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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.
Wildfire
Tarrus Riley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cool yuh nah go mek wi, suffa
Enemies try, dem haffi skatta and batta and flatta
Protect me people Jah
Nuh mek dem get caught inna crossfire
Protect me nation Jah Jah
Cah wi nuh waan mi nuh long to nuh slaughta
Protect me people Jah
Protect me nation Jah Jah, Jah
Protect me nation Jah Jah
Downtown, a nuh playground, yah know
Whole heap a tension, trouble surround
Marcus prophecy I head a go roll
Mi wonda if prophecy a go unfold
Uptown, cyan go Downtown, yah know
All country people worried yah know
We needs have survival?
War is inna Middlesex corn well I'm sorry
Fadda help wi
Some nuh have nuh heart and mercy (godfather)
Fadda help wi
Preserve Jamaica beauty
Ah
Mi waan yuh protect me people Jah
Nuh mek dem get caught inna crossfire
Protect me nation Jah Jah
Hey protect me people Jah Jah
Hey
Look at di youth dem, watch dem
Cah di beast have a system, fi trap dem
Di police and di thugs a yuh children
A yuh alone have authority fi judge dem
Coulda go suffa fi bad
Di place a go mad
Nuh mek it get bad like over Bahgdad
When politics fail and religion fail
A di most high alone we hail
Protect yuh people Jah
Nuh mek dem get caught inna crossfire
Protect me people Jah Jah
Cah wi nuh waan mi nuh long to nuh slaughta
Protect yuh people Jah
A Babylon start this wildfire
Protect yuh people Jah Jah, Jah Jah Jah (protect yuh people Jah Jah) Jah Jah
Downtown, a nuh playground, yah know
Whole heap a tension, trouble surround
Marcus prophecy I head a go roll
Mi wonda if prophecy a go unfold
Uptown, cyan go Downtown, yah know
All country people worried yah know
We needs have survival?
War is inna Middlesex corn well I'm sorry
Fadda help wi
Some nuh have nuh heart and mercy (godfather)
Fadda help wi
Preserve Jamaica beauty
Ah
Mi waan yuh protect me people Jah
Nuh mek dem get caught inna crossfire
Protect me nation Jah Jah
A Babylon start this wildfire
Protect me people Jah
Cause they don't know what them doing
Protect your people Jah Jah
Protect your people Jah Jah
Confident inna yuh, Jah Jah
Cool yuh nah go mek wi, suffa
Enemies try, dem haffi skatta and batta and flatta
The song "Wildfire" by Tarrus Riley is a call for protection and preservation of Jamaica and its people. Throughout the song, Tarrus asks God to protect his nation and its people from the violence and chaos that surrounds them. He references the tension and trouble in the downtown area and wonders if the prophecies of Marcus Garvey will unfold. He asks for protection for the youth who are caught in a system designed to trap them and for the country people who are worried. Tarrus calls on God to protect his people from getting caught in the crossfire of those who seek to do harm.
The lyrics of "Wildfire" speak to the prevalence of violence and danger that is present in Jamaica. Tarrus speaks to the need for survival and protection from those who seek to do harm. He implores listeners to look to God for protection because when politics and religion fail, it is the most high alone who can provide the necessary protection. Overall, the song is a powerful call for unity and protection of the people of Jamaica and their beautiful nation.
Line by Line Meaning
Confident inna yuh, Jah Jah
I have faith in you, Jah. I trust that you will keep me safe.
Cool yuh nah go mek wi, suffa
Please help to keep us calm so that we do not have to suffer.
Enemies try, dem haffi skatta and batta and flatta
If our enemies attack us, we will defend ourselves and fight back.
Protect me people Jah
Please protect my people, Jah. Keep them safe from harm.
Nuh mek dem get caught inna crossfire
Please do not let my people get caught in the middle of conflicts.
Protect me nation Jah Jah
Please protect my nation, Jah. Keep us safe from harm.
Cah wi nuh waan mi nuh long to nuh slaughta
We do not want to experience any more slaughter or violence.
Protect me people Jah
Please protect my people, Jah. Keep them safe from harm.
A Babylon start this wildfire
This chaos and destruction was caused by Babylon or the oppressors.
Protect me nation Jah Jah, Jah
Please protect my nation, Jah. We need your help to keep us safe.
Downtown, a nuh playground, yah know
Downtown is not a safe place to be. Violence and danger are prevalent.
Whole heap a tension, trouble surround
There is a lot of tension and trouble in the air that surrounds us.
Marcus prophecy I head a go roll
I hear that the prophecy of Marcus Garvey is coming true.
Mi wonda if prophecy a go unfold
I wonder if this prophecy will continue to come true.
Uptown, cyan go Downtown, yah know
People from uptown cannot safely go to downtown because it is too dangerous.
All country people worried yah know
People from the countryside are also worried about the safety of their nation.
We needs have survival?
We need to survive. Can we make it through this chaos?
War is inna Middlesex corn well I'm sorry
War has started in Middlesex, and I feel sorry for those who are affected.
Fadda help wi
Please help us, Father. We need your help to survive this chaos.
Some nuh have nuh heart and mercy (godfather)
Some people have no compassion or mercy, even though they proclaim themselves to be godlike.
Preserve Jamaica beauty
Please help to preserve the beauty of Jamaica amidst this chaos and destruction.
Look at di youth dem, watch dem
Please look after and protect the young people. Watch over them.
Cah di beast have a system, fi trap dem
There is a system in place that is designed to trap and oppress the youth.
Di police and di thugs a yuh children
The police and the thugs are your (Jah's) children. Please help them to make good choices.
A yuh alone have authority fi judge dem
You alone, Jah, have the authority to judge them and make things right.
Coulda go suffa fi bad
Things could get really bad, and we could suffer greatly as a result.
Di place a go mad
This place is going mad. The chaos and destruction are unreal.
Nuh mek it get bad like over Bahgdad
Please do not let things get as bad as they are in Baghdad.
When politics fail and religion fail
When politics and religion fail us, we turn to you, Jah, for help and guidance.
A di most high alone we hail
We only hail and worship you, Jah. You are the most high.
Cause they don't know what them doing
Those who are causing chaos and destruction do not know what they are doing.
Protect your people Jah Jah
Please protect your people, Jah. Keep them safe from harm.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: OMAR RUBEN RILEY, UNKNOWN WRITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bowattanga
the versatile TARRUS RILEY!!!!!
@QueenZalikaS
Sing it hubby Tarrus Riley β€
@EDW.5
dad showed me this before he passed. one life one love JAW
@loveyouforlife
Ghmjkkkhjjkjkkokg
@A1x2real
Back in 2023πππβ€β€
@TheJadestevens1980
Listening to this today at the gym #inspiration and #motivation Love it! favourite tune on dis riddim!!
@moseskamakia6100
Jah love Kenya and Africa
@ladylatapy
Right now in Trinidad πΉπΉ
@clcross86
Taurrus killing it
@rastaspliff1
Pull it one more time... Tarrus inna di place. MORE FYAH!!!