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.
Mash Dem Down
Sizzla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chop off the pagan head and let it roll away
Listen to what I got to say
Praise the King every day
Come mek we go mash dem down nah lose
All dem ah wrinch and ah frown
Stumble blocks will have to move
Ah, Deal wit dem ras
Because ah prove dem come ah prove
Me ah mash dem down nah lose
All dem ah wrinch and ah frown
Stumble blocks will have to move
Come we go mash dem down nah lose
Kalonji come fi mash dem down nah lose
Listen Up
Little children I say to honor your mother and your father
Tell you again I say to love you one another
Praise Selassie I crown, in Addis Ababa
Second ah November 1930 Jah-Jah Jah-Jah java
Ey pon the wicked mi dash the hotta lava
Big up the ghetto girl ah Kingston and Balaclava
Mama use to give we dumplin mek out ah casava
Yo you got the riches you must share what you have-ah
Farmer plat the food and stop the people dem from starve-ah
Yo Jah lead us with his rod and with his staff-ah
All pagan mi know dem must get cut off
Babylon your breath get shut off
Come mek we go mash dem down nah lose
All dem ah wrinch and ah frown
Stumble block will have to move
Come we go mash dem down nah lose
Find out say ah prove dem ah prove
Wicked people we ah go mash dem down nah lose
Conquering Lion obstacles we come ah move
Come we go mash dem down nah lose
Babylon we mash dem down ah
Burn them plan and them plot and them stratergies
Burn them up them computers and dem cartridges
Lion inna the jungle we nah bow fi dem catergories
Dis Selassie I dem end up inna worries
Mash dem down nah lose
Deal with dem ras
Because ah prove dem come ah prove
Come mek we go mash dem down nah lose
Babylon I mash dem down, oh
Speak the truth and know your roots that's reality
Yo just listen to my tune it full of quality
Children Emperor Selassi I is the almighty more morality
No more no more will black people dem stifle
When dem ah shot the people dem ah kill dem with poison
Cyar tell me nuttin me say the Conquerin lion inna the Bible
Babylon mi come fi mash dem down nah lose
All dem ah wrinch and ah frown
Stumble block will have to move
Come we go mash dem down nah lose
Deal with dem ras
Because ah prove dem come ah prove
Come mek we go mash dem down nah lose
All dem ah wrinch and ah frown
Stumble block will have to move
Come we go mash dem down nah lose
Babylon we mash dem down
Cyar dis the Rastaman because him on his foundation rigid
Love and righteousness is with the youths govern the village
All dem a gwan like dem bad and dem wicked
King Selassie govern the Earth so don't be stupid
Come we go mash dem down nah lose
All dem a wrinch and a frown righteousness we choose
Come we go mash dem down we cyar lose
Prove dem ah prove
Ghetto youths want clothes and shoes and food
Mash dem down nah lose
Hey Babylon I tell you that I mash dem down ey
Little children I say to honor your mother and your father
Tell dem again tell dem again love you one another
Praise Selassie I him crown inna this ah baba
Second ah November 1930 Jah-Jah java
Mama give dem dumplin mek out ah casava
Big up the ghetto girl ah Africa and Balaclava
Wow farmer plat the food and stop the people dem from starve-ah
Yo you got the riches you must share what you have-ah
Sizzla's song "Mash Dem Down" is a reggae anthem that speaks out against oppression and injustice. The lyrics encourage listeners to stand up against those who try to hold them down and to fight for what is right. The song references the "older days" when people would chop off the heads of pagans and let them roll away, suggesting that those who are holding back progress should be eliminated. The singer praises King Selassie I, urging listeners to honor their parents, love one another, and recognize the importance of community.
The song speaks to the struggles faced by those living in poverty, particularly in Jamaica. The "stumble blocks" represent the obstacles faced by those trying to better themselves, and the "ghetto girl" in Kingston and Balaclava represents those who are often overlooked by society. The lyrics encourage those with wealth and power to share what they have and to use it to help those in need. At the same time, the singer is clear that those who oppress others will not be tolerated.
Overall, "Mash Dem Down" is a powerful message of hope and unity in the face of adversity. It urges listeners to stand up for what is right and to fight against injustice, while also recognizing the importance of community and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, Just like in the older days
Just like in the past
Chop off the pagan head and let it roll away
Get rid of the bad people
Listen to what I got to say
Hear me out
Praise the King every day
Give thanks to the King every day
Come mek we go mash dem down nah lose
Let's defeat the enemy and not lose
All dem ah wrinch and ah frown
They are all struggling and unhappy
Stumble blocks will have to move
Obstacles must be removed
Ah, Deal wit dem ras
Deal with those people
Because ah prove dem come ah prove
They have already proven themselves
Me ah mash dem down nah lose
I will defeat them without fail
Kalonji come fi mash dem down nah lose
Kalonji is here to defeat them without fail
Listen Up
Pay attention
Little children I say to honor your mother and your father
Children should respect their parents
Tell you again I say to love you one another
Love one another
Praise Selassie I crown, in Addis Ababa
Praise Selassie I's crown in Addis Ababa
Second ah November 1930 Jah-Jah Jah-Jah java
The day Selassie I was crowned
Ey pon the wicked mi dash the hotta lava
Punish the wicked
Big up the ghetto girl ah Kingston and Balaclava
Respect the ghetto girl in Kingston and Balaclava
Mama use to give we dumplin mek out ah casava
My mother used to make us dumplings out of cassava
Yo you got the riches you must share what you have-ah
If you are rich, you should share what you have
Farmer plat the food and stop the people dem from starve-ah
Farmers should grow food to prevent starvation
Yo Jah lead us with his rod and with his staff-ah
God guides us
All pagan mi know dem must get cut off
All bad people should be eliminated
Babylon your breath get shut off
Babylon will be defeated
Burn them plan and them plot and them stratergies
Destroy their plans and strategies
Burn them up them computers and dem cartridges
Destroy their computers and cartridges
Lion inna the jungle we nah bow fi dem catergories
We will not bow to their categories
Dis Selassie I dem end up inna worries
Those who disrespect Selassie I will face consequences
Speak the truth and know your roots that's reality
Be truthful and aware of your roots
Yo just listen to my tune it full of quality
Listen to my good music
Children Emperor Selassi I is the almighty more morality
Selassie I is the almighty with more morality
No more no more will black people dem stifle
Black people will no longer be held back
When dem ah shot the people dem ah kill dem with poison
They are killing people with poison
Cyar tell me nuttin me say the Conquerin lion inna the Bible
The Bible talks about the Conquering Lion
Cyar dis the Rastaman because him on his foundation rigid
Do not disrespect the Rastaman because of his foundation
Love and righteousness is with the youths govern the village
Youths govern the village with love and righteousness
All dem a gwan like dem bad and dem wicked
They act like they are bad and wicked
King Selassie govern the Earth so don't be stupid
Do not underestimate Selassie I's power
All dem a wrinch and a frown righteousness we choose
They are all struggling and unhappy but we choose righteousness
Find out say ah prove dem ah prove
Realize they have already proven themselves
Wicked people we ah go mash dem down nah lose
We will defeat the wicked people without fail
Conquering Lion obstacles we come ah move
We will overcome obstacles with the Conquering Lion
Babylon we mash dem down ah
We will defeat Babylon
Hey Babylon I tell you that I mash dem down ey
Babylon, I am telling you I will defeat them
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Paul Crosdale, Donald Dennis, Kirk Bennett, Bobby Dixon, Miguel Collins, KIRK ANDRE BENNETT, PAUL CROSSDALE, DERRICK CLIFTON HARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ecspedition
on No Other Like Jah
Who understand what he is speaking here or is it youthful speaking ... this is the whole or the nothing of the song... speaking the words of creation?
Ecspedition
on No Other Like Jah
Head out mista crave ,ah you speak the words by which everything was made
Majda El Yousfi
on Woman I Need You
african woman......i need you.i love bb
Majda El Yousfi
on Psalms 121
i like
Babacar Mbaye
on Agriculture and Education
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