Like many successful Jamaican entertainers, Warrior King gained his earliest stage experience in talent shows. "I started out with school concerts at first," he says. "At the time when I just came inna music, I used to do some combinations with a yout' named Likkle Blacks, Marlon Stewart. We used to do Tastee's Talent Show together, so we could really start getting exposed and gain experience." When he first started out Warrior King chatted in a hardcore deejay style, like his original hero, Bounty. A switch to the more holistic "singjay" sound came gradually. "It's a natural thing what just grow inside of me, even without me realizing," the singer reasons. "People started telling me they hear I can sing now. So, really and truly it's just a natural change." Even his name is an extension of this evolution. "I changed my name from 'Junior King' to 'Warrior King' because it have a more spiritual feel to it. Fighting against oppression, fighting against wrong. I'm Jah warrior, yuh know, fighting a war of rootical love.
Warrior King's 2001 debut single, "Virtuous Woman," was an international smash, its righteous lyrics prompting the Jamaica Observer to declare the singer "one of the artistes who made a difference in 2001." Since that auspicious beginning, Warrior King's compositions have consistently charted not only in his native Jamaica, but throughout the entire Caribbean, as well as New York, London, Tokyo and beyond. "A Friend Indeed" is currently getting heavy rotation in Jamaica, while "Jah Is Always There" was a recent summer smash on Atlanta's More Fire chart. The inclusion of "Never Go Where Pagans Go" on VP Records' compilation set "Reggae Gold 2002" further raised the artist's profile. Also included are "Virtuous Woman," "Never Go Where the Pagans Go" and other compositions that have built Warrior King's reputation.
Now the conscious singer has released his first full-length album. His VP Records debut, Virtuous Woman, features production by such heavy hitters as Sheldon 'Calibud' Stewart, Richard "Chabano" Brown, Lion Paw and Penthouse as well as guest appearances by Jahmali and dub poet, DYCR. With titles like "Love Jah and Live" and "Boast Not Myself," the CD's seventeen tracks are designed, says Warrior King, to "uplift people's heart, mind and soul in a positive way. All of the songs are written by me, through inspiration of the Father. Everybody can relate to a song on the album, I'm sure of that." The album opens up with "Power To Chant," a spiritual invocation of Jah that neatly sets the tone for what's to follow. Each song featured on the cd has a different style, but the message emphasizes purity and truth.
Warrior King believes that education is the key to betterment and hopes that his music will serve to convey the teachings of His Imperial Majesty, Hailie Selassie I. "As a Rastafarian you just don't sing music, you sing music with a purpose and a mission. To the four corners of the Earth," says Warrior King, "I carry my music, and the message of the King. And the message of love, to all people of all races."
Photo & text courtesy of VP Records-Walboomers Music.
http://www.reggae-vibes.com/profiles/warriorking/warriorking.htm
Never Go Where Pagans Go
Warrior King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll never go in the wrong congregation
Woh, woh, woh, woh rastaman a burn pagans, so
I'll never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
Never say what the idolaters say,
I trust and obey
Rasta words are pure substance
Never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
Never say what the wicked hearts say
Neither will I walk in their council no day, hey
Haile I, Speak no guile, so
Mythology and illusion i'll be always burning
Corruption and confusion, will be thrown in the ash-bin
Can't full rastaman with your false doctrine
Your false teachings, oh wat a sinting
Justice in the sky, is it salvation that yuh seeking
From the throne of David it obvious dat you're drifting
You ave' no raspect for the king of all kings
Oh his name I'll be always exalting, so
I'll never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
Never say what the idolaters say
for Emperor Selassie I
I trust and obey
Rasta words are pure substance
Never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
Never say what the wicked hearts say
Neither will I walk in their council no day, hey
Haile I, Speak no guile, so
I'll never go astray from my roots and my culture
Neither will forget my homeland mother Africa
Mi grow congo and separate from the vipers
From the hypocrites and from the vampire
Hail the king of kings for he giveth all the powers
Born in Ethiopia, look! it written in the scriptures
Who are the righteous hey they are the truth seekers
O be onto you false leaders, so
I'll never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
Never say what the idolaters say,
for Emperor Selassie I
I trust and obey
Rasta words are pure substance
Never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
Never say what the wicked hearts say
Neither will I walk in their council no day, hey
Haile I, is my guide, so
I'll never go, I've never go where they go.
I'll never stray, no way, no day.
I'll never say what they say.
Oh I'll never go, where they go.
Rastafari I'll always follow.
Me, the heathen can't come stray, no way, no day.
Woh, Woh Woh, Yeah yeah yeah yeah so.
I'll never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
Never say what the idolaters say
for Emperor Selassie I
I trust and obey
Rasta words are pure substance
Never go where the pagans go
Never do what the heathens do
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
The song, "Never Go Where Pagans Go" by Warrior King, is a powerful declaration of the artist's commitment to his Rastafarian faith and the principles it represents. The song emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's beliefs and avoiding the influence of those who do not practice the same.
The chorus explicitly states that the artist will not go where the pagans go or do what the heathens do, with "pagans" referring to those who do not share the Rastafarian faith, and "heathens" referring to those who behave in ways that contradict Rastafarian principles. He credits Rastafari with providing him with guidance and views the teachings and words of the faith as "pure substance." The artist stresses the importance of rejecting false doctrines and teachings and staying true to oneself and one's culture.
In the third verse, Warrior King speaks directly to his roots in the Congo and his love for his African homeland. He separates himself from those he sees as hypocrites and vampires, instead choosing to give thanks to the "king of kings" for giving him power. The song also makes reference to Emperor Selassie I, a key religious figure in Rastafarianism who is venerated as a messiah figure.
Overall, "Never Go Where Pagans Go" is a powerful declaration of faith that celebrates Rastafarian principles and emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Introduction to the song
I'll never go in the wrong congregation
I will always stay true to my beliefs and not follow false teachings
Woh, woh, woh, woh rastaman a burn pagans, so
Rastaman burn pagans because they stand for good and truth
I'll never go where the pagans go
I will not follow the ways of those who do not believe in Rastafari
Never do what the heathens do
I will not participate in sinful or corrupt behaviors
Cuz rastafari give I the guidance
I trust in Rastafari to give me the right path to follow
Never say what the idolaters say, for Emperor Selassie I I trust and obey
I will not speak the words of those who worship idols, I trust and obey Emperor Selassie I
Rasta words are pure substance
Rastafari teachings are true and pure
Neither will I walk in their council no day, hey Haile I, Speak no guile, so
I will not seek guidance from those who do not follow Rastafari, I will speak only the truth
Mythology and illusion i'll be always burning
I will always reject false teachings and beliefs
Corruption and confusion, will be thrown in the ash-bin
I will reject corruption and confusion
Can't full rastaman with your false doctrine, Your false teachings, oh wat a sinting
You cannot deceive a true follower of Rastafari with false teachings
Justice in the sky, is it salvation that yuh seeking, From the throne of David it obvious dat you're drifting
Are you seeking salvation through justice in Heaven? It is clear that you are not following the path set by King David
You ave' no raspect for the king of all kings Oh his name I'll be always exalting, so
You do not respect the true King of all Kings, but I will always praise His name
I'll never go astray from my roots and my culture
I will always stay true to my heritage and culture
Neither will forget my homeland mother Africa
I will always remember and respect my African roots
Mi grow congo and separate from the vipers, From the hypocrites and from the vampire
I grew up in Congo and separated myself from those who are deceitful and evil
Hail the king of kings for he giveth all the powers
I praise the King of all Kings for giving me strength and guidance
Born in Ethiopia, look! it written in the scriptures Who are the righteous hey they are the truth seekers
It is written in the scriptures that the righteous are those who seek the truth, and I was born in Ethiopia
O be onto you false leaders, so
I condemn false leaders who do not follow Rastafari
I'll never go, I've never go where they go. I'll never stray, no way, no day. I'll never say what they say.
I will never follow false teachings, stray from the path, or speak their words
Rastafari I'll always follow. Me, the heathen can't come stray, no way, no day.
I will always follow Rastafari, and I will not be led astray by those who do not believe
Woh, Woh Woh, Yeah yeah yeah yeah so.
Repeated chorus of the song
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.