Patrice (Patrice Bart-Williams) is an Afro-German reggae artist. His music … Read Full Bio ↴Patrice (Patrice Bart-Williams) is an Afro-German reggae artist. His music is influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley.
Effortlessly combining folk, reggae, soul and blues, the singer/songwriter/guitarist , Patrice, exploded onto the music scene with his phenomenal testimonial debut Lions E.P in 1999 aged just 18. With the deep lyrical content and social conscience resonating within his work, Patrice alludes to his late father (a Sierra Leonian political activist and poet) and Bob Marley as the greatest influences on his music. Lions, with its tales of love and social rhetoric coupled with raw acoustic production, perfectly showcased Patrices distinctive fusion of lyrics, sounds and genres. After supporting Lauryn Hill on her much acclaimed Miseducation of Tour, Patrice released his critically acclaimed first album Ancient Spirits in 2000 (European sales in excess of 150,000)

Since 2001, Patrice has toured relentlessly and wooed audiences at gigs across Europe, USA and Africa. Whether solo, acoustic or with his band Shashamani, a big combination of humour, B-boy stage antics, and incredible musicianship have thus far made Patrices live shows a highlight of his career. Five years on, his reputation has been cemented with show stopping headline performances alongside Youssouf N'Dour in Senegal, Manu Chao and Damon Albarn at The Festival In The Desert and the Tamika Reggae Awards in New York amongst many others.

His second largely self produced album How Do You Call It (released in Europe September 2002) saw Patrice evolving his sound with a rich melange of Hip Hop, Soul and Reggae which underpinned twelve well crafted songs. Recorded over a two-month period in Jamaica and with 3 tracks produced in London with Cameron McVey, Massive Attack, Youssouf N'Dour, Andu Baraganescu and Neneh Cherry, How Do You Call It further cemented his unique niche in todays diverse musical landscape. The LP also spawned the Pan European hit Sunshine.

Nile, Patrice's third and most current album (named after the river Nile, representing Life in the African continent) is truly a bold undertaking and can be described as a work of astounding maturity, sincerity and sensitivity. Whether rocking to the amped guitar, explosive drums and African percussion behind Africanize Dem or soaking up the beautiful rendition of the obscure Wailers track It Hurts To Be Alone it's clear that experimentation has lent his work an undeniable urgency and freshness. The present single Soulstorm has provided Patrice with another European hit. The majority of 2005 was spent performing to sell out audiences throughout Europe which included his first headlined show for all the UK fans at The Borderline, in London, and perhaps the pinnacle of his career so far, playing in front of the 6,000 fans who filled out the Zenith in Paris. In the summer of 2006 Patrice released a live DVD which gives the audience an exclusive look at how Nile was recorded, rehearsed and performed throughout the world.

No Excuse
Patrice Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus: ]
Them ah chat like them bad, but them don't know what them do. - All of them flex -
Like idiot,- Them must be mad them must be fool.- There's so much them forgot, when
Them type of people there pass - through.-
I just say stupidness is no excuse.- Enough man ah gawn like them are bad man?-
Badman,- But badness nah go pa.- It can pay yout rent in the morning and the
Evening,- But about the end of the day.- Others ah gawn like them are big man - and
Suck out the blood of the poor.- But almighty Jah Jah I see everything,- so there is

No nned to be fake,- cause your - judgement you can't escape.

[chorus ]
Enough sophists and fals prophets,- They try mislead the youth. - Them give them
False knowledge - in a college - to make them brians confused.- Them all ah try fi
Fake the truth.- Jah Jah name, them misuse - But awareness is a must - cause
Stupidness is no excuse.- Injustice, is what them practice.- There are so many false
Pretenders - Them smile inna your face - And behind your back them rip you off.- So
Beware and take care - Of where you stand and who you are - Mind what you take inna
Your system - cause only you can be blamed - for the consequences of your doings -

So people unu fi wake
[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The chorus of Patrice's song No Excuse speaks to a common issue in society - people who talk and act tough but don't really know what they're doing. Patrice criticises these people, calling them fools and warning that their false bravado will not protect them in the end. He also cautions against fake knowledge and false prophets who mislead the youth and take advantage of others. Patrice urges listeners to be aware and responsible for their actions, acknowledging that ignorance is not an excuse for poor behaviour.

The lyrics also reference the importance of righteousness and justice, and the need to be careful of who we associate with and the information we consume. Patrice stresses the value of awareness and taking responsibility for our own actions, rather than making excuses or blaming others. Ultimately, the song encourages listeners to strive for goodness and honesty, while rejecting false pretences and empty bravado.

Line by Line Meaning

Them ah chat like them bad, but them don't know what them do.
They talk as if they are tough, but they really have no idea what they are doing.

Like idiot, Them must be mad them must be fool.
They act foolishly and blindly, they must be insane.

There's so much them forgot, when Them type of people there pass - through.
They forget the important things in life as they pass through it.

I just say stupidness is no excuse.
Being ignorant or foolish is not an acceptable excuse for bad behavior.

Enough man ah gawn like them are bad man?- Badman,
Many men act like they are tough or dangerous.

But badness nah go pa.- It can pay yout rent in the morning and the Evening,
Being bad or criminal may sustain you in the short term, but it is not a sustainable way to live.

But about the end of the day.- Others ah gawn like them are big man - and Suck out the blood of the poor.-
Some people act like they are powerful and exploit the weak or poor to benefit themselves.

But almighty Jah Jah I see everything, so there is No nned to be fake,- cause your - judgement you can't escape.
God sees everything, so there is no need to be fake or put on a facade, as you cannot escape judgment.

Enough sophists and fals prophets,- They try mislead the youth.
There are plenty of people who try to deceive young people through false teachings.

Them give them False knowledge - in a college - to make them brians confused.
They provide false information in educational institutions to confuse people's minds.

Them all ah try fi Fake the truth.- Jah Jah name, them misuse - But awareness is a must - cause Stupidness is no excuse.
They try to twist the truth and misuse the name of God, but it is crucial to be aware and not use ignorance as an excuse.

Injustice, is what them practice.- There are so many false Pretenders - Them smile inna your face - And behind your back them rip you off.
They practice injustice and many are false pretenders who smile to your face but deceive you behind your back.

So Beware and take care - Of where you stand and who you are - Mind what you take inna Your system - cause only you can be blamed - for the consequences of your doings - So people unu fi wake
It is important to be aware of your surroundings and your own actions, as only you are responsible for their consequences. It is time for people to wake up and take care.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KURT NILSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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