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.
Stop You Coming And Come
Steel Pulse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
Amasaganalo
Stop you coming and come
Stop you coming and come
Stop you coming and come
Stop you coming and come
This is a message
A message from the elders, yeah
'Cause we living in the West
And we plenty miles away from home
'Cause they are calling (calling, calling)
Yes they're your ancestors, yeah (ooh)
And it's coming from the roots to my boots
And is shaking my bones (my bones)
So, so, so
So stop you coming and come
So stop you coming and come
So stop you coming and come (so stop your coming and)
So stop you coming and come
You coulda Twelve Tribe
Or Nyahbinghi
Or Judah Coptic even Bobo Shanty
It was promised by His Imperial Majesty
The inheritance of Shashamane, ehh
So stop you coming and come
So stop you coming and come
Repatriation
We're building us a brand new nation (nation, ooh)
Only then the prejudice and bigotry
Will leave us alone
(Will leave us alone, yeah) Leave
Move out of Babylon (move yeah)
A thousand million strong, strong
(Natty dread)
Lalibella is the place
Of the healing of the human race, so so so
Stop you coming and come
Stop you coming and come
(Come and stop your coming and) Stop you coming and come
(Come and stop your coming and) Stop you coming and come
(Come and stop your coming and come yeah) Stop you coming and come
You coulda Twelve Tribe
Or Nyahbinghi
Or Judah Coptic or even Bobo Shanty
It was promised by His Imperial Majesty
The birthrights of Shashamane, ay ay
Stop you coming and come
Stop you coming and come
It's our destiny
To know our history
No more slavery
Born to be free
African legacy
We never a colony
African dynasty
To be free
African dynasty
Apart of me
African dynasty
True liberty
African dynasty
Apart of me
African dynasty
Apart of me
The song "Stop You Coming and Come" by Steel Pulse is a call to action for African people living in the West to return to their homeland. The lyrics use various references to Rastafarianism, an Afrocentric religion that originated in Jamaica in the 1930s, as well as a nod to Ethiopian culture as seen in the line "Lalibella is the place of the healing of the human race." The opening lines, "Amasaganalo, yeah/Amasaganalo," are taken from Swahili and essentially mean "we welcome you."
The message of the song is a plea to embrace African heritage and to break free from the oppression and racism in the West. The term "repatriation" is used to describe the return of African people to their homeland, which is seen as a way to establish a "brand new nation" where prejudice and racism will no longer exist. The lyrics encourage all African people, regardless of their particular tribe or religious affiliation, to join together in this effort.
Line by Line Meaning
Amasaganalo
A Zulu word expressing a greeting or positive affirmation
Yeah
An informal expression confirming agreement or assent
Stop you coming and come
Cease your current actions and follow us to our true home
This is a message
We have important information to share with you
A message from the elders, yeah
Words of wisdom from our respected forefathers
'Cause we living in the West
Our current location is distant from our ancestral home
And we plenty miles away from home
Our distance from our homeland is extensive
'Cause they are calling (calling, calling)
Our ancestors are beckoning for us to return
Yes they're your ancestors, yeah (ooh)
Those who came before us and are connected deeply to us
And it's coming from the roots to my boots
Our ancestral call is so powerful we can feel it in our bones
And is shaking my bones (my bones)
The message is so profound that it moves us deeply
You coulda Twelve Tribe
Whether you belong to Twelve Tribe or not doesn't matter
Or Nyahbinghi
Or if you're a follower of Nyahbinghi
Or Judah Coptic even Bobo Shanty
Or part of Judah Coptic or Bobo Shanty
It was promised by His Imperial Majesty
Emperor Haile Selassie I pledged this to us
The inheritance of Shashamane, ehh
The rightful ownership of the Ethiopian land of Shashamane
Repatriation
The act of returning to the homeland
We're building us a brand new nation (nation, ooh)
We are creating a new society for ourselves
Only then the prejudice and bigotry
Through this, we will rid ourselves of harmful biases
Will leave us alone
These negative attitudes will no longer affect us
(Will leave us alone, yeah) Leave
Go away and leave us to our own devices
Move out of Babylon (move yeah)
Leave the oppressive systems of the world
A thousand million strong, strong
We are a vast and powerful force to be reckoned with
(Natty dread)
A reference to the Rastafarian lifestyle and culture
Lalibella is the place
A spiritual and holy site in Ethiopia
Of the healing of the human race, so so so
This is where we can recover and unite as a people
It's our destiny
This is what we are fated to do
To know our history
We must become knowledgeable about our past
No more slavery
We will no longer endure enslavement
Born to be free
Our innate state is one of liberty
African legacy
Our ancestry and heritage are uniquely African
We never a colony
We were never subject to colonial rule
African dynasty
We are a powerful and thriving group of people
True liberty
We are truly free from oppression
Apart of me
We are all a part of this greater African community
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: David R Hinds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind