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 Ah 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 Sizzla's song "Babylon Ah Listen," he speaks of the strength and resilience of black people, specifically the Ethiopian people, against the oppressive system of Babylon. He mentions the words of Emperor Haile Selassie I and pays homage to him as the royal emperor of Ethiopia. The phrase "Babylon Ah Listen" means that the Babylonian system is becoming aware of the uprising and revolution of black people.
Sizzla challenges the Babylonian system, stating that they cannot hold back the youth with their material possessions such as cars and houses, and that the youth will continue to rise up against them in a war for their freedom. He calls for the repatriation of black people back to Ethiopia, their motherland, and condemns the actions of the British and United Nations. He mentions the authority of Sizzlasie I being higher than the police and soldiers who are engaging in molestation and oppression of black people.
The chorus in the song is a rallying cry for the black community to continue their fight against Babylon, to demand their freedom and to be proud of their blackness. The line "Gimme Ethiopia, yo afi black star" is a call for all black people to claim Ethiopia as their own black star.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I and I say these be the words of his majesty Emperor Hailie Selassie I
I and I declare that these words are those of the rastafari icon and king of Ethiopia, Emperor Hailie Selassie I
I and I hail the royal emperor of Ethiopia, and bun ah guy
I and I pay respect to the emperor of Ethiopia and condemn those who oppose him
Babylon ah listen from near and far not even go ask them what dem peepin for Tell them they cyar hold the youths with no more house and car Hear we Ethiopia, war ah this ah war
Babylon, the oppressive system, is listening closely but doesn't even know why. We declare that they can't keep the youths from having shelter and transportation. We are in a state of war and represent Ethiopia in this conflict.
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
Babylon is listening and coming up with new schemes, but they've been sitting idle for too long. Black people are rising up, with shining teeth like Ethiopians. They thought the fire was gone, but we will burn the system down. This song is dedicated to Britain and the United Nations.
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
You will see what happens for the return of our people to Ethiopia. We demand that all political prisoners be released. The authority of Sizzlasie I is greater than that of your police and military, so stop oppressing the people.
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
We will rain over the heathen, but we won't drown in the flood. The heathen have been approved by Pope John Paul II. When the brigadier hears us coming, he'll cramp up. The major general has no hope left. We are bringing out our authority and won't hold back. Our power is greater than that of electricity. Everyone is taking a stand against the king. Sizzla Kalonji brings the fire.
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
They want me to be friendly, but what if I'm not? I am no different from anyone else, and Haile Selassie is the best. I'm not here to show love to any wolves in sheep clothing. Every youth will come with me to the land of the Black. You've killed so many black youths. You don't love Marcus Garvey, and that's a mistake. Stop valuing money and possessions over the people. The power belongs to the people who have Ras Tafari as their guide.
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...
Babylon is listening and thinking of ways to control us, but they've been sitting on their asses for too long. Black women are rising up, shining like royalty from Ethiopia. We will burn Babylon down, with the fire never missing. This message is going out to Britain and the UN. You will see what happens when we go back to Ethiopia. We demand that all political prisoners be freed. Authority lies with Sizzlasie I, not your police or military. They are listening from far away, don't even bother asking what they're doing.
Contributed by Anna D. 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