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.

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 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 till noon to go,
On your way to survival, where,
Your heart will beat more fonder with life,
And breath still enters your body.

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.

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..
Long time we deh under backraw..
Long time we deh under backraw..
Long time we deh under backraw..
Four hundred years.. (many, many years)
Four hundred years.. (many, many years)
Slavery..
Slavery..
Slavery..
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..