54-46 Was My Number
Toots 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
The song "54-46 Was My Number" is a classic reggae song, originally recorded by Toots and The Maytals in 1968. The song, which features Jeff Beck on guitar, is a powerful statement against police brutality and corruption. It begins with the singer demanding that a police officer put his hands up and not hurt him. The lyrics go on to describe how the singer was arrested and taken to jail, where he refused to give the police his name or number. When pressed, he responds with the title of the song, "54-46 was my number."
The lyrics can be interpreted as a statement of resistance against a corrupt and oppressive system. The singer refuses to allow the police to exert their power over him, and instead asserts his own power by refusing to answer their questions or give in to their demands. The repetition of the phrase "I said, yeah" and "listen what I say" throughout the song gives the lyrics a sense of urgency and reinforces the singer's message of defiance.
Line by Line Meaning
I said, yeah (I said, yeah)
I am emphasizing and repeating my statement for you to pay attention.
Listen what I say (listen what I say)
Pay attention to my message.
I said hear me now (I said, yeah)
I am emphasizing the urgency of my message and asking for your attention.
I said hear me now (listen what I say)
I am emphasizing the urgency of my message and asking for your attention.
I said, "Stick it up, mister"
I am commanding someone to put their hands up in the air.
Hear what I say, sir
Listen to my instructions.
Get your hands in the air, sir
Put your hands up in the air.
Then you will get no hurt mister, ah
If you follow my instructions, you will not be harmed.
Do what I say, sir, ah
I am commanding someone to follow my instructions.
Just what I mean sir
Follow my instructions precisely.
Get your hands in the air, sir
Put your hands up in the air.
Then you will get no hurt, no
If you follow my instructions, you will not be harmed.
Second thing they say, I must join the office
Someone is giving me instructions to join an office.
Third thing they say, "Son, give me your number now"
Someone is asking me to give them my phone number.
He say, "What's your number?", I don't answer
I am not responding to his question about my phone number.
He say, "What's your number, man?", I don't answer
I am not responding to his question about my phone number.
He say, "What's your number now?"
He is questioning me again about my phone number.
He say "What's your number now?"
He is questioning me again about my phone number.
I said, "Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number", whoa
I finally reveal my phone number.
Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number, one more time
I repeat my phone number to ensure they heard it correctly.
Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number, whoa
I am confirming my phone number once again.
Fifty-four, forty-six, that's my number
I am confirming my phone number to someone.
Ba-da-da, dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, dee, da-da-dee-da
This line contains no relevant meaning as it is only instrumental.
Ba-da, dai-dai, day-day, day-da-da-dee-da
This line contains no relevant meaning as it is only instrumental.
Dee-da-dai-da, day-da-day-da, day-da-day-da, day-da-day-da
This line contains no relevant meaning as it is only instrumental.
Da-da-da, dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, de-dee-dee
This line contains no relevant meaning as it is only instrumental.
Dee-da-da-da-da, dai-da-da-da-da
This line contains no relevant meaning as it is only instrumental.
Dee-da-da-da-da-da
This line contains no relevant meaning as it is only instrumental.
Stick it up, mister (I said, yeah)
I am repeating my command for someone to put their hands up in the air.
Hear what I say, sir (I said, yeah)
I am repeating my command for someone to listen to my instructions.
Get your hands in the air, sir (I said, yeah)
I am repeating my command for someone to put their hands up in the air.
Then you will get no hurt, mister, oh oh (I said, yeah)
I am reminding someone that if they follow my instructions, they will not be harmed.
Yeah (I said, yeah)
I am confirming and emphasizing my previous statement.
Whoa, yeah, yeah, yeah (I said, yeah)
I am expressing enthusiasm and agreement.
Stick it up, mister now (I said, yeah)
I am repeating my command for someone to put their hands up in the air.
Hear what I say, sir
Listen to my instructions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Frederick Hibbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind