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Lucky Dube (born August 3, 1964, died October 18, 2007) was a reggae musician from Johannesburg, South Africa. He was named Lucky because when he was born in poor health, and the doctors thought he would die. But he survived, so was named Lucky. In his youth, Lucky lived with many different family members, singing in bars and in church. He eventually formed a band with some friends, but they could not afford to purchase instruments. Eventually, Lucky wrote a play which he and his bandmates performed, earning enough money to buy a guitar. Their band was then called Skyway, and they played in the mbaqanga style.
Two years after Skyway's formation, Lucky joined Richard Siluma's Love Brothers. He stayed with them for several years, before switching to reggae in the early 1980s. His first major success in that field came at the influential Sunsplash festival in Jamaica.
Lucky's "Together as One" was the first song by a black artist to be played on a white radio station in South Africa. His two most popular albums, Prisoner and Slave, are among the most renowned and best-selling in South Africa's history. One of Lucky's favourite singers was the late Peter Tosh.
On the 18th of October 2007, Lucky was shot dead in an attempted car jacking in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Discography
Rastas Never Dies
Think About The Children
(The Above Two available on 2on1 - Lucky Dube Rastas Never Dies/Think About The Children (2000))
Slave (1989)
Prisoner (1990)
Together as one (1992)
House of exile (1992)
Captured Live (1993)
Victims (1993)
Trinity (1995)
Serious reggae business (1996)
Taxman (1997)
The Way It Is (1999)
The Rough Guide To Lucky Dube (2001)
Soul Taker (2001)
The other side (2005)
Respect (2006)
Reap What You Sow
Lucky Dube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So bitterly
Trying to get people to help you yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
But nobody will
Your son was brutalizing's people every time
But you said nothing
Now is the time to pay the price
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
Coming back home with stolen things
Instead of telling him how wrong he was
You told him how clever he was
People coming out of burning houses
It's your son
Driving stolen cars every time (It's your son)
But you said nothing
But now he's turned against you
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
Everybody knows
No jail can keep him
Cause you rubbing shoulders with the law
But now it's time you pay the price
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
You gonna reap just what you sow
The song Reap What You Sow by Lucky Dube is a powerful critique of irresponsible parenting and the idea of accountability. The song opens up with the image of a person crying out for help but receiving no response from those around them. In the following lines, we learn that this person is actually the parent of a son who has been violent towards other people. Despite knowing about his son's behavior, the parent chose to remain silent and not hold their son accountable for their actions.
As the song progresses, we see how the parent's irresponsible parenting has led to their son becoming more and more reckless, eventually turning against them. The chorus of the song acts as a warning to the parent - they will reap what they sow, and face the consequences of their actions. It's a powerful call to all parents to take responsibility for the behavior of their children, and to help them grow into productive and responsible members of society.
Overall, Reap What You Sow is a poignant and thought-provoking song that urges listeners to reflect on their own actions and their impact on those around them. With its strong message and emotive lyrics, it remains one of Lucky Dube's most powerful and enduring songs.
Line by Line Meaning
We hear you crying
The person is in distress and seeking help
So bitterly
Their pain is intense and overwhelming
Trying to get people to help you yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
They are desperately seeking assistance from others
But nobody will
Despite their best efforts, they are not receiving aid from others
Your son was brutalizing's people every time
The person's son was causing harm to others repeatedly
But you said nothing
The person failed to take action to stop their son's harmful behavior
Now is the time to pay the price
The person is facing consequences for their inaction
It's time to pay yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
They must face the results of their actions
You gonna reap just what you sow
They will experience the consequences of their choices
Coming back home with stolen things
The person's son has been committing theft
Instead of telling him how wrong he was
The person chose to praise their son's actions
You told him how clever he was
The person encouraged their son's behavior rather than correcting it
People coming out of burning houses
The person's son is causing serious harm to others
It's your son
The person's child is responsible for the harm being done
Driving stolen cars every time (It's your son)
The person's son is engaging in criminal activity repeatedly
But you said nothing
The person has failed to take action to prevent their child's criminal activity
But now he's turned against you
The person's son has become an enemy and is causing them harm
Everybody knows
Others are aware of the person's situation and their son's harmful behavior
No jail can keep him
The person's son is able to avoid punishment for his actions
Cause you rubbing shoulders with the law
The person has connections with the legal system and is able to protect their son
But now it's time you pay the price
The person is now facing the consequences of their actions and their son's behavior
You gonna reap just what you sow
They will experience the results of their choices
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUCKY PHILLIP DUBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hebronmwagodi3671
Here are the lyrics,,, pregnant with meaning....
"Reap What You Sow"
We hear you crying
So bitterly
Trying to get people to help you ye ye
But nobody will
Your son was brutalizing people everytime.
But you said nothing
Now it's the time to pay the price
It's time to pay ye ye ye ye
[Chorus:]
You gonna reap just what you sow [x4]
Coming back home
With stolen things
Instead of telling him
How wrong he was
You told him how clever he was
People coming out of burning houses
It's your son Driving stolen cars every time
It's your son,
But you said nothing
But now he's turning against you
[Chorus:]
You gonna reap just what you sow [x3]
Everybody knows
No jail can keep him
'Cause you rubbing shoulders with the law
But now it's time to pay the price wo... woh
[Chorus: till fade]
You gonna reap just what you sow
@truly821
It pain me when people who don't know about music don't rate LUCKY DUBE in top three in best reggae musician in the WORLD because he is from Africa, I'm a musician you can not boast to compare with LUCKY DUBE, because of his voice, messages, and instrumentals.
@kondwanichitseko5700
True
@dev2k3
And they put these artists who produce rubbish, on the top charts. Lucky Dube deserves some top respect on his name and contribution to music!!
@earthsign6305
I'm back here in 2023. Rest in Power lucky dube.
@catherinemakinishi1410
He was a good man, and best reggae artist in Africa, you shall always remember him
@sounboy4498
Lucky Dube we love your music 🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨
@zebronmontford2472
No raggae artist surpasses LUCKY both Lyrics and beat... each time i listen to LUCKY it makes me keep pushing harder than before and get prepared to face obstacles in the way. its more than a dacade bt our HEARTS are still bleeding, ilove this track,.....its the BEST to be precise
@martinjames2289
Indeed no reggae singer would ever try him
@oladipupodurotimi4754
Loved this song so much. You gonna reap what you sow that's true. Rip rastafari
@maimonesmon4662
Just a wonderful song to hear from Lucky Dube