Steel Pulse originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, Birmingham, and comprised David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronnie McQueen (bass).
However, it is Hinds who, as songwriter, has always been the engine behind Steel Pulse, from their early days establishing themselves in the Birmingham club scene onwards. Formed in 1975, their debut release, 'Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku" arrived on the small independent label Dip, and linked the plight of urban black youth with the image of a greater African homeland. They followed it with 'Nyah Love' for Anchor.
Surprisingly, they were initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in the Midlands because of their Rastafarian beliefs. Aligning themselves closely with the Rock Against Racism 1 organisation, they chose to tour instead with sympathetic elements of the punk movement, including the Stranglers, XTC etc.: "Punks had a way of enjoying themselves - throw hordes at you, beer, spit at you, that kind of thing".
Eventually they found a more natural home in support slots for Burning Spear, which brought them to the attention of Island Records. Their first release for Island was the 'Ku Klux Klan' 45 rpm, a considered tilt at the evils of racism, and one often accompanied by a visual parody of the sect on stage.
By this time their ranks had swelled to include Selwyn 'Bumbo' Brown (keyboards), Steve 'Grizzly' Nesbitt (drums), Fonso Martin (vocals, percussion) and Michael Riley (vocals). Handsworth Revolution was an accomplished long playing debut and one of the major landmarks in the evolution of British reggae.
However, despite critical and moderate commercial success over three albums, the relationship with Island had soured by the advent of Caught You (released in the US as Reggae Fever). They switched to Elektra, and unveiled their most consistent collection of songs since their debut with True Democracy, distinguished by the Garveyeulogising 'Rally Around' cut.
A further definitive set arrived in Earth Crisis. Unfortunately, Elektra chose to take a leaf out of Island's book in trying to coerce Steel Pulse into a more mainstream vein, asking them to emulate the pop-reggae stance of Eddy Grant. Babylon Bandit was consequently weakened, but did contain the anthemic 'Not King james Version', which was a powerful indictment on the omission of black people and history from certain versions of the Bible.
Their next move was id Hinds of Steel Pulse to MCA for State Of Emergency, which retained some of the synthesized dance elements of its predecessor. Though it was a significantly happier compromise, it still paled before any of their earlier albums.
Rastafari Centennial was recorded live at the Elysee Montmarte in Paris, and dedicated to the hundred year anniversary of the birth of Haile Selassie. It was the first recording since the defection of Fonso Martin, leaving the trio of David Hinds, Steve Nisbett and Selwyn Brown.
While they still faced inverted snobbery at the hands of British reggae fans, in America their reputation was growing, becoming the first ever reggae band to appear on the Tonight television show. Their profile was raised further when, in 1992, Hinds challenged the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission in the Supreme High Court, asserting that their cab drivers discriminated against black people in general and Rastas in particular.
Drummer Steve "Grizzly" Nisbett (15 March 1948 – 18 January 2018) died in 2018.
The band are still recording and touring.
George Jackson
Steel Pulse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They killed a man I really loved, Shot him in the head
[Chorus]
Lord, Lord they cut George Jackson down
Lord, Lord they laid him in the ground
They sent him off to prison, For a seventy dollar robbery
[Chorus]
He didn't take shit from no one, He wouldn't bow down on his knee
Authorities they hate him, Because he was just too real, just too real
[Chorus]
The prison guard they watched him, They crushed him like a bug
Frightened of his power, They we scared of all his love and hey hey!
Sometimes I think the whole wide world
Is one big prison yard
Where some of us are prisoners and
Some of us are guards. Yeah Hey!
[Chorus]
They laid him in the ground
They laid him in the ground
They laid him in the ground
Woe Jackson, George Jackson, Yes Jackson, Woe Jackson
I want to confess, There is no justice
Lift up your voice, In times of protest
Lordy lord they laid him in the ground
Woe Jackson George Jackson, Oh Jackson Want Justice
A voice of protest, And frustration
Within a system, Of deception
Lordy Lord Hey! Lordy lord Hey.
Yeahee!
The lyrics of Steel Pulse's song "George Jackson" tell the story of the murder of the titular character, a black activist who was incarcerated and eventually killed in San Quentin prison in 1971. The singer wakes up to tears in his bed, mourning the loss of a man he truly loved, who was shot in the head. The chorus repeats the lament that they "cut George Jackson down" and laid him in the ground.
The second verse explains that Jackson had been imprisoned for a theft of only $70, and was subsequently forgotten by the authorities who locked him away. However, he was well-known among his fellow inmates as a man who would not be broken, who refused to bow down to anyone. This earned the frustration and hatred of the prison guards who crushed him "like a bug," even though they were apparently afraid of his love and power.
The final verse speaks more generally of the idea that the entire world may be seen as one giant prison yard, where some people are prisoners and others are guards. George Jackson's story serves as a reminder of the injustice and deception that can occur within any system. The song overall is a powerful protest anthem that calls for justice for Jackson and for all those who are oppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up this morning, Tears were in my bed
The singer is expressing sadness and grief upon waking up and realizing that someone he loved has been killed.
They killed a man I really loved, Shot him in the head
The person he loved was killed by someone who shot him in the head.
Lord, Lord they cut George Jackson down
This line is the chorus of the song, expressing the fact that George Jackson was killed.
They sent him off to prison, For a seventy dollar robbery
George Jackson was sent to prison for committing a robbery that was only worth seventy dollars.
They closed the door behind him, And threw away the key
The authorities imprisoned George Jackson and threw away the key, meaning he was sentenced to a long time in prison.
He didn't take shit from no one, He wouldn't bow down on his knee
George Jackson was a strong individual who refused to be intimidated by anyone and would not submit to authority.
Authorities they hate him, Because he was just too real, just too real
The authorities disliked George Jackson because he was unafraid to express his opinions and ideas, which made them uncomfortable.
The prison guard they watched him, They crushed him like a bug
The prison guards watched George Jackson closely and exerted their power over him, despite him being defenseless at their hands.
Frightened of his power, They were scared of all his love and hey hey!
The guards were scared of George Jackson because of his strong personality, which they could not control, and the love he showed towards others, which they saw as a weakness.
Sometimes I think the whole wide world Is one big prison yard
Where some of us are prisoners and
Some of us are guards. Yeah Hey!
The singer is using this verse to highlight that the world can be a merciless place, where some individuals are forced to live in confinement and others have the power to control them.
Woe Jackson, George Jackson, Yes Jackson, Woe Jackson
This line is repeated multiple times and serves as an expression of sadness and mourning for George Jackson.
I want to confess, There is no justice
Lift up your voice, In times of protest
Lordy lord they laid him in the ground
The singer is using this verse to call for an end to injustice, and by asking others to protest, they can help bring about change on this issue.
Woe Jackson George Jackson, Oh Jackson Want Justice
A voice of protest, And frustration
Within a system, Of deception
Lordy Lord Hey! Lordy lord Hey.
The singer is crying out for justice, as there is a great deal of deception and corruption within the system that does nothing to bring about change and only serves to perpetuate the suffering of others.
Yeahee!
This line is an expression of emotion and helps to add emphasis to the overall mood of the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marley - ite
George Jackson
I woke up this morning, Tears were in my bed
They killed a man I really loved, Shot him in the head
Chorus:
Lord, Lord they cut George Jackson down
Lord, Lord they laid him in the ground, They sent him off to prison, For a seventy dollar robbery
They closed the door behind him, And threw away they key
Chorus
He didn't take shit from no one, He wouldn't bow down on his knee
Authorities they hate him, Because he was just too real, just too real
Chorus
The prison guard they watched him, They crushed him like a bug
Frightened of his power, They were scared of all his love and hey hey !
Bridge:
Sometimes I think the whole wide world
Is one big prison yard
Where some of us are prisoners and
Some of us are guards. Yeah Hey!
Chorus
They laid him in the ground
They laid him in the ground
They laid him in the ground
Woe Jackson, George Jackson, Yes Jackson, Woe Jackson
I want to confess, There is no justice
Lift up your voice, In times of protest
Lordy lord they laid him in the ground
Woe Jackson George Jackson, Oh Jackson Want Justice
A voice of protest, And frustration
Within a system, Of deception
Lordy Lord Hey! Lordy lord Hey.yeahee!
Marley - ite
George Jackson
I woke up this morning, Tears were in my bed
They killed a man I really loved, Shot him in the head
Chorus:
Lord, Lord they cut George Jackson down
Lord, Lord they laid him in the ground, They sent him off to prison, For a seventy dollar robbery
They closed the door behind him, And threw away they key
Chorus
He didn't take shit from no one, He wouldn't bow down on his knee
Authorities they hate him, Because he was just too real, just too real
Chorus
The prison guard they watched him, They crushed him like a bug
Frightened of his power, They were scared of all his love and hey hey !
Bridge:
Sometimes I think the whole wide world
Is one big prison yard
Where some of us are prisoners and
Some of us are guards. Yeah Hey!
Chorus
They laid him in the ground
They laid him in the ground
They laid him in the ground
Woe Jackson, George Jackson, Yes Jackson, Woe Jackson
I want to confess, There is no justice
Lift up your voice, In times of protest
Lordy lord they laid him in the ground
Woe Jackson George Jackson, Oh Jackson Want Justice
A voice of protest, And frustration
Within a system, Of deception
Lordy Lord Hey! Lordy lord Hey.yeahee!
Kullmack Mackull
the soul and spirit of general field marshall george jackson lives eternal BLA BLA BLA
Isismusicnow
Dylan is always great in reggae ;)
Fabian Mayorga
I have always been a fan of steel pulse and this song is amazing but really far away from what George Jackson was...inform yourselves https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Jackson_(activist)
Isismusicnow
Sometimes I think this whole world is one big prison yard
raf MjG
Good song
Joseph Guillory
Read between the lines, on trail now,it's coming, wise up wake up
The JEWELS of WE (Women Especially)
UP THE VOLUME.... turn down for what
Atlantic Falcon
it is !!!
BillionGODSun
Black August Ramadan 2011!!1 Black August 21, 1971: George JackSon’s San Quentin PriSon Rebellion