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.
New song
Nasio Fontaine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come down to the rivers, lay down your burden,
Walk away I'm singing a new song, sing a brand new song
Come to mount Zion Jah say, lay down your burdens,
Walk away I'm singing a new song,
(singing a brand new song) sing a brand new song
And yet there comes another hurdle higher than the one before
And I know the road to trod is rough and rugged
Still I know the lion of a Judah is the one who (conquering lion)
Come down to the rivers yeah and lay down your burdens
Walk away I'm singing a new song,
(singing a brand new song) sing a brand new song
Come to mount Zion I say, lay down your burdens,
Cause you've been burdened for much too
long (lay your burdens down by the river)
The journey's tough the road is
steep and there's no rest for weary feet
Yet there comes another stumbling block, greater than the one before
And I know that you've been through so much and too much
Still the harder the battle,
the tougher the fight, the sweeter the victory
Come down to the rivers yeah, lay down your burdens
Walk away I'm singing a new song,
(singing a brand new song) sing a brand new song
Come to mount Zion Jah say, lay down your burdens
Cause you've been burdened for much too
long (burdened for much too long) much too long
Come come come come come to mount Zion, lay down your burdens
Cause in my father's house there is many blessings
In the song "New Song" by Nasio Fontaine, the artist invites every man to come down to the river and lay down their burdens as he sings a new song. Despite the weight of their current struggles, he encourages them to come and let go. He acknowledges that the road ahead may be rough and rugged, with stumbling blocks that only seem to get bigger, but he invokes the lion of Judah as a symbol of strength and overcoming. He urges his listeners to persevere, knowing that the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory. Finally, he directs them to come to mount Zion, where blessings and peace await.
Line by Line Meaning
Every man I say,
I am speaking to every person.
Come down to the rivers, lay down your burden,
Release all of your worries and troubles.
Walk away I'm singing a new song, sing a brand new song
Join me on a new path filled with positivity and hope.
Come to mount Zion Jah say, lay down your burdens,
Seek spiritual comfort in a peaceful place.
Still I know the lion of a Judah is the one who (conquering lion)
Even in the face of hardship, the strength of my faith guides me.
Cause you've been burdened for much too long (lay your burdens down by the river)
Your troubles have been weighing you down for too long, let go of them.
Yet there comes another stumbling block, greater than the one before
Although the journey may be hard, there will be further obstacles to overcome.
Still the harder the battle, the tougher the fight, the sweeter the victory
The greater the struggle, the more rewarding the outcome will be.
Cause in my father's house there is many blessings
Believe that there are blessings awaiting you in a spiritual space.
Writer(s): FONTAINE IGNATIUS NASIO
Contributed by Ian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sms-thedonlegionnairedafri1808
brother nasion fontaine best reggae roots good vibes son of jah
@user-uq9qm7xs3h
Big up rasta
@MaddHatter077
It's the VIBES for ME ❤️💛💚
@MovaMasina
Un plaisir d'écouter cette voix 💗👌🏽🇳🇨
@rasmosiah_theafricanvibesman
This surely a legend, a Jah warrior.❤️💚💛
@armandcindy2679
Goooood vibes🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
@mercymacharia6573
Come to mount Zion!! Positive vibes ❤️💛💚
@TheFatherdan
Hotter than fire
@ambroseqoome765
Anyone seen an incarnation of our father of reggae Bob Marley in Nasio Fontaine in his face appearance and his very voice…wherever you’re ,come home son ! 😢🎉…I’m looking for this artist and any links comes with a reward please 🙏🏽
@chrisart9817
Jah bless brother man