"Burial"
Peter Tosh Lyrics


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Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general

Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general

What a big disgrace
The way you rob up the place
Rob everthing you can find
Yes you did
And you'll even rob from the blind

You must see want I fe
Com'a com'a funeral
And I no, no go
No one burial
Yet you want I
Com'a com'a funeral
Make your friend come claim say
You are the genie

Now we know the truth
Yes we do
Find you wearing the boot
Of taking people's business on your head, yeah
So might as well you be dead

Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general

Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general

Let the dead bury the dead now
And who is to be fed, be fed
I ain't got no time to waste on you, no, no
I'm a livin' man, I got work to do
Right now

This man and that man
Yes they are the same man
You taught us this just as well
That the rich man heaven is the poor man's hell
You must see want I fe com'a com'a funeral
Natty no go, no one burial
Yet you want I
Com'a com'a funeral
Make your friend come claim say
You are the genie

Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral




Them claim say
Them claim say

Overall Meaning

The song "Burial" by Peter Tosh is a powerful social commentary on corruption and injustice in society. Tosh speaks out against those who want him to participate in their own funeral, claiming to be the ones in charge and in control, when in reality they are only causing chaos and destruction. Tosh refers to these people as "the general," mocking their authority and control. The chorus repeats the idea that they want him to attend their funeral, while claiming to be in charge, but Tosh refuses to participate in their corrupt system. He calls it a big disgrace, and speaks directly to those who rob and steal from others, including the blind. Tosh knows the truth about their corruption and is not fooled by their attempts to control him.


Tosh highlights the irony that in society, the rich man's heaven is the poor man's hell. In his eyes, these corrupt individuals who claim to be in control are actually causing chaos and destruction. Tosh sings of a better way, one where the dead should be left to bury the dead, and the living should focus on building a better future. He ends the song proclaiming that he is a living man with work to do, and that he has no time to waste on those corrupt individuals who try to control him.


Overall, "Burial" is a powerful social commentary on the injustice and corruption present in society. Tosh refuses to participate in their corrupt system and calls for a better future where people work together to build a better society.


Line by Line Meaning

Them want I
They desire my presence


Them want I
They desire my presence


Be com'a them funeral
To attend their funeral


Them claim say
They claim that


Them claim say
They claim that


Them are the general
They are in charge


What a big disgrace
It is shameful


The way you rob up the place
The manner in which you steal everything


Rob everthing you can find
Steal everything that you encounter


Yes you did
That is what you did


And you'll even rob from the blind
You will steal from the blind as well


You must see want I fe
You are requesting me to attend


Com'a com'a funeral
To come to your funeral


And I no, no go
But I will not go


No one burial
I will not attend any funeral


Yet you want I
But you want me to


Com'a com'a funeral
To come to your funeral


Make your friend come claim say
Make your friend say that


You are the genie
You are in charge


Now we know the truth
Now we understand the reality


Find you wearing the boot
We see you wearing stolen goods


Of taking people's business on your head, yeah
Of stealing people's possessions for yourself


So might as well you be dead
You should be dead


Let the dead bury the dead now
Let the deceased take care of the deceased now


And who is to be fed, be fed
Whoever should be nourished, be nourished


I ain't got no time to waste on you, no, no
I don't have time to waste on you


I'm a livin' man, I got work to do
I'm alive and have work to do


Right now
Immediately


This man and that man
One man and another


Yes they are the same man
They are identical


You taught us this just as well
You told us the same thing


That the rich man heaven is the poor man's hell
That what is heaven for the rich is hell for the poor


You must see want I fe com'a com'a funeral
You are requesting me to attend your funeral


Natty no go, no one burial
I, a Rasta, will not attend any funeral


Yet you want I
But you want me to


Com'a com'a funeral
To come to your funeral


Make your friend come claim say
Make your friend say that


You are the genie
You are in charge


Them want I
They desire my presence


Them want I
They desire my presence


Be com'a them funeral
To attend their funeral


Them claim say
They claim that


Them claim say
They claim that


Them are the general
They are in charge




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PETER TOSH, NEVILLE LIVINGSTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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