54-46 Was My Number
Toots feat. The Maytals Lyrics

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Stick it up, mister!
Hear what I say, sir, yeah...
Get your hands in the air, sir!
And you will get no hurt, mister, no no no

I said yeah
What did I say?
Don't you hear? I said yeah (yeah yeah)

Listen to what I say (what I say)

Do you believe I would take something with me
And give it to the police man?
I wouldn't do that, now listen to me one more time
I wouldn't do that

And if I do that, I would say "sir, put the charge on me"
I wouldn't do that
No, I wouldn't do that

I'm not a fool to hurt myself
So I was innocent of what they done to me
They was wrong
Listen to me, they were wrong

Give it to me one time
Give it to me two time
Give it to me three time
Give it to me four time

54 46 was my number
Right now, someone else has that number

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Toots feat. The Maytals' song "54-46 Was My Number" tell a story of a man who was wrongfully accused of a crime and thrown into prison (54-46 being his prison number). He insists that he is innocent and wouldn't do anything to incriminate himself. He challenges the police to search him and says he wouldn't have anything on him that would get him into trouble. He repeats his innocence and insists that the authorities were wrong to lock him up. The song ends with him lamenting that someone else now has his prison number.

The lyrics have a powerful message about injustice and the importance of standing up for oneself. The singer refuses to be cowed by the authorities and speaks up for his rights. The lyrics also highlight the vulnerability of people who are falsely accused of crimes and how they can be caught in a cycle of injustice.

Line by Line Meaning

Stick it up, mister!
Raise your hands in the air, sir!

Hear what I say, sir, yeah...
Listen to me carefully, sir

Get your hands in the air, sir!
Raise your hands up high, sir

And you will get no hurt, mister, no no no
You won't be harmed, sir

I said yeah
I'm affirming my statement

What did I say?
Do you remember what I just said?

Don't you hear? I said yeah (yeah yeah)
Are you listening? I said yes, repeatedly

Listen to what I say (what I say)
Pay attention to my words

Do you believe I would take something with me
Do you think I would steal something?

And give it to the police man?
And hand it over to the law enforcement?

I wouldn't do that, now listen to me one more time
I wouldn't commit such an act, let me reiterate