Steel Pulse is a British roots reggae band from Birmingham, England. They w… Read Full Bio ↴Steel Pulse is a British roots reggae band from Birmingham, England. They were the first non-Jamaican act to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for their 1986 album Babylon The Bandit.

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.

Tightrope
Steel Pulse Lyrics

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Deliver me, oh, my father
From the down pressers set me free
Dem a trying to keep I down
I will always prosper, yes I
Dem a trying to keep I down
I will always, no

Got me walking, walking on a tightrope

Can't afford to buck my toe, no
As long as Babylon, Babylon is my foe
I will have hope in my soul

Poor man's life don't cut no ice
So many mouths to feed
And if my word ain't, ain't good enough
Just, just take a look and see, yeah

Got me walking, walking on a tightrope
Can't afford to buck my toe, no
As long as Babylon, Babylon is my foe
I will have hope in my soul

Like a drowning man that clutches a straw
Might think he's got no chance, no
The will of Jah can pull him through
He's a helping hand, you got that

Got me walking, walking on a tightrope
Can't afford to buck my toe, no
As long as Babylon, Babylon is my foe
I will have hope in my soul

From the valley of dry bones I have risen
Got to make a change
Hang my head in the clouds with conviction
Ain't no stopping now
Deliver me, oh, my father, set me free

Hey, walking on a tightrope
Can't afford, no, can't afford, no way
Never gonna buck my toe
As long as Babylon is my foe, now
I will have hope in my soul

Just can't keep me down, no
Just can't keep me down, no way
Just can't keep me down, ooh
Just can't keep me, really, just can't keep me

Got me walking, walking on a tightrope
Never, never say die
Reach the mountain high

Never, never say die
Never, never say die
Never, never say die
Reach the mountain high

Walking on a tightrope
Walking on a tightrope

Overall Meaning

The song "Tightrope" by Steel Pulse is about the struggles that people in the lower classes face in trying to succeed and prosper despite the societal pressures that are constantly trying to keep them down. The lyrics address this struggle and the need for hope and faith in difficult times. The opening lines, "Deliver me, oh, my father / From the down pressers set me free / Dem a trying to keep I down / I will always prosper, yes I," express the desire for salvation and freedom from oppression.

The lyrics also acknowledge the difficulties that people in poverty face, including the struggle to provide for themselves and their families. The line "Poor man's life don't cut no ice / So many mouths to feed" highlights this struggle. Despite these challenges, the song stresses the importance of perseverance and determination. The chorus repeats the phrase "Got me walking, walking on a tightrope / Can't afford to buck my toe, no / As long as Babylon, Babylon is my foe / I will have hope in my soul," which emphasizes the need to keep moving forward despite the obstacles.

The song concludes with a message of resilience: "Just can't keep me down, no / Just can't keep me down, no way / Just can't keep me down, ooh / Just can't keep me, really, just can't keep me." This final section reinforces the idea that, no matter how difficult the journey may be, the human spirit is strong enough to overcome.

Line by Line Meaning

Deliver me, oh, my father
Requesting deliverance from the struggles of life

From the down pressers set me free
Asking to be freed from oppressors

Dem a trying to keep I down
Acknowledging the existence of oppressors

I will always prosper, yes I
Being hopeful regardless of oppression

Got me walking, walking on a tightrope
Feeling the pressure of life's struggles

Can't afford to buck my toe, no
Cannot afford to make a mistake

As long as Babylon, Babylon is my foe
As long as the oppressive system exists

I will have hope in my soul
Holding onto hope despite the odds

Poor man's life don't cut no ice
Being poor is not acceptable in life

So many mouths to feed
Struggling to provide for one's family

And if my word ain't, ain't good enough
Lack of trust based on social status