Nasio was the youngest of seven children born to a Carib Indian mother and father of African descent, in the village of Carte-Bois, Dominica. The family lived in a one room wooden country house without running water or electricity. Before heading off to school, Nasio and his brothers and sisters walked miles to the Gwiyo River to fetch fresh water for the household.
When he was eight years old, Nasio began singing in the Bagatelle school and the village Catholic church. Nasio had a habit of making instruments out of everything he could find. "My Dad, Atto, made my very first instrument, a piece of board with fishing lines for strings; it meant everything to me." According to the village residents, Nasio was often the highlight of the annual school talent shows, and "a blessing to listen to".
Nasio’s musical inspiration comes from Rastafari but on the earthly plane, reggae greats such as Culture’s Joseph Hill, Burning Spear, Jacob Miller and of course Bob Marley. He is also influenced by Marvin Gaye, the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, and Dominican Cadence music, like Chubby and the Midnight Groovers. He is very focused on what his music is saying, the message he wants to portray.
In the mid-1980s, Nasio moved from Dominica to the hustle and bustle of the island of St. Maarten where he recorded his first 12" single Born to Be Free (1986) and EP Babylon is Falling (1990). His first full length CD Reggae Power (1994) was followed by Wolf Catcher (1997) and Revolution (1999). He soon became a sensation by the power of the music and word of mouth alone.
Lovers of reggae music throughout the world know Nasio’s name, his voice and his conscious lyrics. He speaks of revolution, of waking up the sleeping consciousness of oppressed and freedom loving people across the Earth. In his own words, “the music is important; I want my music to be my contribution to the people of the world.” The world of Reggae and indeed the world of music needs a new voice, get ready to be "Living in the Positive" with Nasio Fontaine.
Black Tuesday
Nasio Fontaine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is blood on your land
Thieves and murderes, yeah
Prrrap-a-dup, da-pa-dup-u-dey
1: Blood aflow from mountains
Right down to the sea
From Capuchin to Scott's Head
Lord it's police brutality, yes, yeah
Police a shoot at will
Rasta is the victim, well
They shooting to kill
For their dread act deal
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh, Lord oh Lord
2: Mothers are weeping
Because their sons are dead
We never fired the bullets, ohh no
Now we are dying
We never started the fire, ohh no no
Now we are burning
Do you, do you, do you yeah, yeah
Do you remember, yeah, yeah
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Bridge: Lord oh Lord, oh Lord
Do you remember, Do you remember?
Do you remember, Lord, do you remember?
You killed some brothers inna Portsmouth
You killed some brothers inna Delices
You murdered brothers on the west coast
South city man them you brutalize
Rastaman them you brutalize, ahhww
I remember
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remeber
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh Lord oh Lord
By pertex manu
The song "Black Tuesday" by Nasio Fontaine is a powerful commentary on police brutality and violence against Rastafarians in Dominica in the 1980s. The song begins with the line "there is blood on your land", setting the tone for a song that is both mournful and angry. The chorus asks the listener if they remember the events that occurred on "Black Tuesday" and "Black Friday," and it's clear that the artist wants these events to be remembered and never forgotten.
The first verse of the song describes how blood flows from the mountains to the sea, a metaphor for the violence and brutality that is spreading across the country. The line "Rasta is the victim, well, they shooting to kill" shows that the violence is directed specifically at the Rastafarian community. The artist is asking us to remember the events of "Black Tuesday" and "Black Friday" and to understand that this was an act of police brutality and violence against a marginalized community.
The second verse of the song is even more forceful, describing how mothers are weeping because their sons are dead. The artist wants us to understand that the violence is not just directed at individuals, but is tearing entire families apart. The bridge of the song lists the names of places where the violence occurred and the communities that were affected.
Overall, "Black Tuesday" is a powerful protest song that speaks to the ongoing struggles for justice and equality in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood aflow from mountains
Right down to the sea
From Capuchin to Scott's Head
Lord it's police brutality, yes, yeah
Well the devil gave the order
Police a shoot at will
Rasta is the victim, well
They shooting to kill
For their dread act deal
The land is stained with blood, flowing from the mountains to the sea, due to the brutal actions of police from Capuchin to Scott's Head. The devil has given the order to shoot at will, with Rastafarians as frequent victims. The police are acting out of fear and prejudice.
Mothers are weeping
Because their sons are dead
We never fired the bullets, ohh no
Now we are dying
We never started the fire, ohh no no
Now we are burning
Mothers grieve for their sons who were killed by police, even though the victims never posed any threat. The violence is spiraling out of control, and innocent people are caught in the crossfire. The Rastafarian community is now suffering the consequences of the police's actions.
You killed some brothers inna Portsmouth
You killed some brothers inna Delices
You murdered brothers on the west coast
South city man them you brutalize
Rastaman them you brutalize, ahhww
The police have been responsible for killing and brutalizing members of the community in various locations, including Portsmouth, Delices, and the west coast. The violence is not limited to any one group and has affected a wide range of people.
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
The chorus of the song repeats the question 'Do you remember black Tuesday?' and 'black Friday', highlighting the significance of the police violence that occurred on those days. The singer hopes that people will not forget the traumatic events that took place.
Contributed by Jacob O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mwikadominic2476
Lyrics
Whittikubuti
There is blood on your land
Thieves and murderes, yeah
Prrrap-a-dup, da-pa-dup-u-dey
1: Blood aflow from mountains
Right down to the sea
From Capuchin to Scott's Head
Lord it's police brutality, yes, yeah
Well the devil gave the order
Police a shoot at will
Rasta is the victim, well
They shooting to kill
For their dread act deal
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh, Lord oh Lord
2: Mothers are weeping
Because their sons are dead
We never fired the bullets, ohh no
Now we are dying
We never started the fire, ohh no no
Now we are burning
Do you, do you, do you yeah, yeah
Do you remember, yeah, yeah
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Bridge: Lord oh Lord, oh Lord
Do you remember, Do you remember?
Do you remember, Lord, do you remember?
You killed some brothers inna Portsmouth
You killed some brothers inna Delices
You murdered brothers on the west coast
South city man them you brutalize
Rastaman them you brutalize, ahhww
I remember
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remeber
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh Lord oh Lord
By pertex manu
Source: Musixmatch
@sportsjunkie1497
Heres the lyric
There is blood on your land
Thieves and murderes, yeah
Prrrap-a-dup, da-pa-dup-u-dey
1: Blood aflow from mountains
Right down to the sea
From Capuchin to Scott's Head
Lord it's police brutality, yes, yeah
Well the devil gave the order
Police a shoot at will
Rasta is the victim, well
They shooting to kill
For their dread act deal
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh, Lord oh Lord
2: Mothers are weeping
Because their sons are dead
“Do you remember black Tuesday?— Nasio Fontaine
Now we are dying
We never started the fire, ohh no no
Now we are burning
Do you, do you, do you yeah, yeah
Do you remember, yeah, yeah
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Bridge: Lord oh Lord, oh Lord
Do you remember, Do you remember?
Do you remember, Lord, do you remember?
You killed some brothers inna Portsmouth
You killed some brothers inna Delices
You murdered brothers on the west coast
South city man them you brutalize
Rastaman them you brutalize, ahhww
I remember
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remeber
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh Lord oh Lord
@marcussmith3416
There is blood on your land
Thieves and murderes, yeah
Prrrap-a-dup, da-pa-dup-u-dey
Verse 1: Blood aflow from mountains
Right down to the sea
From Capuchin to Scott's Head
Lord it's police brutality, yes, yeah
Well the devil gave the order
Police a shoot at will
Rasta is the victim, well
They shooting to kill
For their dread act deal
Chorus: Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh, Lord oh Lord
Verse 2: Mothers are weeping
Because their sons are dead
We never fired the bullets, ohh no
Now we are dying
We never started the fire, ohh no no
Now we are burning
Do you, do you, do you yeah, yeah
Do you remember, yeah, yeah
Chorus: Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember
Do you remember black Friday?
Bridge: Lord oh Lord, oh Lord
Do you remember, Do you remember?
Do you remember, Lord, do you remember?
You killed some brothers inna Portsmouth
You killed some brothers inna Delices
You murdered brothers on the west coast
South city man them you brutalize
Rastaman them you brutalize, ahhww
I remember
Chorus: Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remeber
Do you remember black Friday?
Do you remember?
Do you remember black Tuesday?
Said I hope you remember, yes
Do you remember black Friday?
Lord oh Lord oh Lord
@makhanu91
LEGENDARY STATUS! Yees we remember BLACK Tuesday and Friday. Curse to all who do wrong to Jah Children. Mapenzi telee from Nairobi Kenya. [2k19] 🔥🇰🇪🖤
@samsonmuraga565
Bless👊
@misspowers1499
Barikiwa
@tiolugamer4058
Brasil 2023❤🎉
@lassanetiemtore7029
Big respect. Nice voice. ❤❤❤ from Burkina Faso 🇧🇫
@real2d842
This is why reggae never dies!!!!!!! A reggae message lives forever
@MuthoniKaronji
❤
@moureenmbuu0169
Best reggae music ever....Kenya we are locked in
@tenixionmsolin221
Love this all time Benah from Kiambu
@jimmyokwach2414
@@tenixionmsolin221 ..Jah bless Rastah