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.
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Sizzla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Marijuana's) the medicine
(And those) on the pavement
(Burning down the false) government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
It's something you did
(Jah) knows when
But you're doing' it again
You better duck down the alley way
Looking' for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talking' that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the D.A.
Look out kid
Don't matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Don't try "No Doze"
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch (those) plain clothes
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows
(You) get sick, (then) get well
Hang around an ink well
(Things fell), hard to tell
If anything is going' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write Braille
Get jailed, jump bail
(Don't stop, you don't) fail
Look out kid
You're going to get hit
By users, cheaters
Six-time losers
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Looking' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders
Watch the parking' meters
Ah get born, keep warm
(Girls come) learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her (to please me)
Don't steal, don't (shop) lift
Twenty years of schooling'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
(You come out from the dark zone)
Light yourself a (fire torch)
Wear (your) sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't want to be a bum
(Get yourself a gun)
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles
In Sizzla's song Subterranean Homesick Blues, he uses vivid and cryptic lyrics to convey the idea of a world that is filled with chaos and societal discontent. The lyrics "Marijuana's the medicine, Burning down the false government, You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows" highlights the theme of rebellion against the government and institutions of power that do not serve the needs of the people. The man in the trench coat who wants to get his cough paid off represents the idea that many people in society are oppressed and marginalized, and are seeking any means to survive, including illegal activities such as drug dealing.
The lyrics "Maggie comes fleet foot, Face full of black soot, Talkin' that the heat put Plants in the bed but, The phone's tapped anyway" evoke the idea of surveillance and government control, where anything that deviates from societal norms is deemed as a threat. The lines "Don't follow leaders, Watch the parking' meters" shows that Sizzla is advocating for individual liberty and self-determination, rather than blindly following authority.
Overall, the song critiques the prevailing chaos and the disillusionment that many individuals face in society. It encourages people to stand up for their rights and be aware of the forces that seek to oppress them.
Line by Line Meaning
(As for those) in the basement
Refers to those who smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes
(Marijuana's) the medicine
Marijuana is referred to as medicine
(And those) on the pavement
Refers to those who protest
(Burning down the false) government
Metaphor for wanting to overthrow the government
The man in the trench coat
Refers to an undercover police officer
Badge out, laid off
The officer has lost his job or given up his badge
Says he's got a bad cough
The officer is lying and pretending to be sick
Wants to get it paid off
The officer is looking to get paid for something illegal
Look out kid
A warning to the artist
It's something you did
The artist has done something illegal or frowned upon
(Jah) knows when
The exact time of the act is unknown
But you're doing' it again
The artist is repeating the same action
You better duck down the alley way
The singer needs to hide or avoid the police officer
Looking' for a new friend
The singer needs to find new people to associate with
The man in the coon-skin cap
Refers to someone who is very poor
In the big pen
Refers to prison
Wants eleven dollar bills
The man wants more money than the artist has
You only got ten
The singer doesn't have enough money to meet the man's demands
Maggie comes fleet foot
Refers to someone who moves quickly
Face full of black soot
Refers to someone who is dirty and working class
Talking' that the heat put
Refers to the sun or excessive heat
Plants in the bed but
Refers to planting crops
The phone's tapped anyway
The singer is being monitored by the police
Maggie says that many say
Refers to gossip or rumors
They must bust in early May
The police plan to carry out a raid in May
Orders from the D.A.
The orders are from the District Attorney
Don't matter what you did
The singer's past actions are irrelevant
Walk on your tip toes
The artist needs to be cautious and discreet
Don't try "No Doze"
Refers to drugs that keep you awake
Better stay away from those
The singer should avoid certain types of people
That carry around a fire hose
Refers to the police or firefighters
Keep a clean nose
The artist needs to avoid trouble and stay out of the police's scope
Watch (those) plain clothes
Refers to undercover police officers
You don't need a weather man
Refers to someone who doesn't need help to predict the future
To know which way the wind blows
The singer knows what's coming
(You) get sick, (then) get well
Refers to the cycle of life
Hang around an ink well
Refers to a writer
(Things fell), hard to tell
Things have taken a turn for the worst
If anything is going' to sell
Refers to making money from something
Try hard, get barred
The artist is struggling and being prevented from achieving their goal
Get back, write Braille
The artist needs to find an alternative way to communicate or express themselves
Get jailed, jump bail
The singer gets arrested and then jumps bail
(Don't stop, you don't) fail
The singer won't give up on their dreams
By users, cheaters
Refers to people who take advantage of others
Six-time losers
Refers to people who have been in trouble with the law multiple times
Hang around the theaters
Refers to people who have no real ambition or motivation in life
Girl by the whirlpool
A girl who is carefree and having fun
Looking' for a new fool
The girl is looking to have a good time with someone new
Don't follow leaders
The singer is a free thinker and doesn't follow others blindly
Watch the parking' meters
The singer is cautious and aware of their surroundings
Ah get born, keep warm
Refers to the cycle of life
(Girls come) learn to dance
Girls are expected to conform to societal norms
Get dressed, get blessed
Refers to dressing professionally or conservatively to fit in with societal norms
Try to be a success
Society expects people to be successful
Please her (to please me)
People are expected to please others to get ahead
Don't steal, don't (shop) lift
People are expected to follow the law
Twenty years of schooling'
Refers to the education system
And they put you on the day shift
After being educated for so long, people end up with low-paying jobs
They keep it all hid
The government is not transparent and keeps secrets from the public
(You come out from the dark zone)
The artist is coming out of a difficult time or experience
Light yourself a (fire torch)
The singer is finding their own path or way forward
Wear (your) sandals
The singer doesn't need material possessions to be happy
Try to avoid the scandals
The singer wants to steer clear of trouble
Don't want to be a bum
The artist doesn't want to be unproductive or lazy
(Get yourself a gun)
The artist is taking matters into their own hands and protecting themselves
The pump don't work
Metaphor for the fact that society is broken
'Cause the vandals took the handles
The things that are supposed to keep society running have been sabotaged or lost
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leia Comenetz
The more I watch this version, the more I love you guys....soooooooo darn great !!!!! I love ya' guys .. Genial !!!!
Catherine Schenkel
I am THRILLED!! My beloved Sizzla doing my beloved Dylan's anthem.
familytreemusic
If you love Dylan AND Reggae, check out the whole album this song is from, "Is it rolling, Bob?"
Chris Indellicati
i think it proves that no matter the back rounds we come from all the same injustices plague us around the world and until we the common people make a stand we'll forever be in servitude to our governments. Also i just love it when reggae is combined with other genre of music :D
Leia Comenetz
You guys are beyond awesome!!!!!!!
exeuroweenie
Funny how the original songs don't do anything for me.Yet when Elephant Man,Beenie Man or this guy cover an old song I get happy and can't keep still.
eshneto
Great Surprisingly good.
kileblade
Haha love it, seen title and couldn't imagine it working but it did
Erin wise
Love love love this song...yyyes
David A. Quinn, Sr.
Yes, Bless Sizzla Kallonjah! Call on Jah, hear the Prophets, listen to your Fate- find fault with someone and yu temper run-short, call upon The Father, Jah- the Holy Spirit will be called upon them, and Christafari will be redeemed at them