Protect Yu Neck
Tarrus Riley born Omar Riley in Bronx, New York, is a promising reggae sing… Read Full Bio ↴Tarrus Riley born Omar Riley in Bronx, New York, is a promising reggae singer and songwriter. His early years were spent in music studios and traveling the world with his dad. He picked up something special along the way. He is a songwriter of uncommon intelligence, breadth with a deft touch. His emotional and spiritual IQ matches his heartfelt sincerity. As a singer, his vocal style is reassuring. It conveys his every mood, concern and context eloquently. His songwriting is bold, yet definitive, passionate and authentic, without being strident or overly militant. Except for the same surname, Tarrus, while clearly not possessing his famous father's voice with its sharp edge, is content musically to create his own legacy.
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Riley is the son of veteran singer Jimmy Riley and nurse Lavern Tatham-Riley. He was born in the Bronx and grew up in South Florida. He began his musical career as a deejay working with Busta Rhymes, taking his birth sign as his stage name at his mother's suggestion (the spelling later changed from Taurus to Tarrus), and recorded his first singles for his father's Love & Promotion label. He was guided in his early career by Dean Fraser, who also performs in his band and produces much of Riley's work.
Riley has released three albums, Challenges (2004), Parables (2006), and Contagious (2009). Contagious features guest appearances from Damian Marley, Vybz Kartel, Etana, Konshens, Demarco and Duane Stephenson. His commercial breakthrough came in 2006 with the Parables album and the Jamaican number one single "She's Royal".

Riley was awarded the Reggae Runnins Caribbean Heritage Award at the 2009 HOT 105 FM Caribbean-American Heritage Awards. He was nominated in the Best Reggae category of the 2009 MOBO Awards.

Protect Yu Neck
Tarrus Riley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

Bulby yuh a listen
Ready

Protect yuh neck
Protect yuh neck
Protect yuh head don′t tek nuh check
Protect yuh neck
Look over yuh shoulder

Yuh a hear mi now

Duh nuh come out afta midnight iyah
All inna broad daylight dem a tek life
So imagine afta dark when di action start
Wat a guh gwaan

Duh nuh come out afta x-30
Dem yah yute yah well blood tirsty
Nuh mek sun down ketch yuh inna town
Tek weh yuh self now

Ova war-rieka hill
War neva stand still
And inna garden
Mi neva see nuh cultivation nor nuh farming-a gwaan
Dem will done yuh inna kirk (dunkirk)
All ova watahouse a drought still dem will wet yuh
Is like yuh life nuh have nuh worth
I look inna callaloo bed
And nuh see nuh mo' vegetarian alone

And get dis straight sah
Chant for a safer jamaica
Who name dem place yah
Dem neva know seh word sound a powah

Yuh got to be care-ful
And protect yuh neck
Protect yuh head back
Careful and protect yuh neck protect yuh head

When yuh come out afta x-30
Nuh trust nuh blue suit nor khaaki
Nuff a pose like police and dem a tief
Worst dan di klan weh wrap up inna white sheet
Freaks come out anytime it touch dark
Watch how yuh walk inside di park
He turn she and she turn he some sight to see
Swap identity and waah come mingle wid we
New kingston
Mi si dem a dust but mi nuh see nothing done
For my people
Still no one knows the reason

And mi guh ask a hope road
Still it was hopeless cause no one would hear ma cry
Di struggle still continue
And inna payneland burn di pain and mek wi hold a joy

Get dis straight sah
Work for a safer jamaica
Sweetest land sweetest watah
Dash weh di pirate cultcha

Yuh got to be care-ful
And protect yuh neck
Protect yuh head back
Careful and protect yuh neck protect yuh head

Yuh betta protect yuh neck
Protect yuh neck
Protect yuh head don′t tek nuh check
Protect yuh neck
And look over yuh shoulder

Mi well waah come out afta x-30
Mi nuh waah nuh curfew country
Woman and man tired fi lock up inna house
Well waah come out and sport all bout

When wi come out and start party
Yuh nuh si nuh one hot like we
Nuh mek pagan mash up wi country
(? in communit twist?) up in love and inity
Shooters hill
Di war neva stand still
And inna garden
Mi neva si nuh cultivation nor nuh farming
Now dem will done yuh inna kirk
All ova waterhouse a drought still dem will wet yuh
Is like yuh life nuh have nuh worth
And inna callaloo bed mi nuh si nuh mo vegetarian alone

Mek wi get dis straight sah
Chant for a safer jamaica
Who name dem place yah




Dem neva seh word sound a powah
Hey

Overall Meaning

In Tarrus Riley's song "Protect Yu Neck", he is addressing the topic of violence in Jamaica and the importance of being vigilant and protecting oneself. The repetition of the phrase "protect yuh neck" is a reminder to listeners that they need to take care and not be caught off guard. The lyrics warn against going out after dark, as violence tends to increase at night. The line "worst than di klan weh wrap up inna white sheet" is a reference to the Ku Klux Klan and their history of violence against black people.


Riley also highlights the corruption within the police force, warning against trusting officers who may be involved in criminal activities themselves. The lines "Nuh mek pagan mash up wi country" and "Who name dem place yah, dem neva seh word sound a powah" suggest that the government is not doing enough to protect its citizens from violence and corruption.


Throughout the song, Riley uses Jamaican patois to convey his message, making the lyrics more relatable to his intended audience. The chorus is catchy and easy to sing along with, adding to the song's impact and encouraging listeners to take the message to heart and "chant for a safer Jamaica".




Writer(s): Gary E. Grice, Dennis David Coles, Russell T. Jones, Clifford Smith, Jason S. Hunter, Lamont Hawkins, Corey Woods, Robert F. Diggs

Contributed by Maria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@japaneseboy47

protect ya neck! bless up tarrus riley

@mark_bossmusicm_boss2662

Jah know this one ☝🏾 is real 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯✅✅✅✅

@wazrasta

his best song by far! he needs to drop more like this

@iloverette

Serious Tarrus is sooooooooo enlightened...and he's a lyrical genius...wow...just..wow. Very proud of him!!! I want to be able to write like that. :)

@benzion505

Jah bless Mr. Tarrus Riley

@diduhear

luv this song

@FloridaRx

Tarrus and Blingaz..mad combination...brap brap

@Loud0glbc

i LOVE the COBY boombox haha that's sweet

@iamrsl

BEAST!!!!!!!!!

@DonGoliath

One good thing about Corona: I've been mad busy in the studio and got several new 90s Dancehall riddims ready. Come check 'em.

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