Stealin'
Max Romeo & The Upsetters Lyrics
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Stealing, stealing.
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
My father's house of worship,
Has become a den of thieves;
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
And set our teeth on edge;
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
Strike the hammer of justice,
And set my people free,
Strike the hammer of justice,
Or let my people be.
They tell us of a heaven,
Where milk and honey flow;
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
They said this place called heaven;
The rich man cannot go.
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
Yet the reverend drives a fancy car,
Buys everything tax-free,
The people have to sacrifice;
To give in charity.
My father's house of worship,
Has become a den of thieves;
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
Stealing, stealing, stealing,
Stealing, stealing.
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
Stealing, stealing, stealing,
Stealing, stealing.
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
The lyrics to Max Romeo & The Upsetters' song "Stealin'" address corruption within organized religion. The song presents a critique of the church as a space where leaders abuse their power and take advantage of their congregation for their own gain, all while invoking the name of God. The repeated phrase "Stealing in the name of the Lord" highlights the hypocrisy of such leaders, who use religion as a cover for their immoral behavior.
The opening lines set the stage by introducing the singer's father's house of worship as an institution that has been corrupted by thieves. The imagery of sour grapes suggests that those in charge have offered false promises of nourishment and satisfaction, only to disappoint and even harm those they are meant to serve. This section of the song lays out the problem, painting a picture of leaders who take advantage of their power and in doing so prioritize their own interests over those of their congregation.
The following stanza uses vivid language to call for action, with the "hammer of justice" acting as a tool for liberation. The second half of the song includes a condemnation of the church's teachings about heaven, which are presented as both exclusionary and hypocritical. The preacher who takes advantage of the poor is the same person who denies them access to paradise. The final lines of the song repeat the phrase "Stealing in the name of the Lord," calling attention to the pervasive corruption that exists within the church.
Overall, "Stealin'" is a rallying cry for justice and accountability within religious institutions. The song takes a strong stance against those who use God's name to justify exploitation and calls for a return to the true values of faith and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Stealing, stealing, stealing,
Repeating the act of stealing, insinuating that it's happening constantly.
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
Committing theft with the protection of religion and belief as a means to justify the action.
My father's house of worship,
Referring to a specific church or religious organization.
Has become a den of thieves;
The church has become a place where thieves come to tak advantage of believers.
They fed our mothers with sour grapes,
The thieves have disappointed us, making us feel unhappy about their actions.
And set our teeth on edge;
As if the thieves have worsened the problem and made it unbearable.
Strike the hammer of justice,
Call upon a force, agency, or authority to punish the thieves.
And set my people free,
Free them from the thieves and oppression given to them by the thieves.
Or let my people be.
If freedom is not an option, then let the people be as they are and not cause them harm.
They tell us of a heaven,
The preachers tell us about heaven.
Where milk and honey flow;
A symbol of prosperity and paradise.
They said this place called heaven;
Reiterating what the preacher had said before.
The rich man cannot go.
Despite the belief in heaven, the thieves (the rich men) have no place in this place of paradise.
Yet the reverend drives a fancy car,
Questioning the double standards of the preacher.
Buys everything tax-free,
The preacher has tax exemptions and buy things without paying taxes, which is unfair.
The people have to sacrifice;
The people devote their time, resources, and money to support the church and the preacher.
To give in charity.
The act of giving is mandatory and is seen as a virtuous act or duty.
Stealing, stealing, stealing,
Repeating the act of stealing, insinuating that it's happening constantly.
Stealing, stealing.
Continuing to commit thefts.
Stealing in the name of the Lord.
Using faith and religion to excuse and justify their actions.
Contributed by Thomas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.