Dem dread seh Dem dread seh Dem dread seh Dem dread seh No matter how you bad I man badder than you No matter how you dread I man dreader than you No matter how you hard I man harder than you No matter how you raw I more-weak heart back way so
A bad man no want go back Into captivity A bad man no want go back to slavery Uprising from the claws of the wicked
Two bulls can't reign in one pen Two lions can't roar in a small den Two scorpions don't sting at the same spot Two guns can't fire the same bullet shot so
Move right out now Move right out now Move right out now Move right out now
Two kings don't wear the same crown Two beauties don't have the same gown on Tomorrow Is too late to leave town If you're still here at noon, There'll be one big, big, big showdown so
Uprising, uprising Uprising, uprising
I give you tlil noon to go On your way to survival,where Your heart will beat more fonder With life And breath still enters your body
Repeat verse one
If you still coming me nah run If you still coming, me ah go, drop you If you still coming me nah run So better stop running before I, break you So run and hide before I, find you Woe betide if I catch up on you If you still coming I box you down If you still coming I clart you down
Long time we deh under backraw...
Four hundred years (many, many years)
Slavery days... Slavery days... Slavery days...
Oh you've been bought Oh you've been sold Oh cast over me Got strung up for nothing at all Strange fruit...