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.
Shall Not Dwell In Wickedness
Prince Far I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How long, how long, how long, how long, how long, O Jah, how long?
Give ear unto I word, O Lord
Consider I meditation
Hearken unto the voice of I cry
My King, my God
For unto thee will I pray
O LORD, in the morning
Will I pray unto thee and will I look up
For thou art not a God that dwell in wickedness
Nor evil dwell in thee
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity
Thou shall destroy them
How long, how long, how long, how long, how long, how long, O Jah?
Hear me when I call
O God of my righteousness thou art
Give ear to I words, O LORD
Consider I meditation
Hearken unto thee I voice, my cry, my King, my God
For unto thee will I pray
For unto thee will I pray
For unto thee will I pray
So long, so long, so long, so long
We are waiting on the Black Star Liner
The Black Star Liner shall come, shall come, shall come, shall come, shall
Come
Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine?
Hear I when I call, O God of my righteousness Thou art
I shield, I strength are in thee.
Give ear to I words, O LORD
Consider I meditation
Hearken unto thee, the voice of I cry, my King, my God
For unto thee will I pray
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD
In the morning, in the morning, in the morning
Will I pray unto thee
And I will look up
For thou art not a God that dwell in wickedness
Nor evil dwell with thee
Foolish shall not stand in the sight of the righteousness
Nor the wickedness of the iniquity
Thou shall destroy them
Speak against them, speak against them, this time.
The lyrics of Prince Far I's song "Shall Not Dwell In Wickedness" open with a series of questions: "How long, how long, how long, how long, how long?" The repetition of this phrase asks the listener to consider how long injustice and wickedness will persist in the world. The lyrics then shift to addressing God and asking for his attention: "Give ear unto I word, O Lord, consider I meditation." The singer implores God to hear his voice in the morning, indicating a devotion to prayer and a desire to be heard by God.
The following lines declare that God is not a being that dwells in wickedness and destruction, and that the foolish and workers of iniquity will be destroyed. The singer continues to call on God and offer praise for his righteousness and strength, while also alluding to the concept of the Black Star Liner - a symbol of repatriation for African people. The song's final lines address the issue of speaking out against oppressive forces.
Line by Line Meaning
How long, how long, how long, how long, how long,
How long, how long, how long, how long, how long, O Jah, how long?
I am asking how long we should wait, O Jah.
Give ear unto I word, O Lord
Consider I meditation
Please listen to me, O Lord, and think about what I am saying.
Hearken unto the voice of I cry
My King, my God
For unto thee will I pray
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning
Listen to me when I cry for help, my God, for I will pray to you in the morning and you will hear my voice.
O LORD, in the morning
Will I pray unto thee and will I look up
For thou art not a God that dwell in wickedness
Nor evil dwell in thee
I will pray to you in the morning, and I will have hope because you are not a God who likes wickedness or evil.
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight
Thou hatest all workers of iniquity
Thou shall destroy them
How long, how long, how long, how long, how long, how long, O Jah?
The foolish people or those who are doing bad things cannot stand before you, and you hate those who do wrong. You will make sure that they are destroyed, but I still ask, O Jah, how long will this take?
Hear me when I call
O God of my righteousness thou art
Give ear to I words, O LORD
Consider I meditation
Please hear me when I call to you, because you are the God who makes me righteous. Listen to the things I say, O Lord, and think about what I am thinking.
So long, so long, so long, so long
We are waiting on the Black Star Liner
The Black Star Liner shall come, shall come, shall come, shall come, shall
Come
We have been waiting for a long time, but we still have faith that the Black Star Liner will come.
Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine?
Hear I when I call, O God of my righteousness Thou art
I shield, I strength are in thee.
Give ear to I words, O LORD
I don't understand why the non-believers are angry and why the people think bad things. Please hear me when I call to you, O God, because you protect me and give me strength. Listen to the things I say, O Lord.
Consider I meditation
Hearken unto thee, the voice of I cry, my King, my God
For unto thee will I pray
For unto thee will I pray
For unto thee will I pray
Please think about what I am thinking. Listen to me when I cry to you, my King and my God. I will pray to you and trust in you.
In the morning, in the morning, in the morning
Will I pray unto thee
And I will look up
For thou art not a God that dwell in wickedness
Every morning, I will pray to you and look up to you with hope, because you are not a God who likes wickedness.
Nor evil dwell with thee
Foolish shall not stand in the sight of the righteousness
Nor the wickedness of the iniquity
Thou shall destroy them
Speak against them, speak against them, this time.
Evil cannot exist with you, and neither can foolishness. You will make sure that they are destroyed. Speak out against them, speak out against them, this time.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MICHAEL LEOPOLD WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind