The Mission
Stephen Marley & Damian Marley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

From Jungle to Rema
From Tivoli to Matthews Lane
From Waterhouse to Drewsland
From Baneland to Delacre

A youth and youth fi have a plan and have some ambition
And make sure unnu firm ina di Armageddon
So when you son become a man, him know just where you stand
Him know him poopa set it so him follow tradition
If Marcus Garvey say fi read then why some man ah pree
Cause knowledge ah the key and it wll set the people free
And Haile I philosophy is African unity
Unno watch dey segregation and social impurity
The race is not just for the swift but those who can endure
Make sure you have a steady footing in ah zion door
And keep dem thoughts dem pure, Jah love is for the poor
But some likkkle bwoy ah burst some gun dem mooma can't afford
If Jah say blood fi run let Jah will be done
The heaven and the earth will pass away before him word no come
But if 'I'm rise without a cause there will be no reward
For you to enter Zion gates because you are a fraud

For the youths in the struggle
Fighting Guerilla warfare
Somalia to Ethiopia
From Egypt to Zimbabwe

Haile Selassie say ah war if colour is a scar
If one from every nation can come live up an ah par
So don't care who you are there's a brighter morning star
It's shining with di town and tell the people near and far
You seek and you will search with science and research
The flesh it is the temple and the temple is the church
Haile Selassie say fi work so how some man ah lurks
Dem fix upon the cornerside like rubbish heap and dirt
Haile Selassie say ah one respect for every man
No care dey race, no care dey colour nor di religion
So make a decision fi bun di division
Cause each and every rasta youth to trot pon di mission

From Portmore to Kingston
From Kingston to Montego Bay
From Seaview to Riverton
Come and hundred proclaim

From Jungle to Rema
From Tivoli to Matthews Lane
From Southside to Telaville
From Iraq to USA

From Waterhouse to Drewsland




Baneland to Delacre
Portmore, kingston to boom.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Stephen Marley and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley's song "The Mission" embody a message of unity, perseverance, and social justice. The lyrics mention different areas in Jamaica and other countries facing instability, poverty, and inequality. The song's lyrics emphasize the importance of having a plan and ambition, being firm in faith, and preserving tradition. The lyrics also highlight the significance of knowledge, African unity, and social purity to achieve lasting peace and progress. The song's lyrics encourage seeking and researching to understand one's faith, respecting everyone regardless of race, color or religion, and working to eradicate division and promote harmony.


The lyrics of "The Mission" reflect the Marley brothers' inspiration from the teachings of Rastafarianism and the philosophy of Haile Selassie, Ethiopia's former emperor. The song's lyrics aim to inspire and uplift the youths and other vulnerable individuals to take part in the struggle for a better future. The Marley brothers' use of the phrase "Mission" symbolizes the idea of fulfilling one's moral and social responsibilities while staying true to one's faith and principles.


Line by Line Meaning

From Jungle to Rema
From impoverished neighborhoods in Jamaica where violence and crime are prevalent.


From Tivoli to Matthews Lane
Other areas of Jamaica known for gang activity and crime.


From Waterhouse to Drewsland
Additional impoverished neighborhoods where many people struggle to make ends meet.


From Baneland to Delacre
More locations with poverty and hardship that people are trying to overcome.


A youth and youth fi have a plan and have some ambition
Young people need to have aspirations and goals for their future.


And make sure unnu firm ina di Armageddon
They must be prepared for Armageddon, a metaphorical or literal end of the world.


So when you son become a man, him know just where you stand
Fathers should guide their sons with a firm set of values so they know how to live their lives.


Him know him poopa set it so him follow tradition
Their father's teachings should guide them to follow their religion and cultural traditions.


If Marcus Garvey say fi read then why some man ah pree
Why are some people not following Garvey's advice to educate themselves?


Cause knowledge ah the key and it wll set the people free
Education is essential for breaking free from oppression and other societal problems.


And Haile I philosophy is African unity
Haile Selassie's beliefs and teachings emphasize the importance of unity and solidarity among people of African descent.


Unno watch dey segregation and social impurity
People need to be aware of and fight against any forms of discrimination or societal problems.


The race is not just for the swift but those who can endure
Success in life is not just about being quick, but also about persistence and resilience.


Make sure you have a steady footing in ah zion door
Have a stable foundation in your religious beliefs and practices.


And keep dem thoughts dem pure, Jah love is for the poor
People should keep their minds and hearts pure, as religious/spiritual devotion is especially important for those who are struggling financially.


But some likkkle bwoy ah burst some gun dem mooma can't afford
Young people are resorting to gun violence, causing pain and suffering for their families and communities.


If Jah say blood fi run let Jah will be done
People believe that God's will must be done, even if it means there will be conflict and violence.


The heaven and the earth will pass away before him word no come
God's word will always be fulfilled, even if the world around us changes or comes to an end.


But if 'I'm rise without a cause there will be no reward
If someone tries to achieve success or status without a clear purpose or mission, they may not reap any real rewards.


For you to enter Zion gates because you are a fraud
Entering heaven will be impossible if someone leads a dishonest or inauthentic life.


For the youths in the struggle
This song is dedicated to young people trying to overcome struggles in life.


Fighting Guerilla warfare
Using guerrilla tactics to fight against oppression and other societal problems.


Somalia to Ethiopia
From one part of Africa to another.


From Egypt to Zimbabwe
From one part of Africa to another.


Haile Selassie say ah war if colour is a scar
Selassie spoke out against racism and believed it was a form of warfare.


If one from every nation can come live up an ah par
If people from every country are welcomed and treated equally, there can be peace and unity.


So don't care who you are there's a brighter morning star
It doesn't matter who you are, everyone can find hope and good things in life.


It's shining with di town and tell the people near and far
This message of unity and hope is spreading to people everywhere.


You seek and you will search with science and research
Finding truth and answers requires intellectual inquiry and education.


The flesh it is the temple and the temple is the church
People's bodies are holy and should be treated with respect, as sacred spaces.


Haile Selassie say fi work so how some man ah lurks
Selassie believed in the value of hard work, yet some people still don't try to improve their situations.


Dem fix upon the cornerside like rubbish heap and dirt
Some people are content to live their lives without attempting to make any real changes or improvements.


Haile Selassie say ah one respect for every man
Selassie believed that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of their race, religion, or background.


No care dey race, no care dey colour nor di religion
Respect should be given to all people, regardless of differences in race, religion, or heritage.


So make a decision fi bun di division
Choose to reject divisiveness and disagreements, and work towards unity instead.


Cause each and every rasta youth to trot pon di mission
Encouraging every young Rastafarian to move forward with their goals and aspirations.


From Portmore to Kingston
From different parts of Jamaica.


From Kingston to Montego Bay
From different parts of Jamaica.


From Seaview to Riverton
From different areas of Jamaica.


Come and hundred proclaim
Many people are speaking out together with this message of hope and unity.


From Southside to Telaville
Primarily impoverished areas of Jamaica where many people experience daily struggles.


From Iraq to USA
This struggle against oppression and societal problems is taking place in numerous countries and regions around the world.


Portmore, kingston to boom.
Different locations in Jamaica.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAMIAN ROBERT NESTA MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY, TREVOR JAMES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@khemrajdeolall7164

[Hook 1: Stephen Marley]
From Jungle to Rema
From Tivoli to Matthews Lane
From Waterhouse to Drewsland
From Baneland to Delacre

[Verse 1: Damian Marley]
A youth and youth fi have a plan and have some ambition
And make sure unnu firm ina di Armageddon
So when you son become a man, him know just where you stand
Him know him poopa set it so him follow tradition
If Marcus Garvey say fi read then why some man ah pree
Cause knowledge ah the key and it wll set the people free
And Haile I philosophy is African unity
Unno watch dey segregation and social impurity
The race is not just for the swift but those who can endure
Make sure you have a steady footing in ah zion door
And keep dem thoughts dem pure, Jah love is for the poor
But some likkkle bwoy ah burst some gun dem mooma can't afford
If Jah say blood fi run let Jah will be done
The heaven and the earth will pass away before him word no come
But if 'I'm rise without a cause there will be no reward
For you to enter Zion gates because you are a fraud

[Hook 2: Stephen Marley]
For the youths in the struggle
Fighting Guerilla warfare
Somalia to Ethiopia
From Egypt to Zimbabwe

Haile Selassie say ah war if colour is a scar
If one from every nation can come live up an ah par
So don't care who you are there's a brighter morning star
It's shining wake the town and tell the people near and far
You seek and you will search with science and research
The flesh it is the temple and the temple is the church
Haile Selassie say fi work so how some man ah lurks
Dem fix upon the cornerside like rubbish heap and dirt
Haile Selassie say ah one respect for every man
No care dey race, no care dey colour nor di religion
So make a decision fi bun di division
Cause each and every rasta youth to trot pon di mission

[Hook 3: Stephen Marley]
From Portmore to Kingston
From Kingston to Montego Bay
From Seaview to Riverton
Come and hundred proclaim

[Hook 4: Stephen Marley]
From Jungle to Rema
From Tivoli to Matthews Lane
From Southside to Telaville
From Iraq to USA

[Hook 5: Stephen Marley]
From Waterhouse to Drewsland
Baneland to Delacre
Portmore, kingston to boom



@alhassanjassim

this indeed is the message... very deep and it makes sense to me...


If one from every nation can come live up an ah par
So don't care who you are there's a brighter morning star
It's shining with di town and tell the people near and far
You seek and you will search with science and research
The flesh it is the temple and the temple is the church
Haile Selassie say fi work so how some man ah lurks
Dem fix upon the cornerside like rubbish heap and dirt
Haile Selassie say ah one respect for every man
No care dey race, no care dey colour nor di religion
So make a decision fi bun di division
Cause each and every rasta youth to trot pon di mission



All comments from YouTube:

@ladymaefire

Again!!!!!! This song NEEDS TO BE RE- RELEASEDDD!!!!!!!!!!! The world never ready 10 yrs ago VP!!1 it is ripe for this song !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The lyrics are absolutely scorching!!! and Stephen's voice....Mi a beg unuh duh re release this !!!!!!!!!

@thegoat4587

This the song the need to play over every broadcasting and let the world hear this in 2022. Just bought tears to my eyes. I was maybe 16 going through one of the worse times in my life this got me through. The mission, Our Mission.

@Kim_Jong_Un_.

Stay strong 💪

@ethemozdemir

you should add Turkiye or Turkey too. As a Turk, i am really sorry that we couldnt protect you (historical thing) And now we have many African brothers and sisters in Turkey. Peace and love to all <3

@robertmcdougall4099

No matter race or colour or religion jah love ❤

@anythingrandom8598

Free Africa 🇿🇦🇿🇦🌍🌍✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

@jarrodjack33

Rap artists should focus on producing songs that will inspire and educate listeners instead of rapping about how much money, how many girls, and how many people they killed. By doing so, it only creates more youth especially black youth to lead a life of chaos, violence, and the rejection of education. This song acknowledges that all humans are equal regardless of race, country or religion. Good message, very important.

@bertolini83

"...Haile Selassie say ah one respect for every man
No care dey race, no care dey colour nor di religion..."
one race, one blood, one love... Jah bless.

@MiNo1993

Jah bless ya'

@MiNo1993

Words of truth, peace everywhere ✌️

More Comments

More Versions