovah, a biblical name for God) is the force that endures forever.

The song metaphorically explores the power dynamics with the imagery of a big tree and small axe. The big tree represents those in power, while the small axe represents the oppressed. The lyrics state that if you are the big tree, we are the small axe, ready to cut you down. The small axe represents the determination and willingness of the oppressed to fight back against those in power. The song suggests that whosoever diggeth a pit shall fall in it, meaning that those who plan or scheme to harm others will inevitably face the consequences of their actions.

Line by Line Meaning

Why boasteth thyself
Sharpened and precise, we'll bring you to your knees,

Oh, evil men
For you, wicked one, think you are smart,

Playing smart
But true intelligence you do not possess,

And not being clever?
Working to achieve selfish goals,

I said, you're working iniquity
Working to achieve selfish goals,

To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
Working to achieve selfish goals,

But the goodness of Jah, Jah
But the goodness and righteousness of Jah, Jah,

I-dureth forever
It will endure forever,

If you are the big tree
If you are the mighty and towering tree,

We are the small axe
We are the small but powerful axe,

Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
And we are ready to cut you down,

These are the words
These are the words of my wise master,

Of my master, keep on tellin' me
Who teaches me that no weak heart will thrive,

No weak heart
No weak heart will thrive,

Shall prosper
Will thrive,

And whosoever diggeth a pit
And those who plot and scheme will face their own demise,

Shall fall in it, fall in it
For whoever digs a hole for another to fall,

Shall fall in it (fall in it)
They, too, will fall into the same pit,

Shall bury in it, uh (bury in it)
They, too, will fall into the same pit,

If you are the big, big tree, let me tell you that
If you are the great tree of arrogance and hate,

Sharpened and precise, we'll bring you to your knees,
Beware, for we are the small but determined axe,

For you, wicked one, think you are smart,
And we will cut you down with precision and skill.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB MARLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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