(1)The Wailers were an… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two groups with this name:
(1)The Wailers were an American rock band from Tacoma, Washington, often considered the first garage rock group. Five 45s (four released in 1959 and one in 1960) and an LP release, The Fabulous Wailers (released December 1959 on Golden Crest Records) put the Wailers on the national scene. Their 1961 cover of "Louie Louie" inspired other groups from the Seattle area, most notably the Kingsmen of Portland, Oregon, to record the same song, and the band's influence established the area as a center for musical innovation and the home of a long string of regional favorites playing a kind of raunchy, amateur, yet passionate, form of rock and roll.
(2)In the mid-60s, Bob Marley, Bunny Livingston (also known as Bunny Wailer), Winston McIntosh (aka Peter Tosh), Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso and Cherry Smith shortened their previous moniker, The Wailing Rudeboys, to The Wailers. Up until 1974, recordings were credited to The Wailers, after which Livingston and Tosh left to pursue solo careers and Marley formed a new backing band, recording as Bob Marley & The Wailers. After Marleyโs death in 1981, his band continued to tour and record as The Wailers or The Wailers Band.
Small Axe
Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever? Oh no
I said, you're working iniquity
To achieve vanity, yeah (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth forever
If you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Sharpened to cut you down (well sharp)
Ready to cut you down
These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
No weak heart
Shall prosper, oh no they can't!
And whosoever diggeth a pit, Lord
Shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Sharpened to cut you down
Ready to cut you down
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are the big, big tree
We have a small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
Sharpened to cut you down
If you are the big tree, let me tell you this
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
Sharpened to cut you down
If you are the big tree
We are the small axe
The lyrics to the Wailers' song Small Axe are a challenge and warning to those who see themselves as superior and powerful but ignore the consequences of their actions. The opening lines address evil men who are playing smart but not being clever, suggesting that they are not considering the impact of their actions on others. The song argues that those who work iniquity to achieve vanity will eventually face the goodness of Jah, Jah, which endures forever. This can be interpreted as meaning that even those who are supremely powerful or wealthy will eventually face judgement for their actions.
The second part of the song reinforces the warning by comparing the strong and powerful to a big tree and the oppressed to a small axe. The small axe is sharpened and ready to cut down the big tree, meaning that the oppressed will eventually overcome and bring down those who oppress them. The message that no weak heart shall prosper reinforces this idea, as it suggests that only those who are strong in spirit and stand up against oppression will ultimately succeed.
The final lines of the song offer a final warning to those who seek to harm others. The idea that those who dig a pit will fall into it speaks to the idea of karma and suggests that those who seek to harm others will ultimately harm themselves. The repetition of the line "if you are the big tree, we are the small axe" drives home the message that even the most powerful will ultimately fall if they do not consider the impact of their actions on others.
Line by Line Meaning
Why boasteth thyself
Why do you brag and show off
Oh, evil men
Addressing those who do evil things
Playing smart
Acting intelligent
And not being clever? Oh no
But not truly being smart
I said, you're working iniquity
You are doing wrong
To achieve vanity, yeah (if a-so a-so)
To attain temporary pleasure
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
But the kindness and love of God
I-dureth forever
Lasts forever
If you are the big tree
If you are powerful
We are the small axe
We are the ones who will bring you down
Sharpened to cut you down (well sharp)
Fully prepared to take you down
These are the words
These are the teachings
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
Of my teacher, who continues to instruct me
No weak heart
No one who is not brave
Shall prosper, oh no they can't!
Will succeed, absolutely not
And whosoever diggeth a pit, Lord
And whoever tries to harm someone else
Shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Will end up harmed
Shall bury in it, shall bury in it
Will meet their own demise
If you are the big, big tree
If you are extremely powerful
We have a small axe
We still have a way to bring you down
If you are the big tree, let me tell you this
If you are still powerful, hear this
Sharpened to cut you down
We are still ready to bring you down
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
Fully prepared to take you down
Lyrics ยฉ Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Zulu369
Why boasteth thyself
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever?
I said, you're working iniquity
To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth forever
So if you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin' me
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it (fall in it)
If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe, sharp and ready
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
These are the words
Of my master, tellin' me that
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, uh, bury in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, uh (bury in it)
If you are the big, big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
If you are the big, big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
Sharpened
@ninjah3952
TRADUCTION EN FR
De quoi vous vantez-vous, รด hommes mรฉchants
Feignant lโintelligence que vous nโavez pas ?
Je dis que vous ลuvrez dans lโiniquitรฉ
Pour assouvir des vanitรฉs
Mais la bontรฉ de Jah Jah dure ร jamais
Si vous รชtes un gros arbre
Nous sommes la petite hache
Taillรฉe pour vous abattre
Bien affรปtรฉe pour vous abattre
Voici les mots de mon maรฎtre
Qui mโa enseignรฉ
Quโaucun cลur faible ne peut prospรฉrer
Et quiconque creuse une fosse
Tombera dedans
Quiconque creuse une fosse
Sera enseveli dedans
Alors si vous รชtes un gros arbre
Nous sommes la petite hache
Taillรฉe pour vous abattre
Bien affรปtรฉe pour vous abattre
Et quiconque creuse une fosse
Tombera dedans
Quiconque creuse une fosse
Sera enseveli dedans
Alors si vous avez un gros arbre
Nous avons la petite hache
Taillรฉe pour lโabattre
Bien affรปtรฉe pour lโabattre
@MichaelSanchez-qz2ro
EASILY one of The Wailers best song ever. Personally speaking this one and One Drop are my faves!
@davidbeckman7925
That's good taste in BM songs ๐ถโค๏ธโ๐ฅ
@emiliothepoet
Yes! Incredible!
@jessboomen
Couldnโt agree more just heard this tonight cooking supper and thought โthis is the perfect songโ
@Mr211083
The story behind it makes it even better ... I absolutely love it
@WhitLong-me6kr
Easily one of the best songs ever โค
@WILODSM
All the versions are great but this is the one I put everyday!!!!! How great must have been listening to this while they were recording
@guerreropac
The OG one was my fave for many years until I heard this one, love it so much, those back up vocals melt me
@nyashachikomwe839
@J Guerrero I don't if it's Peter and Bunny but they were on fire
@arjuna_dasa
Yes it is peter and bunny. An upful heartfelt spiritful vocal harmony trio. Yes iya!