“Amplify is a daring record with an overall vision to avoid the rut that North American reggae bands often find themselves unable to climb out of…the sound of a band recreated, retooled and refreshed.” - Exclaim Magazine [Canada]
“JBB is an eight-piece outfit that delivers some of the most forward-thinking reggae music in the world today.” - LA2DAY
“Amplify is some of the most invigorating, progressive reggae released in some time.” - All About Jazz
“Amplify is tight, well-produced and thought-provoking.” - Revue
“Instead of relying on traditional foundations to create their songs, Martin takes the band’s old world foundation and builds a complex and multi-genre crossbreed that places the band squarely on the forefront of the world music arena.” - Sentimentalist Magazine
“Amplify …. fuses Kweli-like beats with Massive Attack funk…Invokes the tripped-up rhythms of Radiohead” - Weekly Dig [Boston]
“…the band’s energy is soaked up and spread out in all the right places, never allowing Amplify to slow down and catch its breath. A heck of an achievement…” - Glide Magazine
“Their stage presence is something to be witnessed. No member goes unnoticed. The bassist moves to his steady beats. A focused drummer‚ bouncing keyboardist‚ and a grooving guitar player make up the colorful background. Adding to all that are three intense horn players moving and grooving up front along with an emotive‚ charismatic lead singer leaving no shortage of visual stimulus onstage.” - State Of Mind
- Popmatters
Invitation
John Brown's Body Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is an invitation
Don't turn your back on the world
Despite the ghosts who're giving you up
Tonight I know we feeling the urge
And I won't be feeding the pain
Don't put your records away
With so much at stake
Chorus
We come now with an invitation
Require your participating
A warning boy you better chase some
So come on
We come now with an invitation
Require your participation
Become one in every way son
Become one
Throw off all the shackles and chains
Be your own invention
Pray for Whenever we break
Cause we move emotion
They run me down and they won't stop
Gunned down another one
Why can't we ever be safe?
Chorus
Please know words of my mouth
It's better to speak your soul
And we cry out in stereo
Not gonna know anymore
We can never be sure
Divided you won't find many people
To Invite you from the cold
So in loving deep
So above
We share this heartbeat
That's who we are
The war will never be waged
Never in our lifetime
On this satellite we rage
And build a better equation
Alarm to bring the brigade
And we begin to break you down
We need your presence today
Won't you come?
Chorus
Become love
The song "Invitation" by John Brown's Body is meant to be a rallying cry for those who feel unheard and marginalized. The first verse speaks directly to those whose voices have been silenced, and encourages them to not give up on the world despite the obstacles they may face. The song then delves into a call for unity and participation, urging listeners to throw off their shackles and become their own invention. The chorus repeats the invitation and requires participation, asking listeners to become one and become love.
The bridge of the song speaks to the power of words and the importance of speaking one's truth, followed by a plea for unity amidst division. The final verse reiterates the importance of being present and not giving up on the fight for change. Overall, "Invitation" is a hopeful and empowering song meant to inspire listeners to take action and come together for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone whose voice can't be heard
This invitation is for those who are often ignored or silenced in society.
This is an invitation
We are inviting you to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
Don't turn your back on the world
Don't give up on making a difference in the world.
Despite the ghosts who're giving you up
Even with the memories and fears that hold you back, we encourage you to move forward.
Tonight I know we feeling the urge
There is a feeling of passion and drive that we all share tonight.
And I won't be feeding the pain
We won't dwell on past hurts or negative emotions.
Don't put your records away
Don't forget the struggles and experiences that have brought you to where you are today.
With so much at stake
There is so much to fight for and protect in this world.
We come now with an invitation
Once again, we invite you to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
Require your participating
We need your involvement and contribution to make a change in the world.
A warning boy you better chase some
A message to those who may be hesitant to join us: don't miss out on the opportunity to make a difference.
So come on
Join us, let's do this together.
Become one in every way son
When we work together, we become more united and effective.
Throw off all the shackles and chains
We need to break free from the things that hold us back and limit us.
Be your own invention
We have the ability to create our own destiny and make our mark on the world.
Pray for Whenever we break
We ask for support and comfort during times of hardship and struggle.
Cause we move emotion
Our actions and words have the power to affect and inspire others.
They run me down and they won't stop
There may be forces opposing us, but we won't give up or back down.
Gunned down another one
We acknowledge the violence and loss that occurs in the world, but we won't let it defeat us.
Why can't we ever be safe?
A question that laments the lack of true safety and security in the world.
Please know words of my mouth
A request for others to truly hear and understand our message.
It's better to speak your soul
We encourage others to be honest and authentic in their expression.
And we cry out in stereo
Together, we raise our voices to be heard more powerfully.
Not gonna know anymore
We won't let ourselves be ignorant or complacent in the face of injustice.
We can never be sure
In a world that is constantly changing, we can't predict what the future holds.
Divided you won't find many people
We need to work together and stay united in order to make an impact and effect change.
To Invite you from the cold
We offer an invitation to be a part of a warm and welcoming community.
So in loving deep
Our actions and efforts are fueled by a deep love for ourselves, others, and the world.
So above
We strive for a higher purpose and a better future.
We share this heartbeat
We are all connected and share a common humanity.
That's who we are
Our identity and purpose are rooted in our love and dedication to making a difference in the world.
The war will never be waged
We reject the idea of constantly being at odds with one another and instead strive for peace and cooperation.
Never in our lifetime
Even if it takes generations, we will work towards a better and more peaceful world.
On this satellite we rage
Our anger and passion for change reaches far and wide, even beyond the boundaries of one country or continent.
And build a better equation
We aim to find new and better solutions to the problems facing our world.
Alarm to bring the brigade
We call upon others to join us in this mission and work towards building a better world.
And we begin to break you down
We challenge the current systems and structures that contribute to injustice and inequality.
We need your presence today
We invite you to join us now and be a part of making a change in the world.
Won't you come?
We extend a final invitation, asking others to come join us on this journey.
Become love
Our ultimate goal and message is to love one another and spread kindness and compassion throughout the world.
Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ivan K
I'm baffled at how little views n subscribers JBB has !! The collection of music u guys have gifted us with is so incredible
Joe Connolly
So good! 'Everyone's voice can be heard.' #JBB
InnerVisionCrystals
love these guys! Looking forward to seeing you live again soon
Greg Smith
JBB is back again! Thank you, gotta get my copy and "T", represent!
alittlestitious88
This one's only for those with ears to hear!
1toRespectReggae
sounds good guys
MisterCrayle
As old as this song is, I still can't figure out the timing of the intro.
GoodTunage
This is what it's all about
Vinci336
a good fan you are.
Aidan R
We come now with a vaccination
Become well by taking medication