Prophet Has Arise
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics


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Jah Prophet has arise (Prophet has arise)
He's got a dred look in his eye (dred look in his eye)
Dred look in his eye (for them to realize)
Jah Prophet has arise! (Prophet has arise)
He's got a dred look in his eye (for them to centralize)
Dred look in his eye (for them to organize)
One has arise to judge and execute (Jah-you)
Whether your friend or foe
From a long he'll let you know
Moses was a seer (prophet)
King David was a seer (prophet)
So the people shall never run short
Of a King of a Prophet

Jah Prophet has arise (prophet has arise)
He's gonna hit 'em by surprise (for them to realize)
Hit 'em by surprise (for them to centralize)
(Prophet has arise)

Moses was a seer (Prophet)
King David was a seer (Prophet)
So the people shall never run short
Of a King of a Prophet
Said Jah Prophet has arise (prophet has arise)
He's - he's gonna hit 'em by surprise (for them to centralize)
Hit 'em by surprise (they've got to organize)
Jah Prophet has arise! (Prophet has arise)
He's - he's got a dred look in his eye (dred look in his eyes)
Dred look in his eyes (for them to realize)
(Prophet has arise!)

So the people shall never run short
Of a King or a Prophet
Of a King or a Prophet





Said Jah Prophet has arise! (Prophet has arise)
He's got a dred look (dred look in his eyes)
Sweet look in his eyes (for them to realize)
Jah Prophet has arise (Prophet has arise)
Gonna hit 'em by surprise (for them to centralize)
Hit 'em by surprise (they got to organize)
Jah Prophet has arise (Prophet has arise)
Dred look in his eyes (dred look in his eyes)
Dred look in his eyes (for them to realize)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sinéad O'Connor's song "Prophet Has Arise" speaks of the emergence of a religious figure, called Jah Prophet, who has a "dred look" in his eyes. The word "dred" generally means "afraid", "anxious" or "worried", but in this context, it probably means "dreadful" or "menacing". The Prophet has come to execute judgment on people, whether they are friends or foes, and he will let them know "from a long" - which could mean that he will make his presence known from afar.


The lyrics also make references to two Biblical figures, Moses and King David, who were both seers or prophets. The message is that the people shall never run short of a king or a prophet as Jah Prophet has arisen. The lines "He's gonna hit 'em by surprise (for them to realize) / Hit 'em by surprise (for them to centralize)" implies that the Prophet's arrival will shake things up and force people to come together and organize themselves.


Overall, the lyrics suggest that the emergence of Jah Prophet is a significant event and that his arrival signals a time of judgment and change.


Line by Line Meaning

Jah Prophet has arise (Prophet has arise)
A new leader or prophet has emerged, recognized by the singer and referred to as Jah, which is short for Jehovah, another name for God.


He's got a dred look in his eye (dred look in his eye)
The prophet has a solemn and serious demeanor, as if he is contemplating important matters.


Dred look in his eye (for them to realize)
The serious demeanor of the prophet is meant to make others realize the importance of his message and the gravity of the situation.


Jah Prophet has arise! (Prophet has arise)
The artist is emphasizing the importance and significance of the new prophet's emergence.


He's got a dred look in his eye (for them to centralize)
The prophet's serious demeanor is meant to bring people together and unite them in a common goal or cause.


Dred look in his eye (for them to organize)
The prophet's demeanor is meant to inspire people to organize themselves and work towards a common purpose.


One has arise to judge and execute (Jah-you)
The new prophet has been tasked with the responsibility of judging and executing others, regardless of whether they are friends or foes.


Whether your friend or foe
The new prophet is impartial and will not show favoritism towards either friends or foes.


From a long he'll let you know
The prophet's message has been a long time coming, and he will communicate it clearly and directly so that everyone knows what is expected of them.


Moses was a seer (prophet)
Moses, who is regarded as a prophet in the Bible, is referenced as an example of someone who was chosen by God to lead His people.


King David was a seer (prophet)
David, another biblical figure who was chosen by God to be king, is also referenced as an example of a person who was a prophet.


So the people shall never run short Of a King of a Prophet
The artist is reassuring listeners that there will always be prophets and leaders to guide them.


He's gonna hit 'em by surprise (for them to realize)
The prophet will surprise people with the message he delivers, which will be designed to make them realize something important or profound.


Hit 'em by surprise (for them to centralize)
The unexpected nature of the prophet's message is meant to bring people together and encourage them to work towards a common goal.


Jah Prophet has arise (Prophet has arise)
The leader or prophet is again referenced, emphasizing his importance and significance.


He's - he's got a dred look in his eye (dred look in his eyes)
The serious and solemn demeanor of the prophet is mentioned again, underscoring its importance.


Dred look in his eyes (for them to realize)
The prophet's demeanor is still intended to make people realize how important the situation is and how much they need to pay attention.


So the people shall never run short Of a King or a Prophet
The singer is reminding listeners once again that there will always be leaders and prophets to guide and inspire them.


He's - he's gonna hit 'em by surprise (for them to centralize)
The unexpected nature of the prophet's message is again mentioned, as is its goal of uniting people towards a common purpose.


Hit 'em by surprise (they've got to organize)
The sudden nature of the prophet's message is meant to compel people to organize themselves in order to respond effectively.


Dred look in his eyes (for them to realize)
The prophet's serious demeanor is once again emphasized as a key component of his message.


Sweet look in his eyes (for them to realize)
The artist subtly modifies the description of the prophet's demeanor, suggesting that it may carry a sense of compassion or forgiveness as well.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CECIL SPENCE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@musicbox7867

For Mobile Users :
00:00 Jah Nuh Dead
03:12 Marcus Garvey
06:43 Door Peep
10:05 He Prayed
13:30 Y Mas Gan
17:17 Curly Locks
21:37 Vampire
25:38 Prophet Has Arise
30:02 Downpressor Man
35:10 Throw Down Your Arms
39:20 Untold Stories
42:59 War



All comments from YouTube:

@musicbox7867

For Mobile Users :
00:00 Jah Nuh Dead
03:12 Marcus Garvey
06:43 Door Peep
10:05 He Prayed
13:30 Y Mas Gan
17:17 Curly Locks
21:37 Vampire
25:38 Prophet Has Arise
30:02 Downpressor Man
35:10 Throw Down Your Arms
39:20 Untold Stories
42:59 War

@hasseelmerson

Thanks to all your music through the years......

@CasimirLeYeti

THX a million !

@michelleobrien6996

I sometimes skip Curly locks and play Downpressor Man x 5

@LambuJi1

Thanks for sharing this with track listing. Beautiful album. Would it be possible to credit the original artists in the track listing please? I recognise some tracks by Burning Spear, a Bob Marley number, but I don’t know all. In any case, it would be really useful and respectful to the original artists too. Pretty sure Sinéad would’ve approved. ✌️❣️

@LuisEstenssoro

Not judging the lyrics, but the best track of this album is "Vampire". Sinead knows how to do her job as a singer. No doubt about it. Precious album. ❤ Gone too soon...

1 More Replies...

@ijmcnaught

Not on spotify either and from 2005 received barely enough attention, incredible album possibly my favorite

@carlheese

Not on Apple music or YouTube Music until only now here in YouTube I was able to find this.

@113KILL5

Definitely my favorite Sinead release. Been trying to find this on vinyl for 10 years

@philippebrikh2533

Eric satie

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