Having had his first smash while still just a teenager in the mid-80s, Papa San's phenomenal, ongoing reign on international music charts earned him the nickname Marathon Man, as it was not uncommon for him to simultaneously hold down several positions in the Top 10 at any given time, as well as to long runs at No.1 that still no reggae or Dancehall artist to date has surpassed.
In 1994 he filled dance floors around the world with The Programme, which also hit the top of the Billboard dance chart. Smash hits like I Will Survive, Legal Rights, Strange and Maddy Maddy Cry, among many others, brought Papa San a huge audience in all the Caribbean Islands and around the world in Japan, Europe, Africa, the U.S. and more throughout the 80s and 90s. In fact, before giving his life to the Lord and being baptized in the faith in 1997, Papa San was a popular figure in American rap circles, being credited as a pioneer by a host of rap superstars.
Later connecting with fans of American hip-hop, Papa San landed numerous videos in heavy rotation on MTV. More recently, he has made guest appearances and shared stages with Gospel Titans, the likes of Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Trin-t-ee 5:7, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, and BeBe & CeCe Winans.
Raised in Spanish Town, just outside of Jamaica's capital, Kingston, Papa San grew up in an environment where hard work and grinding poverty was the daily norm but fervent revelry ruled the weekends. Spearheaded by any neighborhood resident with charisma and a potent enough sound system, music, dancing and singing prevailed well into the wee hours of Friday and Saturday nights as the sounds of reggae blasted from P.A.s loud enough to be heard and felt for many city blocks. Papa Sans own father manned such a sound system every week dubbed Black Universe and his naturally gifted son soaked up the music like the Caribbean sun. The strains of reggae greats like Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and John Holt were interspersed with a wide range of American pop and rock music, from venerable crooner Nat King Cole to disco diva Donna Summer, all adding additional color to young Papa Sans musical palette. By the age of only 12, he had already begun performing with artists more than twice his age, cultivating his prodigious gifts with words and music, with acclaim beyond his young imagination only a few years away.
God Is Love
Papa San Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God is love
El Shaddai we love You, Jesus Christ of Nazareth
Aye! Check it out yow
listen! Eh!
God is Love
even when my best friends walk away
its gonna be ok
that's why i say;
we have to pray
mountain cau stop me
road block nah block me
annihilate an deflate all principality
dem wah divide us
mek us a mockery
smash them to ground like crockery
God You art with no vacancy
unfruitfulness nah produce no quality
dont be so shallow, slimmery and slippery
never use yo ego to promote yuh jealousy
God is Love
even when my best friends walk away
He's here to stay every night and day
its gonna be ok
that's why i say;
we have to pray
dem cau pull dey grass outta me ground
dem cau be me ecko fu me sound
dem cau swap me smile fi a frown
cause them cau keep ah God man down
an every demon have to run out town
because anything me bind must ha fi bound
watch ya!
tun up me tun up
ah si down me nuh si down
tell di whole world say Jesus ah come
God is Love
even when my best friends walk away
He's here to stay every night and day
its gonna be ok
that's why i say;
we have to pray
listen! aye!
God is Love
even when my best friends walk away
He's here to stay every night and day
its gonna be ok
that's why i say;
we have to pray
mountain cau stop me
road block nah block me
annihilate an deflate all principality
dem wah divide us
mek us a mockery
smash them to ground like crockery
God You art with no vacancy
unfruitfulness nah produce no quality
dont be so shallow, slimmery and slippery
never use yo ego to promote yuh jealousy
God is Love
even when my best friends walk away
He's here to stay every night and day
its gonna be ok
that's why i say;
we have to pray
God is love
God is love
God is love
God is love yea
God is love
The song "God is Love" by Papa San is a gospel song that highlights the importance of faith and prayer. The lyrics emphasize that God's love is unwavering, even when friends leave, and that praying to God is a powerful tool to overcome personal obstacles and spiritual warfare. Papa San also acknowledges that there are people who try to divide and mock believers, but he declares that faith in God is stronger than any obstacle.
The first verse begins with the affirmation that God is love, and no matter what happens in life, that love remains unchanged. The second verse boldly declares that nothing can stand in the way of the believer's faith, not even mountains or a roadblock. Papa San uses metaphorical language to describe the destruction of evil spirits and unfruitfulness, emphasizing the superiority of faith over any worldly measure of success.
In the chorus, Papa San repeats that God's love is eternal, and through prayer, believers can find strength and peace despite challenges. The final repetition of "God is love" solidifies the message of the song, affirming that the essence of God's nature is love.
Line by Line Meaning
God is Love
God's essence is pure love
even when my best friends walk away
Even when my closest friends abandon me
He's here to stay every night and day
God's love is constant and never-ending
its gonna be ok
Everything will be all right
that's why i say;
That's why I emphasize;
we have to pray
We must pray to God for his guidance and blessings
mountain cau stop me
Even if facing insurmountable obstacles,
road block nah block me
Nothing can block my path,
annihilate an deflate all principality
Destroy and deflate all the powers and rulers of darkness
dem wah divide us
Those who seek to divide us
mek us a mockery
Will make us into a laughing stock
smash them to ground like crockery
We will overpower them and crush them like pottery
God You art with no vacancy
God is always available and never occupied
unfruitfulness nah produce no quality
A lack of fruitfulness produces nothing of value
dont be so shallow, slimmery and slippery
Do not be superficial, insincere, or deceitful
never use yo ego to promote yuh jealousy
Never let your ego fuel your jealousy
dem cau pull dey grass outta me ground
They cannot uproot me
dem cau be me ecko fu me sound
They cannot mimic my style
dem cau swap me smile fi a frown
They cannot make me unhappy
cause them cau keep ah God man down
No one can keep a righteous person down
an every demon have to run out town
Every demonic force must flee in the presence of God
because anything me bind must ha fi bound
Whatever I bind on Earth is bound in heaven
tun up me tun up
I will rise up and shine
ah si down me nuh si down
Although I may fall, I won't stay down
tell di whole world say Jesus ah come
Spread the message to the world that Jesus is coming
God is love
God's nature is pure love
God is love yea
God is love indeed
Contributed by Allison T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PraiseAddict03
Amen......God is love....that what love is.....no God no love....for real on the real that's real talk yall. God bless Papa San as he walk in God's perfect will!!
@ace3773
this song is soo smooth, probably the best christian raggae song that i have heard
@johnmajani9690
I have never knoen a friend like God who knows all my weakness yet does not advertise it or even leave me.
@777manxie
from tennessee GOD IS LOVE GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PAPA SAN KEEP DOING A GOOD WORK IN THE LORD I AM GOING TO BUY THIS ALBUM
@ninjaboygaming8423
God is love even my friends walk away they can't take away the love I have for Jesus because worthy to be praised and he's my protector
@alansmlth7989
GLORY! GLORY! GLORY TO KING JESUS NOW & FOREVERMORE!
@marigirassol9071
YESSSSSS💥💥💥
@DAM.......
God is love 😁even when my best friends walk away ... so real and so true .. love this tune cheers Papa 👍
@Endokukukuken
Jesus loves me even when my best friends walk away jesus is my friend forever .jesus love is unconditional to me he never changes..
@staceybernard8407
I sooo love this album papa San real reggae gospel music GOD IS LOVE.