Slave Driver
www.acervodoreggaeblog.blogspot.com; Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, you gonna get burn (catch your fire) wo, now!
Every time I hear the crack of a whip
My blood runs cold
How they brutalize the very souls
Today they say that we are free
Only to be chained in poverty
Good God, I think it's illiteracy
It's only a machine that makes money
Slave driver, the table is turn, you'll ooh-ooh-oo-ooh
Slave driver, uh! The table is turn, baby, now (catch your fire)
(Catch your fire) so you can get burn, baby, now (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
(Catch your fire) so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Every time I hear the crack of a whip
My blood runs cold
I remember on the slave ship
How they brutalize your very soul
Oh God, have mercy on our souls!
Oh, slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn
Bob Marley & The Wailers’ song “Slave Driver” speaks to the continued oppression of Black people, making a connection between the brutalities of the transatlantic slave trade and the current economic system that continues to marginalize and exploit them. The song’s opening lines, “Slave driver, the table is turn / Catch your fire, so you can get burn, now,” sets the tone for the rest of the song. Essentially, Marley is warning those who have been in power (slave drivers) that the tables are turning and it’s time for them to feel the heat of the oppression they inflicted on others.
Marley’s second verse addresses how the legacy of slavery and colonization has affected contemporary society. He sings, “Today they say that we are free / Only to be chained in poverty / Good God, I think it’s illiteracy / It’s only a machine that makes money.” Here, Marley is highlighting how systemic oppression has been perpetuated over time, with many people of African descent still experiencing economic and educational disadvantages that prevent them from truly being free.
Overall, “Slave Driver” can be seen as a call to action for Black people to stand up against their oppressors, all while recognizing the ways in which their current reality is linked to their history of enslavement. It’s a powerful message that continues to reverberate today.
Line by Line Meaning
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
The oppressors are now the oppressed as karma catches up to them.
Catch your fire, so you can get burn, now (catch your fire)
Your own actions will lead to your downfall.
Slave driver, the table is turn (catch your fire)
Again, the oppressors will face their own negative consequences.
Catch your fire, you gonna get burn (catch your fire) wo, now!
Warning that justice is coming for the oppressors.
Every time I hear the crack of a whip
My blood runs cold
The memory of brutal mistreatment still has a huge impact and triggers a visceral reaction.
I remember on the slave ship
How they brutalize the very souls
Reminiscing the horrors of slave transportation in which the enslaved were dehumanized and degraded.
Today they say that we are free
Only to be chained in poverty
Although slavery has been officially abolished, the impact of oppression remains, limiting opportunities for the oppressed.
Good God, I think it's illiteracy
It's only a machine that makes money
The root of poverty and oppression is a system of monetary gain that perpetuates inequality.
Oh God, have mercy on our souls!
Appealing to a higher power to alleviate the plight of the oppressed.
Oh, slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn (catch your fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all (catch your fire)
Catch your fire, so you can get burn
Reiterating the message that those in power will face the consequences of their actions and justice will be served.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@theloniouscoltrane3778
"Slave Driver"
Ooh-ooh-oo-ooh. Oo-oo-ooh! Oo-oo-ooh.
Slave driver, the table is turn; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire, so you can get burn, now. (catch a fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire: gonna get burn. (catch a fire) Wo, now!
Ev'rytime I hear the crack of a whip,
My blood runs cold.
I remember on the slave ship,
How they brutalize the very souls.
Today they say that we are free,
Only to be chained in poverty.
Good God, I think it's illiteracy;
It's only a machine that makes money.
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all. Ooh-ooh-oo-ooh.
Slave driver, uh! The table is turn, baby, now; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire, so you can get burn, baby, now. (catch a fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire: so you can get burn, now. (catch a fire)
Ev'rytime I hear the crack of a whip,
My blood runs cold.
I remember on the slave ship,
How they brutalize the very soul.
O God, have mercy on our souls!
Oh, slave driver, the table is turn, y'all; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire, so you can get burn. (catch a fire)
Slave driver, the table is turn, y'all; (catch a fire)
Catch a fire ... [fadeout]
@eddymanijean6794
Slave Driver (Esclavagiste)
Slave driver the table is turned
Esclavagiste les choses ont changé
Catch a fire so you can get burned
Attrape un feu et tu peux te brûler
Slave driver your table is turned
Esclavagiste tes choses ont changé
Catch your fire, you're gonna get burned
Attrape ton feu, tu vas te brûler
Ev'ry time I hear the crack of a whip
Chaque fois que j'entends le claquement d'un fouet
My blood runs cold
Mon sang se glace
I remember on the slave ship
Je me rappelle sur le bateau d'esclaves
How they brutalised their very souls
Comment ils brutalisaient nos âmes
Today they say that we are free
Aujourd'hui ils disent que nous sommes libres
Only to be chained in poverty
Seulement d'être enchaînés dans la pauvreté
Good god, I think it's all illiteraci
Bon Dieu, je crois que tout ca est illégal
It's only a machine that makes money
C'est seulement une machine qui fait de l'argent
@eddymanijean6794
Slave Driver (Marchand D'esclaves)
Slave driver the table is turned
Marchant d'esclaves les choses ont changé
Catch a fire so you can get burned
Attrape un feu et tu peux te brûler
Slave driver your table is turned
Marchant d'esclaves tes choses ont changé
Catch your fire, you're gonna get burned
Attrape ton feu, tu vas te brûler
Ev'ry time I hear the crack of a whip
Chaque fois que j'entends le claquement d'un fouet
My blood runs cold
Mon sang se glace
I remember on the slave ship
Je me rappelle sur le bateau d'esclaves
How they brutalised their very souls
Comment ils brutalisaient nos âmes
Today they say that we are free
Aujourd'hui ils disent que nous sommes libres
Only to be chained in poverty
Seulement d'être enchaînés dans la pauvreté
Good god, I think it's all illiteraci
Bon Dieu, je crois que tout ca est illégal
It's only a machine that makes money
C'est seulement une machine qui fait de l'argent
@Polygor2
I prefer the Jamaican version of the album as everything sounds clearer
@maryajones3147
The very 1st Bob Marley and the Wailers album I ever purchased👌
@Johnelienyc187
Same here
@adhominemsis-t.australisensis
And the best!
@annalishagoring
@@adhominemsis-t.australisensis one of the best yes
@WMAGene
This song pours from the speakers like slow syrup. Delicious!
@marcelo_koman
Sweet and Saucy
@Zlervo
Yes please 😍
@levicanterbury797
Um
@kevincarrillo9627
Amén