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.
Sound Check
Steel Pulse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Play the music me can't dead
Jah in music prolongs gives me life to
Praise Jah
In motion with music getting what we want
Getting what we need
In motion with music getting what we want
Getting what we need
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Dancing, stepping in a ridim fashion
Dancing, go deh, go deh
Dancing, let the music rock me
Dancing away
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
No burdens to haunt me
No pressures to taunt me
'cause Zion is
'cause Zion I
'cause Zion is
'cause Zion I
Destiny yeh
A children rock (like so)
A children skank (like so)
A children rock (like so)
A children skank (like so)
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
No burdens to haunt me
No pressures to taunt me
'cause Zion is
'cause Zion I
'cause Zion is
'cause Zion I
Destiny yeh
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
A children rock (little children rock)
A children roll (little children roll)
A children rock (little children rock)
A children roll (little children roll)
A children rock me can't dead
Play the music me can't dead
Play the music me can't dead
Play the music me can't dead
I love Jah, praise Jah
I love Jah, praise Jah
I love Jah, praise Jah
I love Jah, praise Jah
Motion with music
Motion with music
In motion with music
The lyrics to Steel Pulse's song Sound Check are all about the power music has to lift you up, especially when everything else seems to be getting you down. The first verse says "If anything should mash up my head Sah, Play the music me can't dead," reaffirming that music is an escape from life's troubles. The next line, "Jah in music prolongs gives me life to Praise Jah," references the Rastafarian belief that music is a gift from Jah (God) himself. The chorus repeats "In motion with music get what we want, get what we need," which further supports the idea that music is a means to achieving what we desire.
The second part of the song is all about dancing to the music. "Dancing, stepping in a ridim fashion, Dancing, go deh, go deh," shouts out that the beat of the music is what moves people to dance. The verses then repeat "I love Jah, I praise Jah, Forget me not, no" multiple times. These lines are a testament of faith to Jah and a reminder to not forget about the higher power. The ending of the song circles back to the beginning with the final line being "In motion with music," emphasizing that despite everything, music is what keeps us going.
Line by Line Meaning
If anything should mash up my head Sah
In case anything should overwhelm me, Jah's music restores me.
Play the music me can't dead
The music resonates in my soul, and I strive to constantly be in motion with it.
Jah in music prolongs gives me life to Praise Jah
Jah's presence in music sustains me and gives me the energy to worship Him.
In motion with music getting what we want
When we move in sync with the music, we tend to achieve our desires.
Getting what we need
We not only get what we want but also what we need when we dance to the music.
Rock little children, rock
Let the children sway to the rhythm of the music.
Dancing, stepping in a ridim fashion
Dancing and moving accordingly to the beat of the music.
Dancing, go deh, go deh
As we dance, we should lose ourselves in the music and let our bodies carry us away.
Dancing, let the music rock me
Allowing myself to be absorbed by the music and rhythm, letting it take over me.
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Expressing my devotion and worship to Jah through the music.
Forget me not, no
Not to neglect or forget my love and devotion to Jah.
No burdens to haunt me
The joyful music emancipates me, allowing me to forget all troubles and worries.
No pressures to taunt me
The freeing power of the music liberates me from all stress and anxiety.
'cause Zion is
Jah reigns supreme and is everything.
'cause Zion I
Jah is the source of my liberation and strength.
Destiny yeh
My destiny lies in the hands of Jah, and He is the reason for my existence.
A children rock (like so)
Children should move and sway to the music in a vibrant and lively manner.
A children skank (like so)
The children should dance and groove to the music with their bodies.
A children roll (little children roll)
As the children dance, they should roll with the rhythm, allowing the music to guide them.
A children rock me can't dead
The children's energetic dance movements and the music's hypnotic rhythm keeps them alive and strong.
Motion with music
Moving to the music, letting it guide and direct your body is the way to get lost in its rhythm.
In motion with music
When we move with the music, our bodies, spirits, and minds become unified, and we are truly free.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alphonso Martin, Basil Glendon Gabbidon, David Robert Hinds, Michael Riley, Ronnie Mcqueen, Selwyn Delrainze Brown, Stephen Vincent Nisbett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind