Prince Far I was born Michael James Williams in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 19… Read Full Bio ↴Prince Far I was born Michael James Williams in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1945. In his teens he assumed the role of lead DJ with the Sir Mike the Musical Dragon Sound System.

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.

Psalm 24
Prince Far I Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that
Dwell therein.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
Place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
Unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God

Of his salvation, yah. Yeah!
This is the generation of them that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, ye gates; and let the King of glory come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD mighty, mighty in battle, yah.
Lift up thy gates; and let the King of glory come in. Yeah!

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that
Dwell therein, yah. Yeah!
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
Place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
Unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from his Lord, and righteousness from the God
Of his salvation. Yeah!

Who have eyes to see, let them see!

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the
Workers of iniquity.

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof, yeah!
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy
Place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul
Unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; lift up thy everlasting doors; and let the
King of glory come in. Yeah!

Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon,
A black, black stone was rolling inna Babylon,
Daniel saw the stone, yah. Yeah!
Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon,
Daniel saw the stone,
Black, black stone, yah.

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

Overall Meaning

Prince Far I's song Psalm 24 is a song that exalts and praises God, affirming His ownership of the earth and all that dwells in it. The first part of the psalm emphasizes God's power as the Creator of the earth and His authority over all of creation. The psalmist declares that those who seek God's face, those with clean hands and a pure heart, shall receive blessings from the Lord and righteousness from the God of their salvation.

The second part of Psalm 24 is an invitation for the gates to be lifted up and for the King of glory to come in. This is an expression of the psalmist's desire for the presence of God to come and dwell among His people. The psalm concludes with a declaration of God's sovereignty over the earth, stating that He is the foundation upon which the world is established.

Overall, Psalm 24 is a powerful psalm that exalts and glorifies God, declaring His sovereignty over all of creation and emphasizing the importance of living a life that is pure and pleasing to Him.

Line by Line Meaning

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that Dwell therein.
The entire world and all its inhabitants belong to the Lord.

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
The Lord has established the world on the seas and floods.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy Place?
Who among us is worthy enough to reach the Lord's holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul Unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Only those with pure hearts and clean hands, who have not deceived or lifted their souls up to vanity, will be able to reach the Lord's holy place.

He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God Of his salvation, yah. Yeah!
Those who are worthy will receive blessings and righteousness from the Lord.

This is the generation of them that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
This is the generation of people who seek the face of the Lord.

Lift up your heads, ye gates; and let the King of glory come in.
Open the gates and let the Lord, the king of glory, come in.

Who is this King of glory? The LORD mighty, mighty in battle, yah.
The King of glory is the Lord, who is mighty in battles.

Lift up thy gates; and let the King of glory come in. Yeah!
Open the gates and let the King of glory come in, yeah!

Who have eyes to see, let them see!
Those who have eyes, let them see and understand the truth.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the Workers of iniquity.
Do not worry about evildoers or be envious of the workers of iniquity.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; lift up thy everlasting doors; and let the King of glory come in. Yeah!
Open the gates and everlasting doors and let the King of glory come in, yeah!

Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon, A black, black stone was rolling inna Babylon, Daniel saw the stone, yah. Yeah! Daniel saw the stone was a-rolling inna Babylon, Daniel saw the stone, Black, black stone, yah.
Daniel saw a black stone rolling in Babylon.

Contributed by Asher T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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