Why won't you let
The little children dance
Why won't you let
The little children chant, their little song

Why won't you let
The grass roots grow
Why won't you let
The little captives go

You taught us that a rolling stone
It gather no moss
Yet a child who have for his own
He does nothing unjust
Then why shed innocent blood
So as to gain power
Remember that the righteous judge
He's gonna judge you on the hour

Why won't you let
Jah little children dance
Why won't you let
The little children chant, their little song

Why won't you let
The grass roots grow
Why won't you let
The little captives go

Now don't you suffer the little children
Just let them trod on to Rastafari
For such is the knowledge of Jah
That was given to I and I and I
We have been the sheep of the shepherd
Who graze in the corn
Then try to make us rats of the ghetto
Whose been on the run since the day we were born

Why won't you let
Jah little children dance
Let them hop around
Why won't you let
The children chant, their little song

Why won't you let
The grass roots grow
Why won't you let
The little captives go

I've seen where instruments of destruction
Been handed to the children
And if the rays are in the hand of a child
Shall direct itself to where and when
Why brown once hiss with damnation
And they look with a scorn
Just issuing bond of oppression
An makin' war against the unborn

Why won't you let
Jah little children dance
Why won't you let
The little children chant, their little song

Why won't you let
The little grass roots grow
Why won't you let
The captives go

Why won't you let
The little children dance
Why won't you let
The little children chant, their little song