Slave Driver
Marley Lyrics

The lyrics of Bob Marley's "Slave Driver" speak of a world that has turned upside down - where the tables have been turned on the oppressors and where they are now being threatened with the same fate they inflicted on others. The title itself is illuminating, as it is an epithet historically used for those who operated slave ships or owned the plantations that relied on slave labor. These individuals are condemned in the song for their inhumane and exploitative actions, which are referenced in lines such as "Every time I hear the crack of a whip, my blood runs cold. I remember on the slave ship how they brutalize the very souls."

As the song progresses, Marley asserts that even though slavery has officially been abolished, its legacy still haunts society, with poverty and illiteracy acting as modern forms of oppression. He states, "Today they say that we are free, only to be chained in poverty. Good God, I think it's illiteracy. It's only a machine that makes money." Thus, Marley urges listeners to be wary of the machinations of a system that perpetuates the exploitation of the laboring classes.

The repeated chorus of "Slave driver, the table is turn, catch your fire" is a scathing indictment of those in positions of power who have ignored the cries of the oppressed, as well as a warning that revolution and resistance are imminent. The phrase "catch your fire" can be read as a call to action for the oppressed to burn down the oppressive structures.