Henry was born in St. Mary, where he was raised in a Rastafari community. As a teenager he moved to Kingston's Waterhouse district where he played with local Rastafari musicians. He set up the Zion Disc label in the mid-1960s, and also worked at Coxsone Dodd's legendary Studio One as a session musician and released a number of singles. He was the first member of the Rastafari movement to have a reggae radio program in Jamaica (The Lion of Judah Time program first aired in 1967 on the JBC). His band is called The Sons of Negus and are known for their traditional Nyabinghi drumming and chanting. From 1974 they regularly released albums, combining electric instruments with traditional hand drumming. Ras Michael contributed to recording sessions at Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark studio (including sessions with Bob Marley), and he performed with Marley at the One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica in 1978. With the Sons of Negus he recorded an album (Love Thy Neighbor) with Perry at the Black Ark. He recorded 'Give Love' with Suns of Arqa in 1984 for their album India?. In all, he has recorded over 25 albums.
In addition to acting as an evangelist, ambassador and diplomat for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tawahido Church internationally, Ras Michael is one of the founders and president of the Rastafarian International/Marcus Garvey Culture Center in Los Angeles, and the Fly Away Culture Center in Kingston, Jamaica. Currently he lives in California.
Babylon
Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Super bomb, super bomb yeh-yeh-yeh-yeh
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
Down in Egypt
Pharoah armies
Were drowned there
And all his battalions too
And all his armies too
And all his centurions too oooh-hoooo
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
For not even the dog
That piss against Babylon wall
Shall escape Jah judgement
Shall escape Jah judgement
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
Jah Jah got a super bomb
One of these days he′s gonna drop it on men
One of these days he's gonna drop it on men
One of these days he′s gonna drop it on men
Super bomb
Super bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb yeah-yeah
Super bomb
Super bomb, yeh-yeh-yeh yeh-yeh
Super bomb
Super bomb-bomb-bomb (praise)
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free up Jah people
Not even the dog
That piss against Babylon wall
Shall escape Jah judgement
Shall escape Jah judgement
Babylon, a Babylon, a Babylon
Free up Jah people
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Free uo Jah people
Jah Jah got a super bomb
One of these days he's gonna drop it on men
One of these days he's gonna drop it on men
One of these days he′s gonna drop it on men
(Super bomb) A super bomb
(Super bomb, yeh-yeh-yeh yeh-yeh) A super bomb
A super bomb (A super bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb
Yeah)
Super bomb, super bomb (A super bomb-bomb-
Bomb-bomb yeah)
The lyrics to Ras Michael & The Sons of Negus's song "Babylon" condemn the oppressive forces of Babylon and call for the freedom of Jah people. The repetition of "Babylon, Babylon, Babylon" serves to emphasize the pervasive and destructive nature of the oppressor. The lyrics remind the listener that powerful and seemingly invincible forces have been defeated in the past, citing the example of the Pharaoh armies in Egypt being drowned. The presence of Jah, and the inevitability of Jah's judgement, is also emphasized, with even the dogs who urinate on Babylon walls being subject to the divine reckoning.
The lyrics of "Babylon" express hope for a future day when Jah will drop a "super bomb" on the oppressors and bring liberation for Jah's people. The repetition of "super bomb" serves as a kind of rallying cry, suggesting a massive and explosive divine intervention. The repeated chorus of "Free up Jah people" echoes the demands of oppressed communities across the world for their own liberation. Overall, the song is both a call to action and a reassurance that the oppressive forces of Babylon will ultimately fall.
Line by Line Meaning
Super bomb, yeh-yeh-yeh yeh-yeh
There is a powerful force that will be unleashed
Super bomb, super bomb yeh-yeh-yeh-yeh
The force is so powerful that it is characterized by repetition; it fills the entire space
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
This repetition of Babylon symbolizes its pervasion and influence over society
Free up Jah people
Jah people are oppressed by Babylon and need freedom
You seem to forget
The lyrics are a reminder of a historical event
Down in Egypt
Referring to the story of Moses freeing the Israelites from Egypt
Pharoah armies
The forces of oppression
Were drowned there
The oppressors met their end
And all his battalions too
All the military forces
And all his armies too
All the organized oppression
And all his centurions too oooh-hoooo
All the leaders of oppression
For not even the dog
No one is exempt from Jah's judgement
That piss against Babylon wall
Even the most insignificant people and actions are subject to judgement
Shall escape Jah judgement
No one can escape divine retribution
Jah Jah got a super bomb
Divine retribution is imminent
One of these days he's gonna drop it on men
The retribution will be harsh
Super bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb yeah-yeah
The power of the bomb is characterized by urgency and repetition
Super bomb, yeh-yeh-yeh yeh-yeh
The force is imminent
Super bomb-bomb-bomb (praise)
Even in the face of retribution, there is a semblance of praise for Jah
Writer(s): Tommy Cowan, Michael George Henry
Contributed by Hudson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ras Albert Williams
on Keep Cool Babylon
Rastafari live
Tempie Williams
on Keep Cool Babylon
Ises for the strength shown to this generation.