54
Toots&Maytals Lyrics
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Listen what I say (listen what I say)
I said hear me now (I said, yeah)
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
I said, "Stick it up, mister"
Hear what I say, sir
Get your hands in the air, sir
Do what I say, sir, ah
Just what I mean sir
Get your hands in the air, sir
Then you will get no hurt, no
I said, yeah (I said, yeah)
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
I said hear me now (I said, yeah)
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
Second thing they say, I must join the office
Third thing they say, "Son, give me your number now"
He say, "What's your number?", I don't answer
He say, "What's your number, man?", I don't answer
He say, "What's your number now?"
He say "What's your number now?"
I said, "Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number", whoa
Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number, one more time
Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number, whoa
Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number
I said, yeah (I said, yeah)
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
I said hear me now (I said, yeah)
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
Ba-da-da, dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, dee, da-da-dee-da
Ba-da, dai-dai, day-day, day-da-da-dee-da
Dee-da-dai-da, day-da-day-da, day-da-day-da, day-da-day-da
Da-da-da, dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, de-dee-dee
Dee-da-da-da-da, dai-da-da-da-da
Dee-da-da-da-da-da
I said, yeah (I said, yeah)
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
I said, yeah (I said, yeah)
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
Stick it up, mister
Hear what I say, sir
Get your hands in the air, sir
You will get no hurt, sir, me say
Turn out your left pocket
Ah, give me a clean shirt, sir
Take off your shirt, sir
I not want no racket now
Stick it up, mister (I said, yeah)
Hear what I say, sir (I said, yeah)
Get your hands in the air, sir (I said, yeah)
Then you will get no hurt, mister, oh oh (I said, yeah)
Yeah (I said, yeah)
Whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah (I said, yeah)
Stick it up, mister now (I said, yeah)
Hear what I say, sir
Toots & The Maytals' "54-46 Was My Number" is an upbeat reggae tune about a young man who finds himself on the wrong side of the law. The singer has been accused of a crime he didn't commit and is taken to jail. In the first part of the song, he tells the police to listen to what he says and not to harm him. He tries to convince the police that he is innocent by yelling, "Stick it up mister, hear what I say sir, get your hands in the air sir, then you will get no hurt, mister, ah." He is firm in his assertions throughout the song.
In the second part of the song, the police ask him for his name, but he won't reveal it. Instead, he gives them the numbers: "Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number," which suggests that he was just another person who was unjustly accused and sent to jail.
The lyrical content of the song inspires hope and the importance of standing up to authority when it isn't warranted. In a larger context, the song is about protesting against injustice and inequality. The song speaks to the frustrations of those who are wrongly accused or misjudged and emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I said, yeah
I want you to pay attention to me
Listen what I say
I am about to say something important
I said hear me now
It is important that you listen to me right now
I said, 'Stick it up, mister'
Do as I say and raise your hands
Hear what I say, sir
Listen carefully to my instructions
Get your hands in the air, sir
Raise your hands above your head
Then you will get no hurt mister, ah
By complying, you won't get hurt
Do what I say, sir, ah
Follow my commands
Just what I mean sir
Exactly what I mean, no more, no less
Second thing they say, I must join the office
The person is being instructed to go to the office
Third thing they say, 'Son, give me your number now'
The person is being asked for their personal information
He say, 'What's your number?', I don't answer
The person is not cooperating with the request
Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number, whoa
The person gives a number as a statement of their identity
Ba-da-da, dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, dee, da-da-dee-da
Instrumental interlude with no lyrics
Turn out your left pocket
Empty out your left pocket and show what is inside
Ah, give me a clean shirt, sir
The person is asking for a shirt as a bribe
Take off your shirt, sir
The person is insisting on the bribe
Stick it up, mister (I said, yeah)
Raise your hands in surrender as instructed
Then you will get no hurt, mister, oh oh (I said, yeah)
By complying, you won't get hurt
Whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah (I said, yeah)
Expression of excitement and agreement with the lyrics
Stick it up, mister now (I said, yeah)
Raise your hands in surrender as instructed
Hear what I say, sir
Listen carefully to my instructions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Frederick Hibbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind