African Herbsman
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers Lyrics


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Oh twinkling we
Can't see the right roads when the streets are big
That old slave mill might grind slow

But it grinds fine
African Herbsman why linger on
Just concentrate 'cause heaven lives on
Retire slave men will look with a scorn
With a transplanted heart
That's how quick they have to part
That's how quick

The remembrance of today
Sad feeling of tomorrow oh yeah
African herbsman seize your time
Taking illusion to the edge of my mind
Taking loses down through my life
Down through my life yes
That's how quick
That's how quick

Do they part yes they part
In remembrance of today oh yeah
African Herbsman why linger on
Just concentrate 'cause heaven lives on
Retired slave men will look with a scorn
With a transplanted heart 'cause that's how quick
That's how quick

The remembrance of today sad feeling of tomorrow
Lead me oh Lord, Lord, Lord I pray
African Herbsman (repeat 5 times)
Oh twinkling we
Can't see the road when the streets are big
That old slave mill might grind slow
But it grinds fine

African Herbsman seize your time
Taking illusion on the edge of my mind
Taking loses down through their lives




Down throught heir lives
The African Herbsman [Repeat: x3]

Overall Meaning

The song "African Herbsman" by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers is a call to action and guidance to those who may be lost or distracted by the chaos of life. The opening lines, "Oh twinkling we, can't see the right roads when the streets are big," suggest that the people are lost, distracted, and unable to find their way through the complexities of life. However, the solution is simple; concentrate on the heavenly and retire from the life of a slave man. Ziggy Marley implores the listener to seize their time and to take illusion to the edge of their minds, where they can see things that are not immediately obvious.


The lyrics point to the need for people to fight oppression and to end the slave mentality, which is still prevalent today. The line "Retired slave men will look with a scorn," highlights the internalized racism that has been instilled in people through centuries of oppression. The message here is that the individuals must create their own destiny and not be confined by the constructs of the society around them; it's how they react, how they see life that matters.


Overall, "African Herbsman" is an education in self-belief and motivation, a reminder to remain true to oneself and to stay on the path to enlightenment.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh twinkling we
We are lost and confused, struggling to find our way in this world.


Can't see the right roads when the streets are big
With so many distractions and options in life, it can be difficult to make the right choices.


That old slave mill might grind slow
The system of oppression and inequality that we live under may take time to change.


But it grinds fine
However, even if change is slow, progress is being made and justice will prevail in the end.


African Herbsman why linger on
Don't waste your time and energy on things that don't matter or hold you back.


Just concentrate 'cause heaven lives on
Focus on the things that have real value and will bring joy and peace to your life.


Retire slave men will look with a scorn
People who have been oppressed and enslaved may be skeptical or cynical about the possibility of true freedom and equality.


With a transplanted heart
In order to break free from the cycle of oppression and inequality, we must transform our hearts and minds.


That's how quick they have to part
Once we make the decision to change our hearts and minds, the old ways of thinking and living will quickly fade away.


The remembrance of today
We must remember the hardships and struggles of the past in order to appreciate the progress that has been made and continue to fight for justice and equality.


Sad feeling of tomorrow oh yeah
However, there is still much work to be done and many challenges to overcome to create a better future for all.


African herbsman seize your time
Take control of your life and make the most of the time you have on this earth.


Taking illusion to the edge of my mind
Challenge your perceptions and beliefs in order to grow and learn.


Taking loses down through my life
Accepting and learning from the mistakes and hardships in our lives is an important part of personal growth and development.


That's how quick
Once we learn from our mistakes and grow as individuals, we can quickly move on to new challenges and experiences.


Do they part yes they part
People will naturally go their separate ways as they grow and change throughout their lives.


In remembrance of today oh yeah
As we move forward into the future, we must continue to remember the lessons of the past and honor those who came before us.


Lead me oh Lord, Lord, Lord I pray
A prayer for guidance and strength as we navigate the challenges of life.


The African Herbsman [Repeat: x3]
A call to action for all to take control of their lives and make positive change in the world.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC., Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE PRICE, MARK ROTH, RICHIE HAVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Willa Jenkins

Love this, as much as I love his father's version, which was dynamite!!!

Micael Benloulou

Ça a toujours été l'album que je préfèrais...Après je pioche un peu + ou -

Canadian East Coaster

Love the old Marley.

Adaylton Soares

🔊🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵

Ana Paula Santana

Quem tbm está ouvindo Ziggy Marley em maio de 2018.

Roni Kremer

Ana Paula Santana Amorim não tem data para houvir boa musica

Ana Paula Santana

Ouvindo em 2019

Laila Cristina

2020 RS 😍

Akenswa Ogun

Great song Barry Ross.

jan smit

In holland we call this KIPPENVEL!!!!!

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