Bunny Lee first recorded Far I in the early 70's with a tune called "The Great Booga Wooga". He went on to cut tunes for Coxsone, notably "Natty Farmyard" and a version of "Queen of the Minstrel". In 1973 the Cordell's "Simpleton" appeared on the Lion label, with the flip being a strange half-sung half-chanted version by the Prince entitled "Simpleton Skank". In 1974 he voiced "Let Jah arise" for Enos McLeod at King Tubbys, and it is Enos who can be credited with renaming the DJ as Prince Far I. After some self-productions which appeared on Pete Weston's Micron outlet, Prince Far I hit a period which included two of reggae's greatest DJ albums. Firstly the "Psalms for I" collection, a straight chant of bible word. The second landmark album was "Under Heavy Manners" for producer Joe Gibbs, engineered by Erroll Thompson. It contained the Prince's first big Jamaican hit single, "Heavy Manners", on the rhythm of Naggo Morris' "Su Su Pon Rasta".
In 1976 Prince Far I set up his own label in Jamaica -- Cry Tuff. That label issued Far I's productions in Jamaica. His UK business ran through the fledgling label Hit Run, created by Adrian Sherwood. This arrangement was almost one of master and pupil, as the Arabs/Roots Radics became Dub Syndicate with Sherwood learning the studio craft as both producer and engineer. The rhythm tracks were laid in Jamaica by Style Scott & Co, the mix and overdubs taken care of in London. "Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter III" by Prince Far I and the Arabs was originally released in the UK by that most avuncular of record shop proprietors Keith Stone of Daddy Kool. It marked the handing on of the producer's baton from Far I to Sherwood, soon to launch On U Sound at a time when many critics considered reggae to be a finished force.
Prince Far I was shot dead in Jamaica, September 15, 1983.
Give I Strength
Prince Far I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Indeed I see pestilence and plague
But I'm not afraid
They are looking for what they can take
Come in all size appear in all shape
Lord give us the vision to differentiate
Yeah they lay wait, we shall escape
God who protect is greater than great
In all that we do He holds our fate
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Joy is a stream constantly flow
And I don't want to be unhappy
Let me live till I'm gray
I work hard to get pay
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
(Ras Shiloh's part)
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
Give I strength
Jah give us strength
Never let us fail
To live out the greater part of our days
Give us strength
(Ras Shiloh's part)
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Joy is a stream constantly flow
And I don't want to be unhappy
Let me live till I'm gray
I work hard to get pay
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Jah Jah give I strength
Never let I fail
To live out the greater part of my days
The lyrics to Prince Far I's song "Give I Strength" call upon Jah, or God, to give the singer the strength to live out the greater part of their days. The singer acknowledges the presence of pestilence and plague but is not afraid of them. Rather, they ask Jah for the vision to differentiate between those who are malicious and those who mean no harm. The singer advises teaching the youth the right way to grow and avoiding troublemakers. They also express their desire to live until they are gray and to work hard for their pay.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord give I strength
Asking for strength from the divine power to overcome obstacles in life.
Never let I fail
Praying for never giving up on achieving goals in life.
To live out the greater part of my days
Wishing to live long enough to fulfill the purpose in life with dignity.
Indeed I see pestilence and plague
Acknowledging the presence of challenges and hardships in life.
But I'm not afraid
Asserting a strong will to face and overcome the challenges without fear.
They are looking for what they can take
Recognizing the existence of people who exploit and take advantage of the weak.
Come in all size appear in all shape
Noting that such exploitative people come in different forms and disguises.
Lord give us the vision to differentiate
Asking for divine guidance to identify between right and wrong, and good and evil.
Yeah they lay wait, we shall escape
Affirming to escape from the traps set by the exploiters.
God who protect is greater than great
Admiring the supreme power of God in protecting His people from harm.
In all that we do He holds our fate
Believing in the divine destiny and that God holds the ultimate control over life and destiny.
Teach the youths them right in the way they should grow
Emphasizing the importance of moral education and guidance for young people.
Joy is a stream constantly flow
Stating that happiness is a continuous flow that comes from within.
And I don't want to be unhappy
Expressing a desire to avoid negative emotions in life.
Let me live till I'm gray
Wishing to live a long and fulfilling life until old age.
I work hard to get pay
Acknowledging the value of hard work in earning a livelihood.
Keep out of tale bearers and back-biters way
Advising to avoid gossip and negative influence from others.
Never let this bit of education decay no way
Urging to preserve and cherish the moral and educational values for generations to come.
Jah give us strength
Invoking the divine power to grant strength to all.
Never let us fail
Asking for divine help to overcome obstacles and emerge victorious.
To live out the greater part of our days
Wishing to live a long and fulfilling life with purpose and dignity.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD DENNIS, LOWELL DUNBAR, MARK MYRIE, DONOVAN GERMAIN, S LINDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind