Old War Chant

Down in the ghetto, it's like old Vietnam
Gunshots ringing out with grenades and bombs
First to survive, you gotta be tough
Learn to walk through all this tribulation
Learn to make it off the plantation
Planting potatoes, we’re planting yams
Turn over the soil 'cause we gotta eat
Sitting in my yard, my base, my ranch
I got a shotgun and a gold sixpence
Just yesterday, a guy ripped off my fence
And if I catch him, it’s shhhh, silence

Now I’m doing the guzumbah, the Old War Chant
Claiming what I want is what they want
To defend my life, I’m popping some corn
Dead men don’t tell tales, and that’s long gone
Just to survive, man, that’s how it goes
What are they gonna do when the real war starts?
Can’t find a solution, who plays the part?
Claiming you’re tough, see how fast you run
Used to brag about how you kill and have fun
How you’re wicked, ripping out men’s hearts
Carrying dead men, acting like a boss
Well, I’m Jr. Gong, showing you’re soft
Now Jr. Gong, no matter how you flex or you’re big
We don’t show respect if you don’t love how you live
Every day you get up, you take on, you don’t give
Big up Raggamuffin, you respect, he’s solid
Back to the issue we’re dealing with

Down in Jamaica, it’s like old Vietnam
Eyes wide open, destruction’s at hand
For the simplest things, man, it’s bram bram bram
Living their whole lives in a police station
Sentenced to hang, didn’t do a thing wrong
We plant sensimilla and we plant our yams
And we turn over soil for food we gotta eat
Sitting in my yard, my base, my ranch
I got a shotgun and a gold sixpence
Just yesterday, a guy ripped off my fence
And if I catch him, it’s shhhh, silence

Now I’m doing the guzumbah, the Old War Chant
Claiming what I want is what they want
To defend my life, I’m popping some corn
Dead men don’t tell tales, and that’s long gone
Just to survive, man, that’s how it goes
Now really true, I’m positive
Taking up a matter, getting inquisitive
A blind man can see the life we’re living
Yo Raggamuffin, you’re like a college
Back to the issue we’re dealing with

Down in the ghetto, it’s like old Vietnam
Gunshots ringing out with grenades and bombs
First to survive, you gotta be a marksman
Learn to pop shots, shotgun in hand
Learn to make it off the plantation
Planting potatoes, we’re planting yams
Turn over the soil for food we gotta eat
Sitting in my yard, my base, my ranch
I got a shotgun and a gold sixpence
Just yesterday, a guy ripped off my fence
And if I catch him, it’s shhhh, silence

Now I’m doing the guzumbah, the Old War Chant
Claiming what I want is what they want
To defend my life, I’m popping some corn
Dead men don’t tell tales, and that’s long gone
Just to survive, man, that’s how it goes
What are they gonna do when the real war starts?
Can’t find a solution, who plays the part?
Claiming you’re tough, see how fast you run
Used to brag about how you kill and have fun
How you’re wicked, ripping out men’s hearts
Carrying dead men, acting like a boss
I’m Jr. Gong, showing you’re soft
Now down in the ghetto where the poor folks live
Due to suffering, some think negative
Give thanks and praises for the life Jah Jah gives
The elder told you, small people get big anyway
Back to the issue we’re dealing with

Down in the ghetto, it’s like old Vietnam
Gunshots ringing out with grenades and bombs
First to survive, you gotta be a marksman
Learn to pop shots, shotgun in hand
Learn to make it off the plantation
Planting potatoes, we’re planting yams
Turn over the soil for food we gotta eat
Sitting in my yard, my base, my ranch
I got a shotgun and a gold sixpence
Just yesterday, a guy ripped off my fence
And if I catch him, it’s shhhh, silence