They formed the Melody Makers when they were teenagers in 1979, and recorded "Children Playing in the Streets" with their father. They went on to perform at their father's funeral in 1981.
The band's popularity was at its highest during 1988, prompting a major record deal with Virgin Records. Shortly thereafter, the group released "Conscious Party," their third album. On the album was the hit single "Tomorrow People," and the album went on to earn a well-deserved Grammy.
Hand to Mouth
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers Lyrics
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More power
Power to the workers
We need more power
Power to the workers
Got to have more power
Power to the workers
We need more power
Free zone workers you working hard everyday
But all the work you do don't get enough pay
I mad I still don't know why I still don't know why
Is minimum wage for your sufferation have no more toleration
Hand to mouth can't work
Hand to mouth can't work
Hand to mouth business no it can't work
School teachers you working hard educating
But all the work you do they take you for a play thing
I mad I still don't know why I still don't know why
Is little bit a pay for your contribution and you mean so much to the nation
Me say me naah get enough good weh day
All thema work is like them naah get no pay
Naah get enough food from weh day
All the work we work is like we naah get no pay
Watching everything go up in inflation
Food price go up and man pay a go down
Ask some a them
Them telling short long
But in a corner we wings and a jam
Ragga ragga a watch the notion
Say we naah get no good food from weh day
Naah sow no good seed from weh day
Naah sow no good seed from weh day
Naah get enough food weh day
Our nurses saving lives everyday
But all the lives you save you don't get enough pay
I mad I still don't know why
I still don't know why
Is little bit a pay for your life savings
What a grave they're digging
Now our farmers them digging hard every day
But all the food they grow import them a say
That make me mad that make me mad mad mad mad
Mad mad mad mad
Is little bit a pay for your mama too and
Your sister got to shop for two
Oh civil servants you working hard everyday and
You sweating out for your pay
But I man still don't know why
Still don't know why is little bit
A pay everyday what you got to take away
Woy! woy! woy! woy! woy!
[cho]
Me say me naah get enough good from weh day
All the talk we talk is like we naah
Naah get no good yood from weh day all the bawl we bawl
Say them no hear wha we a say
Workers a the backbone a the whole island
Don't treat them right is total confusion
Can't go no doctor for no medication
School but no teacher no education
Pay more dollars to the foundation
Naah get enough pay from weh day musician a suffer but a play
Same way engineer a bawl how him pay too small
Can't build him house with no concrete wall
Bass man a cry bout him can't get string
Have the contacts and can't bring them in raggamuffin dj and sing
Lord naah get enough good from weh day
All the talk we talk is like we naah Lord
Naah get no good yood from weh day
All the bawl we bawl say them no hear wha we a say
Watching everything go up in inflation
Food price go up and man pay a god down
Some a them
Them telling short
Long
Ragga ragga deh pon the version
Ziggy zaggy a watch the movements
The lyrics of "Hand to Mouth" by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers speak to the struggles faced by workers in different professions who are not getting paid enough for the hard work they do. The song begins with a call for more power to the workers, emphasizing the need for fair wages and decent working conditions. The lyrics highlight the plight of workers in different sectors, such as free zone workers who work hard but don't earn enough, school teachers who are not compensated adequately for their contribution to education, and nurses who save lives but still struggle to make ends meet. The song's message is clear: workers deserve fair compensation for their labor, and it's time for society to take notice and make changes.
Line by Line Meaning
Power to the workers
Workers need more power and rights in their work
More power
The call for even more power to be given to workers
Free zone workers you working hard everyday
Addressing the struggles of the free zone workers working hard but not receiving adequate pay
Hand to mouth can't work
Working under dire conditions without enough pay is unsustainable
School teachers you working hard educating
Addressing the struggles of school teachers who are not compensated fairly for their work
All the work you do they take you for a play thing
Teachers are not valued for their hard work and dedication and are treated as if they are expendable
Naah get enough food from weh day
Workers are not receiving an adequate amount of food or sustenance from their work
Watching everything go up in inflation
The cost of living and necessities are rising while wages remain stagnant
Our nurses saving lives everyday
Drawing attention to the underpayment of nurses and how they still strive to make a positive impact regardless
What a grave they're digging
If things don't change for workers, they face a bleak and difficult future
Now our farmers them digging hard every day
The struggles of farmers and how their work is undervalued and not compensated properly
All the food they grow import them a say
Despite farmers producing food, it's still not enough to rely on due to the importation of goods
Is little bit a pay for your mama too and
Workers need to support their families with the little pay they receive, which is not enough
You sweating out for your pay
Civil servants work hard every day and don't receive enough compensation for their efforts
Workers a the backbone a the whole island
Acknowledging that workers are the backbone of society
Can't go no doctor for no medication
Workers don't have enough money to afford basic healthcare
School but no teacher no education
Despite the school system, teachers are not receiving enough support and respect to provide proper education
Pay more dollars to the foundation
Money is being poured into other entities instead of workers who need the support
Musicians suffering but still playing
Even though musicians aren't compensated well, they continue to play music anyway
Bass man a cry bout him can't get string
Even the most basic equipment for performing is difficult to obtain when workers aren't being paid properly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind