History lyrics
by Lee “Scratch” Perry
[Intro]
I was sold as a slave in Africa to an European (Oh yeah)
I was bound in chains an' takin' me on to the Caribbean (Down, yeah)
[Verse 1]
New faces that I met
Sayin' they are my master
Teach I to be like fool
Jah Jah, used to cheat on the Bible rules
They use I an' I for tools
Is a good thing I stick to Jah golden rule
I never miss a day in school
Teacher should teach I to analyze
I invert my life situation
Then I really get to realizin'
A Rastaman first bring civilization on ya, right ya (On ya)
Rasta civilize ya (On ya)
[Chorus]
Israel, your history say
From 1655 we have been working on the same plantation
Chanting the same recitation (Sayin')
Jah Jah is lovin' an' a who don't love
Him never know Jah (Oh no)
Could-a never know Jah (Oh no, no!)
[Verse 2]
Robbin', cheatin', hatred an' war
That is the culture the Babylon caught
Sayin' they teach us of so called civilization (On ya; on ya)
Babylon, you are a sly old fox
Lock you in the box an' a throw away the key
For, all those tricks you play when I was near
Jah Jah, Jah Jah, Jah Jah got the master key
An' a Rastaman bring civilization on ya, right ya (On ya)
Rasta civilize ya (On ya)
[Chorus]
Israel, your history say
From 1655 we have been working on the same plantation
Chanting the same recitation (Sayin')
Jah Jah is lovin' an' a who don't love
Him never know Jah (Oh no)
Never-never know Jah (Oh no, no!)
[Verse 3]
Babylon, you are a lyin' old fox
Lock you in the box an' a throw away the key
For, all those tricks you play when I was near
Jah Jah, Jah Jah, Jah Jah got the master key
An' a Rastaman bring civilization on ya (On ya)
Rasta civilize ya (On ya)
An' a Rastaman bring civilization on ya, right ya (On ya)
[Outro]
Babylon, you are a sly old fox
Lock you in the box an' a throw away the key
For, all those tricks you play when I was near
Jah Jah, Jah Jah, Jah Jah got the master key
An' a Rastaman bring civilization on ya (On ya)
Rasta civilize ya (On ya)
Rasta civilize ya (On ya)