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.
Water & Oil
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers Lyrics
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Dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
Rastaman no mix up with no vagavanga
They want to condemn the innocent
For crimes which we did not committ
They want to get good people mix up
In their bag of tricks
[Repeat: x2]
But water and oil can't mix
Water and oil don't mix
[Repeat: x2]
Say dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
Rastaman no mix up with no vagavanga
Hear this! naah go like the son if you no like the father
True we manifest under the same order
Cock your ears and listen me want you hear ya part ya
But first come in papa Ziggy as the eldest brother
Yes I hear the lies they've told
Dem says Rasta did this and this
What is the politican role
Is it to create conflicts
[Repeat: x2]
But water and oil can't mix
Water and oil don't mix
Jah who I praise break your silence
Now that the wicked is accusing
Attacking for no reason
All we did was pray for them
Now the way things happen fast
Some things me naah go member
But the day did cool cool and collective lya
Nest thing me know some unwanted visitors
Some devil worshiping Rasta hating cold-blooded murdera
Never get get wha dem expect dem expect lamb fi slaughter
Hear this! This is Ragamuffin and him hitting harder
We get up from weh we sit down to a strategic corner
Me and the bwoy dem eye mek four me mek a nervous swallow
Prip around from left to right me look pon all me brother
Hold me head to the sky and make a final prayer
Zoom! zoom! And everything take cover
Look how fast lightning rod back out in all a dem face
Quick! Me back out me no member wha it name
Them never know the youth them would not lose them faith
Through the grace of the Father everything set straight
Water and oil can't mix
The song "Water and Oil" by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers is a commentary on the corruption and injustice prevalent in society. The lyrics speak of how some people try to hold onto power that they cannot conquer, and how innocent people are often wrongly accused of crimes they did not commit. The band emphasizes how Rastafarians do not mix with people who engage in "vagavanga," meaning trickery and dishonesty. Additionally, the song speaks to the idea that water and oil do not mix, implying that good and evil cannot coexist, and the corrupt and just cannot come together.
Line by Line Meaning
Dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
They want to condemn the innocent for crimes which we did not commit.
Rastaman no mix up with no vagavanga
They want to get good people mix up in their bag of tricks.
But water and oil can't mix
Good people won't be swayed by the lies of the wicked.
Water and oil don't mix
Jah will break his silence when the wicked accuse and attack for no reason.
Say dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
All we did was pray for them, yet they attack us like devil-worshipping, Rasta-hating murderers.
Hear this! naah go like the son if you no like the father
We won't be swayed by the lies and conflicts created by politicians.
True we manifest under the same order
We all exist under the same order and should be united, not divided.
But first come in papa Ziggy as the eldest brother
We stand with our eldest brother, Ziggy, and won't be deterred from our path.
Yes I hear the lies they've told
We hear the lies they tell about us, but we won't be swayed.
What is the politican role
What is the role of politicians in creating these conflicts?
Jah who I praise break your silence
Jah will break his silence and set things right.
Now that the wicked is accusing
Now that the wicked are falsely accusing us, we call on Jah for help.
Attacking for no reason
They attack us for no reason; all we did was pray for them.
All we did was pray for them
All we did was pray for them, yet they attack us.
Now the way things happen fast
The way things happen quickly, we can't keep track of everything.
Some things me naah go member
We can't remember everything that happened in the chaos.
But the day did cool cool and collective lya
But in the aftermath, we remain calm and collected.
Nest thing me know some unwanted visitors
But then some unwanted visitors arrived, threatening our peace.
This is Ragamuffin and him hitting harder
We stand together, with Ragamuffin, and we won't back down.
We get up from weh we sit down to a strategic corner
We regroup and take a strategic position to defend ourselves.
Me and the bwoy dem eye mek four me mek a nervous swallow
We nervously prepare to face our attackers, eyeing them warily.
Prip around from left to right me look pon all me brother
We scan left and right, making sure all of our brothers are accounted for.
Hold me head to the sky and make a final prayer
We pray to Jah for strength and protection in the face of danger.
Zoom! zoom! And everything take cover
Suddenly, lightning strikes and our attackers are thrown off guard.
Quick! Me back out me no member wha it name
We act quickly to defend ourselves, forgetting any fear or hesitation.
Them never know the youth them would not lose them faith
Our attackers didn't know that we wouldn't lose faith in Jah or each other.
Through the grace of the Father everything set straight
Through Jah's grace, everything falls into place and we are victorious.
Water and oil can't mix
Good people won't be swayed by the lies of the wicked.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind