Sizzla, along with reggae recording artists such as Capleton, Buju Banton, and Anthony B, are credited with leading a movement toward a re-embracement of Rastafarian values in contemporary reggae music by recording material which is concerned primarily with spirituality, social consciousness, explores common themes, such as Babylon's corrupting influence, the disenfranchisement of ghetto youth, oppression of the black nation and Sizzla's abiding faith in Jah and resistance against perceived agents of oppression. Sizzla has over 40 full completed albums sold in record stores to date, the most popular which have been "Black Woman & Child" and "Da Real Thing" on the Digital B label, "Praise Ye Jah" on Xterminator, and "Rise to the Occasion" on Greensleeves.
Recently, however, he has come under fire for the homophobic content of many of his lyrics, and the advocacy of violence against gays.
Babylon A Listen
Sizzla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Emperor Hailie Selassie I
I and I hail the royal emperor of Ethiopia
And bun ah guy
Jah Bless, Well Read...
[CHORUS:]
Babylon ah listen from near and far
Tell them they cyar hold the youths
with no more house and car
Hear we Ethiopia, war ah this ah war
Babylon ah listen from near and far
not even go ask them what dem searchin' for
Tell them they cyar hold the youths
with no more house and car
Gimme Ethiopia, yo afi black star
Babylon ah listen and devise new plan
Dangerous sittin with they ass for too long
Blackness risen so arise black man
Black woman teeth ah glisten... Ethiopian
They think the fire did missin
Come we bun Babylon
Dedicated to Britain and United Nation
Uno look what ah go happern fi repatriation
Uno free up every prisoner ah revolution
Sizzlasie I authority higher than...
Your police and your soldiers stop yuh molestation
[CHORUS:]
Babylon ah listen from oh so far
don't even go ask them what dem listenin for
Tell them they cyar hold the youths
with no more house and car
Gimme Ethiopia, cuz that afi black star
Babylon ah listen from oh so far
don't even go ask them what dem searchin' for
Tell them they cyar hold the youths
with no more house and car
Give we Ethiopia, the motherland fi black star
Rain over heathen, flood out we not dumb
Heathen and sheden done get John Paul stamp
The brigadaire go hear we come and same time him cramp
The major general dun full up a hope for camp
We bringing out the authotority so we nah ramp
It higher than voltage wattage and amp
The whole ah dem tek ras-council 'gainst me King
Ah bear fire Sizzla kalonji bring, you see
[CHORUS:]
Babylon ah listen from oh so far
don't even go ask them what dem peepin for
Tell them them cyar hold the youths
with no house and car
Give we Ethiopia, the motherland fi black star
Babylon ah listen from oh so far
them and them associate ah fight bear psyco war
Tell them they cyar hold the youths
with no more house and car
Give we Ethiopia, the motherland fi black star
They say I must be friendly, no but what if not
Me nah different from nobody, King Selassie is the top
Me nah come fi love up any... wolf from the pack
And every youth ah come with me in the land of the Black
Yo ah so many black youth uno shot
You nah love Marcus Garvey this ah lick you like rock
Bun your dollars and penny come tell me say stop
Emanuel ah fi me and the youths dem whey have Ras
[CHORUS:]
Yo dem ah listen from oh so far
don't even go ask them what dem listenin for
Tell them them cyar hold the youths
with money house nor car
Give we Ethiopia, land fi the black star
Babylon ah listen and devise new plan
Dangerous sittin with they ass for too long
Blackness risen so arise black woman
The youths teeth ah glisten royal Ethiopian
Fire never missin come we bun Babylon
This goin to Britain and United Nation
Uno look what ah go happern fi repatriation
Uno free up every prisoner ah revolution
Sizzlasie I authority higher than...
Your police and your soldiers, molestation, stop
Dem ah listen from oh so far
Don't even go ask dem...
In Sizzlaβs song βBabylon A Listen,β he refers to the words of Emperor Hailie Selassie I that guide his beliefs and values. He pays homage to the Royal Emperor of Ethiopia and condemns those who do not respect the power of Ethiopia. The song is also a call to arms for black people to stand against Babylon, a metaphor for the oppressive forces that seek to subjugate them. Sizzla urges black people to stand up for their rights and denounce Babylonβs control over them. He calls Babylon dangerous and encourages black people to unite and rise against it. Sizzla also condemns the United Nations and Britain for their role in the marginalization of black people.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the need for Babylon to listen to the voices of the oppressed people. Sizzla asserts that Babylon has no right to hold back black young people from achieving success or taking ownership of their homes and cars. He urges Babylon to relinquish their oppressive hold over black people and give them back their motherland, Ethiopia. Sizzlaβs lyrics are a powerful representation of the struggles that black people face and the need for black people to unite and fight against oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I and I say these be the words of his majesty
I speak the words of Emperor Haile Selassie I
I and I hail the royal emperor of Ethiopia
I acknowledge and respect Emperor Haile Selassie I as ruler of Ethiopia
And bun ah guy
I have no tolerance for those who oppose the emperor
Babylon ah listen from near and far
People are paying attention to what is being said about Babylon
not even go ask them what dem peepin for
They are secretly monitoring and observing us
Tell them they cyar hold the youths with no more house and car
We will not let Babylon take away our homes and transportation
Hear we Ethiopia, war ah this ah war
We are fighting back against Babylon for our land and freedom
Babylon ah listen and devise new plan
Babylon is crafting new strategies to oppress us
Dangerous sittin with they ass for too long
Their complacent attitude has made them a threat
Blackness risen so arise black man
Our power and pride as black people is on the rise
Black woman teeth ah glisten... Ethiopian
The women of our people are strong and shining like Ethiopians
They think the fire did missin
They believed our passion had faded, but they were wrong
Come we bun Babylon
Let us reject and resist Babylon
Dedicated to Britain and United Nation
Calling out and challenging these powerful entities
Uno look what ah go happern fi repatriation
Things will change for us and our return to our homeland
Uno free up every prisoner ah revolution
Release those who were imprisoned for fighting for our rights
Sizzlasie I authority higher than...
My authority is greater than that of your officials
Your police and your soldiers stop yuh molestation
We demand an end to the harassment and abuse by the authorities
Gimme Ethiopia, yo afi black star
I want Ethiopia, the motherland of the black race
Rain over heathen, flood out we not dumb
We are being oppressed by those who are ignorant and uncivilized
Heathen and sheden done get John Paul stamp
We are recognizing and identifying our enemies
The brigadaire go hear we come and same time him cramp
Our message will reach the oppressors and make them uncomfortable
We bringing out the authotority so we nah ramp
We are asserting our power and will not back down
It higher than voltage wattage and amp
Our authority is even more powerful than electricity
The whole ah dem tek ras-council 'gainst me King
Many are conspiring against me because of my royal status
Ah bear fire Sizzla kalonji bring, you see
I bring intense passion and energy to fight against Babylon
They say I must be friendly, no but what if not
I am not required to be friendly to oppressors who threaten our freedom
Me nah different from nobody, King Selassie is the top
I am no different from anyone else, but I acknowledge Selassie as our leader
Me nah come fi love up any... wolf from the pack
I am not here to support those who do not support us
And every youth ah come with me in the land of the Black
We are all united in our desire to reclaim our land and heritage
Yo ah so many black youth uno shot
So many young black lives have been lost
You nah love Marcus Garvey this ah lick you like rock
You do not support our heroes, and it has consequences
Bun your dollars and penny come tell me say stop
We reject your money and your attempts to silence us
Emanuel ah fi me and the youths dem whey have Ras
We are guided by our faith and our leader Ras Tafari
Dem ah listen from oh so far
They are paying close attention to us
don't even go ask them what dem listenin for
Their motives are suspicious and unclear
them and them associate ah fight bear psyco war
They and their allies are engaged in psychological warfare against us
Tell them they cyar hold the youths with no more house and car
We will not let Babylon take away our homes and transportation
Give we Ethiopia, the motherland fi black star
We demand the restoration of our land and heritage
Writer(s): Miguel Collins, Sly Dunbar, Donald Dennis, Miguel Orlando Collins, Phillip Burrell, Philip Burrell Copyright: Greensleeves Publishing Limited, Zabogaubhi Music, Xtm Sounds Publishing, Dub Plate Music Publishers Ltd.
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@princemule1331
Sizzler i listened to your trucks in 1998 but they still rest on My β€οΈ heart.jah bless you.
@tebzamrembula2823
One of our National Anthems down ina Vosloorus,East Rand, Johannesburg, South Africa (Azania).. Big up yoself Mr Kalonji
@JahServantHotz242
Fire never miss we come to bun Babylon π₯π₯π₯π―.
@jayblue-pq1ec
I heard this when I was 8 I'm 21 now still bumping it loud in traffic
@marklonbarrett3266
Yes Mzungu is always watching us π he's the universal snooper, he knows our 400 years of Bondage is up!
@TheYesimmi
The greatest artist of all time
@PLEASANTGIFFT
Sizzla your full of lyrical substance - intelligent music which I can hold a medsβ to and get some deeper understanding of things. Thank you - Babylon must fall and a New Goldern age will come about for all especially the black people
@bangkokbaby437
Tell dem!
@PLOttawa
This chune is an eternal fire. Sizzlassie fi life!
@trancepriest
The fire was never missing... blackness risen so arise black man... the sun is rising in the west