Much, much more than a deejay, much more than a singer and more than a chanter too Lutan Fyah also plays guitar, keyboards and the kette drum. He holds strong beliefs in originality at all times and so he is a songwriter too and, as the New Millennium has progressed, he has developed his very own idiosyncratic and unique vocal styling. He embraced the Rastafarian religion at the age of sixteen but his songs are not always strictly Rasta. As a "living man with work to do" he ranges over all subjects and everything and anything can inspire him to write, to play, to chant, to sing and to deejay. Preaching to the converted can prove to be a fairly easy task but to take the same message all around the world is a totally different ball game.
Born Anthony Martin in Thompson Pen, Spanish Town in the parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica his formative years were spent in an environment where music was omnipresent. His grandfather ran a Sound System and artists such as Lt. Stitchie, Papa San and Lady G would gather in the family's yard to practise and perfect their skills on the microphone.
"I grew up around a Sound System. Music flows through my bones ..." Lutan Fyah
Music proved to be an incredible influence on young Anthony but sport, and football in particular, proved to be another and he started playing as a midfielder, a position where he excelled, in teams in his local community. He graduated to his school team, St. Andrew Technical High School, and eventually made the grade as a professional in Jamaican Premier League clubs De la Vega and Constant Spring; but the call of music proved too strong to resist and in 1999 he hung up his football boots and took the first steps towards a musical career.
Like so many others before and after Anthony Martin trod that same dispiriting round of Kingston's studios and record producers where he was met with indifference and at times ignorance. However there was a different reception at Mark Myrie's Aksum Studios where the young chanter's promise was immediately recognised and he passed his audition with flying colours. The man now known as Lutan Fyah spent what he terms his 'internship' at Gargamel where he recorded over sixteen songs for Buju Banton while also freelancing for other producers. His debut release was actually for the Crazy Hate label and 'Ambassador' signalled the arrival of a significant new talent in Kingston's musical maelstrom.
The resurgence of the Rastafarian influence and the Bobo Dread phenomenon in reggae music was an indicator of serious times in Jamaica as a new generation of singers and deejays came to the conclusion that the only credible solution to the current malaise was to "love the word of God and thy neighbour as thyself". Others, who shall remain nameless, were not slow to realise that this presented a heaven sent opportunity to jump aboard the bandwagon for a handy ride on the fast track to fame and money. Many futile attempts were made to hitch a ride to stardom and the words of God were readily mouthed by tongues that had previously been wrapped around the more worldly concerns of the dance hall. But artists such as Lutan Fyah were there for the long run for "the race is not to the swift" and his music was at all times driven by his deep beliefs. His devotion to the Rastafarian religion has meant that he has stayed the course while so many pretenders have fallen by the wayside.
Cyaaan Do We Nothing
Lutan Fyah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The valley of the shadow,
Never fear no evil. I (move)
None of them Cyah do we nothing
Me see say them cyah do we nothing cause ah jah ah guide we woah no badmind nuh dey inside we
None of them cyah do we nothing me
Cuz ah jah ah guide we
Selassie i walk beside me
Selassie I dun ah walk wit me everywhere way me go
Ah say i dare not walk by myself in this world where time get so dread
Nah mAke Babylon get to ur head u nah go lef dead ur well protected
None of them Cyah do we nothing
Me see say them cyah do we nothing cause ah jah ah guide we woah no badmind nuh dey inside we
None of them cyah do we nothing me cuz ah jah ah guide we selassie i walk beside me
Carry go bring come news uno wah see me fall them wah see me lose
Cuz I got a with soldiers on the move
Hypocrit ah pray for me park up but we still a improve
Them nuh care bout nobody but jah jah still watch over me
Them heart full ah salt but nah easy push over me
I say peace them sleep an mark death for me the can′t them can't make me fail
None of them Cyah do we nothing
Me see say them cyah do we nothing cause ah jah ah guide we woah no badmind nuh dey inside we none of them cyah do we nothing me cuz ah jah ah guide we selassie i walk beside me
Ayy say jah jah never give us more than what we can feel
That′s why man ah live up uno kno wah way me mean
Then how so much badmind come in ah
Through me draw the line an them hypocrit just cyah run in
I nuh care if them ah d dan fi the scheme notorious politicians soldiers all gangsters police
Say none ah them cyah destroy the me
That's y selassie I kno the seven seal
None of them Cyah do we nothing
Me see say them cyah do we nothing cause ah jah ah guide we woah no badmind nuh dey inside we none of them cyah do we nothing me cuz ah jah ah guide we selassie i walk beside me
Welllll
Chronixx we nuh see them ah them see we
No ah Mus b dem see we so we nah see them ah dem see we
We no see them ah them see we
Say them ah watch we all we business ah spy ah sprinkle them powder an walk with them oil no none of them cant dis king selassie i cuz we nuh fraid of crocodile none of them Cyah do we nothing
Me see say them cyah do we nothing cause ah jah ah guide we woah no badmind nuh dey inside we none of them cyah do we nothing me cuz ah jah ah guide we selassie i walk beside me
The song "Cyaaan Do We Nothing" by Lutan Fyah is an assertion of unflappable faith in God's protection regardless of all the obstacles that come the singer's way. The valley of the shadow of death is a metaphor for any difficult phase in life that may be daunting but easily surmountable. The singer moves forward with a profound sense of confidence imbued by the belief that no one can harm him/her as Jah (God) is guiding his/her steps. The chorus emphasizes this point that they are beyond the reach of attackers since Jah is with them. The persona is not intimidated by those waiting to see him/her fail and is constantly improving. There are also hypocrites pretending to pray for him/her's downfall but cannot succeed since the Almighty is guarding them.
The song advocates that Jah will never make us face anything beyond our capabilities. Thus, the persona is not concerned about the malicious intentions of notorious politicians, gangsters, corrupt police, soldiers, and other negative influences in society. He believes that the hypocrites who pretend to care do so only to plot a scheme against him/her, but since they cannot run counter to Jah's will, they remain powerless.
In summary, Lutan Fyah's "Cyaaan Do We Nothing" is a hymn of faith and confidence in Jah's protection, urging everyone to remain steadfast and believe in Jah's guidance through tough times. This song is likely to inspire people who are struggling with insecurities and self-doubt, reminding them that they are never alone and have a powerful ally by their side.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk through the valley,
I navigate through life's challenges,
The valley of the shadow,
The dark and difficult times,
Never fear no evil. I (move)
I move forward without fear or hesitation,
None of them Cyah do we nothing
No one can harm us,
Me see say them cyah do we nothing cause ah jah ah guide we woah no badmind nuh dey inside we
I understand that we are guided by Jah and free from jealousy or negativity,
Cuz ah jah ah guide we
We are guided by Jah,
Selassie i walk beside me
The spirit of Selassie I is with me,
Rastafari tell say we nah do fraid ah no foe
Rastafari teaches us to have no fear of our enemies,
Selassie I dun ah walk wit me everywhere way me go
The spirit of Selassie I walks with me wherever I go,
Ah say i dare not walk by myself in this world where time get so dread
I cannot navigate this world alone as time can be difficult and frightening,
Nah mAke Babylon get to ur head u nah go lef dead ur well protected
I will not be swayed by Babylon and am well protected,
Carry go bring come news uno wah see me fall them wah see me lose
People want to see me fail or fall,
Cuz I got a with soldiers on the move
I have a team of soldiers always on the move with me,
Hypocrit ah pray for me park up but we still a improve
Hypocrites pray for me to fail but I am still improving,
Them nuh care bout nobody but jah jah still watch over me
They don't care about anyone but Jah still watches over me,
Them heart full ah salt but nah easy push over me
Their hearts are full of jealousy but they won't easily bring me down,
I say peace them sleep an mark death for me the can′t them can't make me fail
I wish them peace but they cannot make me fail or falter,
Ayy say jah jah never give us more than what we can feel
Jah never gives us more than we can handle or bear,
That's why man ah live up uno kno wah way me mean
That's why I am strong and always persevering,
Then how so much badmind come in ah
Why do so many people have jealousy or ill will towards us,
Through me draw the line an them hypocrit just cyah run in
I set boundaries and hypocrites cannot cross them,
I nuh care if them ah d dan fi the scheme notorious politicians soldiers all gangsters police
I don't care about their schemes or the corrupt people in power,
Say none ah them cyah destroy the me
None of them can destroy me,
That's y selassie I kno the seven seal
That is why Selassie I is the key to our salvation,
Chronixx we nuh see them ah them see we
We don't notice them but they are watching us,
No ah Mus b dem see we so we nah see them ah dem see we
Maybe they see something in us that we don't see in them,
Say them ah watch we all we business ah spy ah sprinkle them powder an walk with them oil no none of them cant dis king selassie i cuz we nuh fraid of crocodile none of them Cyah do we nothing
They watch us and try to sabotage us but we are fearless and protected by Selassie I. No one can harm us.
Writer(s): Jamar Mcnaughton, Khabir Adrain Bonner, Fabian Francis, Christopher Mercer, S Lazar, Anthony Litchman Martin
Contributed by Eli H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jimmy Spice Curry
on Money (feat. Lutan Fyah)
Nice song