Prophetic Words

The song begins "While I'm living, thanks I'll be giving" One of Reggae music's most touching prophetic renditions from the mind of a stupid genius. I will not be like everyone else and say Mark Myrie O/C Buju Banton was "framed" or set-up or the gays were out to get him. I am here to talk about the Prophetic Words of one of his greatest songs - Untold Stories from the album Til Shiloah released in 1995! This heart-moving rendition is a word-for-word description of what we are faced with as Jamaicans today, this was released when I was in first-form, some 18 years ago (man I'm old) when $50 could get me lunch for the day and $400 could fill your tank with leaded low-octane gasoline! It sums up perfectly all we are faced with as Jamaicans.

Most Outstanding Phrases

"With all the hike in the price Arm and leg we haffi pay While our leaders play"

All I see people a rip and a rob all a grab

No love for the people who a suffer real bad

Who can afford to run will run (Senate President. Redwood?)

But what about those who can't they will have to stay


While trying to put this together, I realised the futility of this undertaking - the prophetic nature of the entire song is so profound it would be a thorough waste of time to try to take out phrases that have prophetic meaning as the entire song does that quite well. This song was written at the height of the Patterson Administration and yet again in another incarnation of that uncaring administration only difference is Dr. Omar is no longer Chief of Staff/War Minister leading the onslaught on helpless taxpayers, he has been relegated or re-assigned (I opt for the latter) and another "Doctor" is to administer bitter medicine - Dr. Peter Phillips. There has never been a more applicable time than now for the words of this song. Instead of listing the lyrics here is a version of the song for your ears, also I directly copied the uploader's version of the lyrics for you to read through, some aspects are not correct as far as the language is concerned but that does not diminish the prophetic message of the song, enjoy!



While I'm Living
Thanks I'll Be Giving
To the Most High You know,

I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only he knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play

All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole.
I could go on and on the full has never been told

Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say..When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
Its a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told

All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
(On and On)
Though this life keep getting me down
Dont give up now
Got to survive somehow
Could go on and on and the full has never been told

Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who cantthey will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
Its a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on.
The full has never.

Been..
Toooooold.