Since then Murvin recorded other albums for Mikey Dread, 1982's Bad Man Possee; Junjo Lawes & the Roots Radics, 1984's Muggers In The Streets and King Jammy, 1986's Apartheid, as well as a string of singles for Joe Gibbs and The Mighty Two. More recently he has released an album of acoustic versions of his songs for Earl Chinna Smith in the Inna de Yard series.
Murvin continued to tour regularly. His most recent released recording was a single entitled "Wise Man", released on the London-based Dubwise record label in 1998. His song "Cool Out Son" was featured on the soundtrack for the video game, Skate 3, which was released in 2010.
For a comprehensive biography, go to: http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/juniorm/juniormu.htm
Polices & Thieves
Junior Murvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah!
Scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street
Oh yeah!
Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition
From Genesis to Revelation
From Genesis to Revelation
The next generation will be hear me
And all the crowd comes in day by day
No one stop it in anyway
And all the peacemaker turn war officer
Hear what I say
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
From Genesis oh yeah
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Scaring, fighting the nation
Shooting, shooting their guns and ammunition
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Here come, here come, here come
The station is bombed
Get out get out get out you people
If you don't wanna get blown up
The song "Police and Thieves" by Junior Murvin is a reggae anthem that highlights the conflict between the police force and the citizens in the streets. The lyrics portray the harsh reality of gun violence that is rampant in society, with both the police and the thieves contributing to the chaos. The first verse sets the tone, "Police and thieves in the streets, scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition, fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition." This lyric depicts how the police force has become just as dangerous as the thieves they are supposed to protect the people from.
The second verse then calls out that the next generation is listening and that the atrocities taking place on the streets will not be forgotten. "From Genesis to Revelation, the next generation will be hearing, and all the peacemaker will be turned to war officers, hear what I say." This is a warning that if the situation doesn't improve, the youth will grow up in a world with a blurred line between law enforcement and crime.
The chorus reiterates the state of fear and chaos, and the last line is a stark reminder of one of the ugliest aspects of conflict: the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. "Here come, here come, here come the station is bombed, get out, get out, get out you people, if you don't wanna get blown up."
Overall, "Police and Thieves" is an insightful and relevant song that captured the tense situation of the streets in the 70s when it was first released. It continues to be relevant in today's world where the relationship between law enforcement and civilians is still often frayed.
Line by Line Meaning
Police and thieves in the streets
Referring to law enforcement and criminals actively engaging in crime in public areas
Scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition
Causing fear among the population through the use of firearms and weaponry
Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition
Engaging in confrontations with the population and using firearms and weaponry as a means of violence
From Genesis to Revelation, the next generation will be hear me
This issue has been present from the beginning of time and will continue to be relevant for future generations
And all the crowd comes in day by day, No one stop it in anyway
Despite being a common occurrence, nobody takes the initiative to stop the violence and crime
And all the peacemaker turn war officer, Hear what I say
Those who were originally meant to keep the peace have become violent and are now acting as war officers
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Repeating the central theme of the song, referencing the continuous cycle of crime and law enforcement
Scaring, fighting the nation, Shooting, shooting their guns and ammunition
Continuing to describe the violent actions of both criminals and law enforcement
Here come, here come, here come, The station is bombed
The situation has escalated to the point where even law enforcement stations are being bombed
Get out get out get out you people, If you don't wanna get blown up
Urging people to evacuate to avoid being harmed in the ongoing violence
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JUNIOR MURVIN, LEE PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dreadINAbabylon
🔇 Chant down 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠
______________________________________
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm)
Mmm-ooh yeah
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
Fightin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah), ooh yeah
Scarin' the nation with their… guns and ammunitions
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) from Genesis… to Revelations, yeah
What the next generation… will be? Hear me
All the crimes committed… day by day
No one try to stop it… in any way
All the peacemakers… turned war-officers
Hear what I say… ha-h-h h-hey-hey hey!
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
Fightin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) scarin' the nation with their… guns and ammunitions
N-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dup dupm dupm doy-dup
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) n-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dupm dupm dupm doy-dup (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) n-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dupm dupm dupm doy-dup (oh yeah)
N-dupdup doy-dup, dupdup doy-dup, dupdup doy-dup, dupdup dupm dupm dupm da-dup, mm-hmm
All the crimes committed… day by day
No one try to stop it… in any way
All the peacemakers… turn a war-officers
Hear what I say… ha-h-h h-hey-hey hey!
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) fightin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) scarin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
Police and thieves… police, police and thieves
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) police and thieves… police, police and thieves (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) n-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dupm dupm dupm doy-dup
dreadINAbabylon
🔇 Chant down 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠
______________________________________
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm)
Mmm-ooh yeah
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
Fightin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah), ooh yeah
Scarin' the nation with their… guns and ammunitions
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) from Genesis… to Revelations, yeah
What the next generation… will be? Hear me
All the crimes committed… day by day
No one try to stop it… in any way
All the peacemakers… turned war-officers
Hear what I say… ha-h-h h-hey-hey hey!
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
Fightin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) scarin' the nation with their… guns and ammunitions
N-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dup dupm dupm doy-dup
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) n-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dupm dupm dupm doy-dup (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) n-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dupm dupm dupm doy-dup (oh yeah)
N-dupdup doy-dup, dupdup doy-dup, dupdup doy-dup, dupdup dupm dupm dupm da-dup, mm-hmm
All the crimes committed… day by day
No one try to stop it… in any way
All the peacemakers… turn a war-officers
Hear what I say… ha-h-h h-hey-hey hey!
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) fightin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street… (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) scarin' the nation with their… guns and ammunition
Police and thieves… police, police and thieves
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) police and thieves… police, police and thieves (oh yeah)
(Mmm-mm-mm-mm) n-dupm-doy, dupm-doy, dupm dupm dupm doy-dup
dreadINAbabylon
☣ 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘅
▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTEudMF2kIU&list=PLLtZj4AWkVV-R8lpzTszq4ZG-lQuMHGYF&index=17
Serigne Cheikh Fall
Gyi9
Random Trips
Uma panka é uma panka
Adiles Ribeiro
Em português essa
dreadINAbabylon
@Adiles Ribeiro Inglês.
Marcus Rotkirch
I was dating a Caribbean English woman once, and she immediately assumed my grasp of reggae was the usual white guy's Bob Marley playlist. When I played her this in the morning she went "how the Hell do you know this track? My mum used to play this in the morning when I was a little girl in pigtails in Notting Hill..." Thanks Joe Strummer and the Clash, for giving me an avenue into good things.
dreadINAbabylon
This track is inspirational generation after generation.
David Beckey
What a voice, what a song! One of the most beautiful protest songs ever.......Obviously The Clash loved it.
dreadINAbabylon
All true--melody, lyrics, rhythm working in complete harmony.