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
Satta Masagana
The Abyssinians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where there's no night, there's only day
Look into the book of life, and you will see
That there's a land, far far away
That there's a land, far far away
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Sit upon His throne and He rules us allLook into the book of life, and you will see
That He rules us all
That He rules us all
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Sit upon His throne and He rules us all
Look into the book of life, and you will see
That He rules us all
That He rules us all
There is a land, far far away
Where there's no night, there's only day
Look into the book of life, and you will see
That there's a land, far far away
That there's a land, far far away
Satta Massagana
Ahamlack, Ulaghize
Satta Massagana
Ahamlack, Ulaghize
Ulaghize, Ulaghize
The Abyssinians’ song “Satta Masagana” is a hymn of praise to God and a reflection on the afterlife. The lyrics speak of a far-off land where there is no night, only day, and where God sits upon his throne and rules over all. The repetition of the phrase “Look into the book of life, and you will see” invites the listener to contemplate the mysteries of divine wisdom and the eternal nature of the soul.
The song is notable for its use of the rastafarian chant “Satta Massagana,” a phrase that has been translated variously as “give thanks and praise,” “holy trinity,” and “unity in diversity.” The repetition of this phrase at the end of each verse adds to the song’s meditative quality and underscores the idea that the search for spiritual truth is universal and ongoing.
The lyrics of “Satta Masagana” are rooted in the Rastafari movement, a social and religious movement that emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s. Rastafarians, who see Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie as a messianic figure, believe in the unity of all peoples and the importance of African identity and culture. The song’s call to look into the “book of life” echoes the Rastafarian emphasis on the Bible as a source of spiritual guidance and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a land, far far away
There exists a peaceful, utopian place that is far away from our current location
Where there's no night, there's only day
In this utopian land, there is no darkness or negativity, only positivity and light
Look into the book of life, and you will see
If one studies the book of life (maybe referring to religious texts or philosophy), they can understand this utopian land and its values
That there's a land, far far away
Once again, emphasizing the existence of the utopian land
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Refers to a higher power, possibly a religious deity or just an all-powerful ruler
Sit upon His throne and He rules us all
This higher power is the ultimate authority, controlling every aspect of our lives
That He rules us all
Emphasizes the complete domination and control of this higher power
Satta Massagana
Possibly a chant or repeated phrase with unclear meaning
Ahamlack, Ulaghize
Possibly other chants or phrases with unclear meaning
Ulaghize, Ulaghize
Repetition of the previous chant or phrase, with continued unclear meaning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARL DAWKINS, DONALD MANNING, LINFORD ELIJAH MANNING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@haoren7494
There's no single reggae anthem. Reggae deals with reality and is situational for example from this same group is "Almghtiest of all"
From Dusciples is " David and Goliath"
From Earth and Stone there's " Devil must have made you* from Toots "54-46"
From Dennis Brown
Love & hate
From Bunny Waler
Rise and Shine
From Burning Spear
The wilderness
From....I could go on and on......
@ChuchodelChucho
[Verse 1]
There is a land far, far away
Where there's no night, there's only day
Look into the book of life and you will see
That there's a land far, far away
That there's a land far, far away
[Verse 2]
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Sit upon his throne and He rules us all
Look into the book of life and you will see
That He rules us all
That He rules us all (He rules us all)
[Instrumental]
[Verse 3]
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Sit upon his throne and He rules us all
Look into the book of life and you will see
That He rules us all
That He rules us all (He rules us all)
[Verse 4]
There is a land far, far away
Where there's no night, there's only day
Look into the book of life and you will see
That there's a land far, far away
That there's a land far, far away
[Outro]
Satta Massagana, Ahamlack (Ulaghize)
Satta Massagana, Ahamlack (Ulaghize)
Ulaghize, Ulaghize, Ulaghize
@angelrennyespinoza8870
There is a land, far far away
Where there's no night, there's only day
Look into the book of life, and you will see
That there's a land, far far away
That there's a land, far far away
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Sit upon His throne and He rules us all
Look into the book of life, and you will see
That He rules us all
That He rules us all
The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords
Sit upon His throne and He rules us all
Look into the book of life, and you will see
That He rules us all
That He rules us all
There is a land, far far away
Where there's no night, there's only day
Look into the book of life, and you will see
That there's a land, far far away
That there's a land, far far away
Satta Massagana
Ahamlack, Ulaghize
Satta Massagana
Ahamlack, Ulaghize
Ulaghize, Ulaghize
saludos desde Bolivia
@felisbertoantoniovan-dunem124
1 Exaltar-te-ei, ó SENHOR, porque tu me exaltaste; e não fizeste com que meus inimigos se alegrassem sobre mim.
2 Senhor meu Deus, clamei a ti, e tu me saraste.
3 Senhor, fizeste subir a minha alma da sepultura; conservaste-me a vida para que não descesse ao abismo.
4 Cantai ao Senhor, vós que sois seus santos, e celebrai a memória da sua santidade.
5 Porque a sua ira dura só um momento; no seu favor está a vida. O choro pode durar uma noite, mas a alegria vem pela manhã.
6 Eu dizia na minha prosperidade: Não vacilarei jamais.
7 Tu, Senhor, pelo teu favor fizeste forte a minha montanha; tu encobriste o teu rosto, e fiquei perturbado.
8 A ti, Senhor, clamei, e ao Senhor supliquei.
9 Que proveito há no meu sangue, quando desço à cova? Porventura te louvará o pó? Anunciará ele a tua verdade?
10 Ouve, Senhor, e tem piedade de mim, Senhor; sê o meu auxílio.
11 Tornaste o meu pranto em folguedo; desataste o meu pano de saco, e me cingiste de alegria,
12 Para que a minha glória a ti cante louvores, e não se cale. Senhor, meu Deus, eu te louvarei para sempre.(Psalm30H.I.M.)
@lawrencenjawe1935
I used to think "Get up stand up" was reggae's absolute anthem. But SATTA in my opinion encompasses the deep sense of spiritually and identity that many others don't.
@kazsupermaturalsunra4644
💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@haoren7494
There's no single reggae anthem. Reggae deals with reality and is situational for example from this same group is "Almghtiest of all"
From Dusciples is " David and Goliath"
From Earth and Stone there's " Devil must have made you* from Toots "54-46"
From Dennis Brown
Love & hate
From Bunny Waler
Rise and Shine
From Burning Spear
The wilderness
From....I could go on and on......
@ricardoogando1344
Hahaha RASTAFARI
@ricardoogando1344
@@haoren7494 man you just brought up a huge thing for US RAS Mighty Far I man's to decide... to me Ras Michael is the one, but. Then I burn some chalice and then I can't really decide anything band's like israel vibration, mykal rose, Don Carlos. Like brigadier jerry... man's RASTAFARI HAS NO ANTHEM BUT (❤💛💚)
@kingwello8895
Satay is the roots of reggae never forget that
@michaelgreene1220
The Abyssinians is one of those bands amongst many that never received their full recognition . They ruled roots rock reggae . Big Up!
@TilmanFaya
Unglaublich spirituelle Musik. Ich bekomme jedesmal Gänsehaut. Einer der schönsten Songs der je geschrieben worden ist ❤️
@Janon48
As a non-Jamaican, this was the first song that made me understand the spirituality in reggae whereas before I just liked the music for its own sake
@johncarden5761
Mine was the Third World version