Sugar Minott (born Lincoln Barrington Minott, May 25, 1956 in Kingston, die… Read Full Bio ↴Sugar Minott (born Lincoln Barrington Minott, May 25, 1956 in Kingston, died Saturday July 10, 2010 in Kingston) was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator known for his sweet roots dancehall style.

Sugar Minott spent his youth hanging around the legendary "Studio 1" listening to the artists that recorded there, such as Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, The Heptones, Dennis Brown and others.

Sugar began his career with the formation of the African Brothers, along with Tony Tuff and Derek Howard (and later Triston Palmer) in the early 1970s. The African Brothers were a harmonious roots act, of which Sugar became the most popular member. By 1979, Sugar had been invited by Studio 1 to record a solo album.

When recording at Studio 1, he chose not to use a backing band as in conventional recording, but elected to sing over instrumental versions of old Studio 1 classics. This is considered to be the birth of "dancehall," which lead to countless artists making new hits out of old classics, a tradition that continues in Jamaica today.

Sugar was also well-regarded for hard work on his Youthman Promotion sound system and Black Roots & Youthman Promotion labels into the 1980s, which brought forth such artists as Tenor Saw, Nitty Gritty, Yami Bolo, Junior Reid, Tony Rebel, Garnett Silk, and many more to the industry. Up until his death, he was still working with young artists both in Jamaica and the US, including his daughter Pashon Minott.

River Jordan
Sugar Minott Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

River Jordan gonna roll, roll, roll, yeah

Jordan River, roll River Jordan
Calling us home, calling us home
We got to back home, back to Africa
It's just calling us home, calling us home

Mount Zion high, where we want to go

It's just calling us home, calling us home

So long we've been down in slavery, well
And now we just got to be free
Yes, we want to be free, well

Jordan River, roll River Jordan
Calling us home, calling us home
We got to back home, back to Africa
It's just calling us home, calling us home

So long we've been bound in shackles and chains, whoa
And now, we just want to go home
We got to go home, we want to go home, whoa

Jordan River gonna roll, roll, roll
Jordan River, let it roll

So long we've been bound in captivity
And now, we just got to be free
Babylon we want to be free, well

Jordan River, roll River Jordan
Calling us home, calling us home
We got to back home, back to Africa
It's just calling us home, calling us home

Oh, River Jordan gonna roll
Oh, River Jordan gonna roll, roll

Overall Meaning

"River Jordan" by Sugar Minott is a song about the longing of the African people for their homeland after being subjected to years of slavery and captivity in Babylon. The song starts by calling out to the Jordan River, asking it to roll and help the African people go back home to Africa. The chorus repeats this call, emphasizing the importance of hearing and answering the call to go back home. The phrase "calling us home" is repeated throughout the song and signifies the deep yearning of the African people to reconnect with their roots, culture, and heritage.

The lyrics highlight how the African people have been down in slavery for so long and how they are now ready to be free. They long to be in Africa, which is referred to as Mount Zion high, and the place where they want to go. The song expressively talks about how the African people have been in captivity and bound in shackles and chains for so long, but they are now ready to be free from Babylon and go back home to Africa. The song is an articulation of the deep pain and heartache experienced by African people and their desire for freedom and a homecoming.

Line by Line Meaning

River Jordan gonna roll, roll, roll, yeah
The Jordan River is going to continue flowing and moving forward.

Jordan River, roll River Jordan
The singer is expressing a call to the Jordan River to flow

Calling us home, calling us home
The Jordan River represents a spiritual call to return to Africa

We got to back home, back to Africa
The call to return to Africa is strong and unwavering

It's just calling us home, calling us home
The Jordan River's flow is a manifestation of the spiritual call to return to Africa

Mount Zion high, where we want to go
The ultimate destination is Mount Zion, a mystical place of spiritual significance

So long we've been down in slavery, well
The history of African enslavement is long and oppressive

And now we just got to be free
Freedom from oppression is an urgent and necessary goal

Yes, we want to be free, well
The desire for freedom is strong and persistent

So long we've been bound in shackles and chains, whoa
The history of African enslavement is full of physical and psychological trauma

And now, we just want to go home
The call to return to Africa is a source of comfort and healing

We got to go home, we want to go home, whoa
The return to Africa is an urgent and necessary goal

Jordan River, let it roll
The singer is urging the Jordan River to continue flowing and moving forward

So long we've been bound in captivity
The history of African enslavement is characterized by confinement and oppression

Babylon we want to be free, well
The desire for freedom extends to all aspects of African life and identity

Oh, River Jordan gonna roll
The singer reiterates the Jordan River's continuous flow and movement forward

Oh, River Jordan gonna roll, roll
The singer emphasizes the Jordan River's movement and unstoppable flow

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LINCOLN BARRINGTON MINOTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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