Around the same time, Bob Marley was beginning to rebound from his split with Peter Tosh and Bunny "Wailer" Livingston. During a visit to the home of reggae producer Lee Perry in Cardiff Crescent in the Washington Gardens section of Jamaica, it was suggested that Marley incorporate the I'Threes into his performances. After singing harmony on Marley's song "Jah Live" and album Natty Dread, the I-Threes performed their first concert with him as the opening act for the Jackson Five in spring 1975. The I-Threes continued to work with Marley until his death in May 1981. Five years later, Mowatt and the I-Threes toured in a package show that featured musicians from Marley's band the Wailers and introduced Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers to North American audiences. A member of the Rastafarian group the Twelve Tribes of Israel, Mowatt recalled her fascination with Marley during an early-'90s interview. "I had gotten to realize in reading my Bible that this man (Marley) was really Joseph in his second advent. I saw in the man that this time he came not only with the physical corn to feed his people but he came with the spiritual corn, which was the message that transcended to the four corners of the world." In addition to her work with Marley and Ithe 'Threes, Mowatt continued to pursue a solo career. Her album, Black Woman, released in 1977, was the first to be recorded at Marley's ~Tuff Gong studios.
Down In The Valley
Judy Mowatt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into my Father's land
We′ve been down in the valley much too long
And we never get to wearier
Say we've been down in the valley much too long
And we never get to wearier
Singin' Lord Jah, Ethiopia
We gone away from Zion
Into this strange land
Say they kill Lumbamba for his own land
But they couldn′t kill the Rastaman
Say they kill Lumbamba for his own land
But they couldn′t kill the Rastaman
Singin' Lord Jah, Ethiopia
Lord Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah HalleluJah
(.)
Lord Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah, HalleluJah
Lord Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah, HalleluJah
Ethiopia, Jah Jah
HalleluJah, Jah Jah
Ethiopia, Jah Jah
HalleluJah, Jah Jah
Ethiopia, Jah Jah
HalleluJah, Jah Jah.
Judy Mowatt's song "Down in the Valley" is a powerful statement of liberation and freedom, set against the backdrop of the struggle of the Rastafari movement to escape the oppression and injustices of Babylon. The song speaks of leaving Babylon, a reference to the corrupt and unjust systems of the world, and returning to Zion, the spiritual homeland of the Rasta community. The spiritual journey is also a physical one, as the lyrics talk about leaving Babylon and going into their Father's land. The journey represents a journey of self-discovery, where the Rasta community must embrace their heritage, culture and history to reclaim their true identity and find their place in the world.
The song also contains references to the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the Congolese independence leader, who was killed for his efforts to fight colonialism and imperialism. The lyrics acknowledge the violence and oppression that has been inflicted upon the Rastafari community, but at the same time, the song takes a defiant tone, stating that they may kill those who fight for justice, but they cannot kill the Rastafarians' spirit and determination.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggles of the oppressed to find their place and reclaim their identity, while also paying tribute to the many who have died in the struggle for justice.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gone to leave from Babylon
I am leaving the corrupt and oppressive society of Babylon.
Into my Father's land
I am returning to the promised land of my ancestors.
We've been down in the valley much too long
We have suffered and struggled for far too long.
And we never get to wearier
And we never tire of the fight for justice and freedom.
Say we've been down in the valley much too long
We acknowledge that we have endured hardship for an extended period of time.
Singin' Lord Jah, Ethiopia
We call upon the divine power of Jah to deliver us to Ethiopia, the symbolic promised land.
Lord Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah, Hallelujah
We worship and praise the almighty Jah for his compassion and mercy.
We gone away from Zion
We have been forced to leave our homeland of Zion due to oppression and persecution.
Into this strange land
We have been forced to live in a foreign and unfamiliar land.
Say they kill Lumbamba for his own land
They killed Patrice Lumumba, a leader who fought for his own people's rights and land.
But they couldn't kill the Rastaman
They could not kill the spirit of resistance and hope embodied by the Rastafarian people.
Lord Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah, Hallelujah
We continue to worship and praise Jah even in the face of danger and hardship.
Ethiopia, Jah Jah
Our hearts and minds are focused on the spiritual and cultural center of Ethiopia and the divine Jah.
Hallelujah, Jah Jah
We continue to sing praises to Jah even in difficult times.
Ethiopia, Jah Jah
We continue to hold Ethiopia and Jah in high esteem as symbols of hope and salvation.
Hallelujah, Jah Jah
We continue to express our joy and gratitude to Jah through our music and singing.
Ethiopia, Jah Jah
We remain steadfast in our faith in Ethiopia and Jah as sources of inspiration and liberation.
Hallelujah, Jah Jah
We express our unyielding devotion and loyalty to Jah through our music.
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Stella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.