The vocal trio was originally formed in 1968 by Bernard Collins and Donald Manning. Their first song was "Satta Massagana", which was strongly influenced by Carlton Manning's "Happy Land". "Satta Massagana" is a Rastafarian hymn sung partly in the ancient Ethiopian Amharic language. They recruited a third vocalist, who was still at school and often unable to attend rehearsals; he was soon replaced by Donald's brother Lynford Manning, who had previously been a member of their brother Carlton Manning's group Carlton and The Shoes.
"Satta Massagana" was first recorded for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in March 1969, but he decided against releasing it, seeing no commercial potential for what he saw as a song constituting cultural subversion. In 1971, the group purchased the master tapes from Dodd for £90 and released it on their own Clinch label, the single becoming a massive success, prompting Dodd to release his own instrumental and deejay versions. The group released further takes on the song on Clinch by Tommy McCook, Big Youth, and Dillinger, as well as their own "Mabrak", featuring the group reciting passages from the Old Testament. It has since been recorded by dozens of artists. The group's second release, "Declaration of Rights", featured Leroy Sibbles on backing vocals, and like their first was a huge hit in Jamaica, (and subsequently in the international market) and has been covered several times since. Their 1973 single "Y Mas Gan" was similar to "Satta" in its use of Amharic.
The group continued to record throughout the 1970s for producers including Lloyd Daley, Tommy Cowan, and Geoffrey Chung, and their debut album, Forward on to Zion was produced by Clive Hunt and released in 1976. The follow-up, Arise (1978), was recorded under stressful conditions with internal rivalries threatening to break up the group, and after the album's release, Collins left the band, to be eventually replaced by Carlton Manning. This line-up performed at the 1979 Reggae Sunsplash festival, but split up the following year.
Donald Manning had a brief solo career in the early 1980s, in which he recorded as Donald Abyssinian.
Bernard Collins launched his own version of the group in the late 1980s, with two versions of the group existing for a time. The original line-up reunited in 1998 and went on to record new material, including the singles "African Princess" and "Swing Low" and the album Reunion, although Collins was not involved in songwriting at this time. Collins left again in 1999 and released material as Bernard Collins & the Abyssinians, releasing an album the same year.
The Abyssinians are credited on "Slave Song", from Sade's 2002 album, Lovers Live.
Discography
Studio albums
1976 : Satta Massagana - Jam Sounds (reissued 1988 on Clinch, 1993, 2007 on Heartbeat, also released as Satta and Forward on to Zion)
1978 : Arise - Tuff Gong/Virgin/Clinch
1998 : Reunion - Artists Only
Compilation albums
1982 : Forward - Alligator
1994 : Best of the Abyssinians - Musidisc
1996 : 19.95 + TAX
1998 : Satta Dub - Tabou 1
1998 : Declaration of Dub - Heartbeat
1999 : Last Days - Clinch (credited to Bernard Collins)
2003 : Abyssinians & Friends Tree of Satta vol. 1 - Blood & Fire
Live albums
2002 : Live in San Francisco - 2b1 II
Know Jah Today
The Abyssinians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know Jah today and there'll be no sorrow
Tomorrow will be too late
And you'll be knockin' on the gate
So don't, don't let this chance pass you by
You don't, don't know what lies ahead
Tomorrow will be too late
So don't, don't let this chance pass you by
You don't, don't know what lies ahead
Know Jah today and not, and not tomorrow
Know HIM I say and there'll be no sorrow
You got to know Jah today and not, and not tomorrow
Know HIM I say, know HIM I say
You got to know Jah today, know HIM I say
You better know Jah today, there's no other way...
The lyrics of The Abyssinians' song "Know Jah Today" speak to the importance of knowing and following God in the present moment rather than putting it off until tomorrow. The chorus urges the listener to "know Jah today and not tomorrow" because "tomorrow will be too late" and "there'll be no sorrow" if one has a relationship with God. The repeated lines "you don't know what lies ahead" emphasize the uncertainty of life and the need to take advantage of the opportunity to know God now.
The verses suggest that seeking God is a path to peace and spiritual fulfillment. The line "So don't, don't let this chance pass you by" implies that there may be consequences for failing to embrace spirituality. The repetition of "know HIM I say" creates a sense of urgency and conviction in the message. Overall, the lyrics of "Know Jah Today" encourage listeners to prioritize their relationship with God and seek spiritual fulfillment in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Know Jah today and not tomorrow
It's important to have a personal relationship with God now, not later
Know Jah today and there'll be no sorrow
Having a relationship with God can bring peace and joy
Tomorrow will be too late
Don't wait until it's too late to seek God
And you'll be knockin' on the gate
If you wait too long, you may find that heaven's gate is closed to you
So don't, don't let this chance pass you by
Don't miss out on the opportunity to know God
You don't, don't know what lies ahead
You can't predict the future, so take advantage of the present
Know HIM I say and there'll be no sorrow
Having a relationship with God can bring peace and joy
You got to know Jah today and not, and not tomorrow
It's important to have a personal relationship with God now, not later
Know HIM I say, know HIM I say
Emphasizing the importance of knowing God
You better know Jah today, there's no other way...
The only way to find peace and joy is through a personal relationship with God
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN SHANKS, LUCY WOODWARD, SHELLY PEIKEN, SHELLY M. PEIKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jonatah Jimenez
Know Jah today and not tomorrow
Know Jah today and there'll be no sorrow
Tomorrow will be too late
And you'll be knockin' on the gate
So don't, don't let this chance pass you by
You don't, don't know what lies ahead
Tomorrow will be too late
And you'll be knockin' on the gate
So don't, don't let this chance pass you by
You don't, don't know what lies ahead
Know Jah today and not, and not tomorrow
Know HIM I say and there'll be no sorrow
You got to know Jah today and not, and not tomorrow
Know HIM I say, know HIM I say
You got to know Jah today, know HIM I say
You better know Jah today, there's no other way...
Stephan Israel
I just brought their album. If my money is going to go somewhere, I feel fine with it going to these guys. Beautiful song.
papakilatube
I don't know why this track is so slept on. For me it's one of their best ever.
Adonijah Israel
Beautiful for the I meditation, real roots to the soul.
Know Jah Today Iyah!
John Public
evergreen Abyssinians unmatchable vibes
The Carriters
Gran tema hermano. Gracias.
Mario César
muito bom o som
Thays Habibe
Pedrada!!!
Jonatah Jimenez
Know Jah today and not tomorrow
Know Jah today and there'll be no sorrow
Tomorrow will be too late
And you'll be knockin' on the gate
So don't, don't let this chance pass you by
You don't, don't know what lies ahead
Tomorrow will be too late
And you'll be knockin' on the gate
So don't, don't let this chance pass you by
You don't, don't know what lies ahead
Know Jah today and not, and not tomorrow
Know HIM I say and there'll be no sorrow
You got to know Jah today and not, and not tomorrow
Know HIM I say, know HIM I say
You got to know Jah today, know HIM I say
You better know Jah today, there's no other way...
rmtd
When I first heard it a couple times in the album I though it said No Job Today
Loveeasethesoul forevertruetoself
RealMandraque 😁😁