In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
What a big disgrace
The way you rob up the place
Rob everthing you can find
Yes you did
And you'll even rob from the blind
You must see want I fe
Com'a com'a funeral
And I no, no go
No one burial
Yet you want I
Com'a com'a funeral
Make your friend come claim say
You are the genie
Now we know the truth
Yes we do
Find you wearing the boot
Of taking people's business on your head, yeah
So might as well you be dead
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
Let the dead bury the dead now
And who is to be fed, be fed
I ain't got no time to waste on you, no, no
I'm a livin' man, I got work to do
Right now
This man and that man
Yes they are the same man
You taught us this just as well
That the rich man heaven is the poor man's hell
You must see want I fe com'a com'a funeral
Natty no go, no one burial
Yet you want I
Com'a com'a funeral
Make your friend come claim say
You are the genie
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
What a big disgrace
The way you rob up the place
Rob everthing you can find
Yes you did
And you'll even rob from the blind
You must see want I fe
Com'a com'a funeral
And I no, no go
No one burial
Yet you want I
Com'a com'a funeral
Make your friend come claim say
You are the genie
Now we know the truth
Yes we do
Find you wearing the boot
Of taking people's business on your head, yeah
So might as well you be dead
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Them are the general
Let the dead bury the dead now
And who is to be fed, be fed
I ain't got no time to waste on you, no, no
I'm a livin' man, I got work to do
Right now
This man and that man
Yes they are the same man
You taught us this just as well
That the rich man heaven is the poor man's hell
You must see want I fe com'a com'a funeral
Natty no go, no one burial
Yet you want I
Com'a com'a funeral
Make your friend come claim say
You are the genie
Them want I
Them want I
Be com'a them funeral
Them claim say
Them claim say
Lyrics submitted by wailers564, edited by KarmaYogi
Burial Lyrics as written by Neville Livingston Peter Tosh
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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You guys have it all wrong. This song is originally about a "Ganster" who refuses to go to a funeral when it was originally done by The Wailers(Bob,Bunny Peter). Peter Tosh re-wrote the song for "Legalize It" in 74 and added the line "This man and that man, they are the same man. You thought of this just as well, that the rich man's heaven is the poor man's hell." its not in anyway a shot at Bob, (Bob gave Peter Tosh the money and the wailers along with the I-Threes to record this album) The meaning of that line can be interpreted in many ways, The way I see it is Jamaica is the top tourist destination in the world where the rich dine, yet Jamaica is still a 3rd world country with staggering poverty and unemployment.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR POST ON THIS! Burial was a song that came way before "Legalize It" and Bob even sung backing on tracks in the album.
plus, Bob co-wrote "Why Must I Cry" for Legalize It; why would he be taking a shot at Bob?; that's crazy talk; people love creating conflict between dark skin people; Eric Clapton was going to put a cover of Burial on his album after he had success with "I Shot the Sheriff"; I always wondered what that would have been like; watered down, for sure
casadejoyce- Clapton did do a version of burial along with Tosh's "What'cha Gonna Do?"<br /> both versions featured Peter on guitar and vocals! I can send you claptons version and let you decide :) I for one kinda dug what Clapton was doing in the mid 70's doing Reggae ( with the exception of his version of "I shot the sheriff"... to disco'y for my taste lol)<br /> <br /> just link me your email and I'll send both songs<br /> <br /> bless
Thank You Steppingrazor for clearing that up. I created an account just so I could also confirm that Peter was not bashing Bob, nor would he do so. Yes, they didnt always see eye to eye, but they remained friends. Rasta no go to any funerals, and some think that Peter not going to Bob's was a sign of disrespect.<br /> <br /> "Let the dead bury the dead." is straight from the new testiment (Matt 8:22). It spiritually means that those concerned with things of the flesh, can not operate with things in the Spirit. So, you gotta make a choice. " I'm a living man, I got work to do." confirms that. Peter is out making a difference, trying to open the eyes of masses, he "aint got no time to waste on you, no, none." So, if you operate from the flesh, wanting to only please your material needs and personal concerns, then he has better work to do.
Steppingrazor, I'm new to this, so couldnt find your email. I would absolutely love those Clapton covers. Both are Tosh favorites of mine. I have some Bob rarities like:<br /> Wounded Lion in the Jungle Session<br /> Yvonne Bedroom Tape, and more if interested.<br /> <br />
yeah I think pseudo-militaristic titles are used throughout reggae/dancehall culture. So I'm guessing 'them are the general' i.e. the big leader as alluding to politicians makes perfect sense
Interesting, thanks for the info&thoughts guys. Makes me wanna listen and learn more about the whole genre.
@Durang0 every song that is being made by Jamaicans. are things that actually took place. it would be interested to know that their are persons out their who have interest in our songs. I think u guys would understand these songs more if u understand what they sing in the form of language we use.
Anybody figured out what "them are the general" means ?
@Durang0 it means that the person who he is talking about states they are the boss and wanted him to be at their funeral. anybody else need anything else clarified? im a Jamaican
@Durang0 it means that the person who he is talking about states they are the boss and wanted him to be at their funeral. anybody else need anything else clarified? im a Jamaican. in this case he was talking about the politicians and the way in which the have been draining out pockets and w gain nothing from it but yet still they want us vote for them. to how greedy they are they buy their self into the presidential seat.
I don't know any official meaning for this song, but I always took it as Peter's lament about politicians. Jamacian politicians were constantly trying to recruit Peter Tosh and Bob Marley to their causes and while Bob was sometimes receptive to the benefits of political action Peter was often opposed.
This song is about history of the Americas, including Jamaîca. The robbers are the like of Christoph Columbus who claimed they discovered America and robbed the native indians and other inhabitants of their land, gold, etc. Peter makes a direct allusion to these facts in one of his live performance...
yea steppingrazor has the right idea.
it's jus the musician renouncing violence: the gangsters want him to come to their funerals. they say they are the generals (the leaders of the gangster warriors).
he says he's disgraced at how they steal from people. both gangsters of the ghetto stealing from other poor people and the ruling class taking resources away from the disenfranchised.
when you try to get rich you spend all your time in hell. and for the rich there is no greater pleasure than destroying those who are of less value than you. that is what he is saying.
This song rebukes the those who exploit the under privileged masses. It seems Tosh took it from an angle were some "big fish" in Jamaican society were trying to be be associated with him for their own ends. He however rejects the whole thing; oppression of the poor and the advances of the oppressors. "I ain't got no time to waste on you, no, no I am a livin' man, I've got work to do, right now".
What a big disgrace Way you #Rob up the place
Rob everything you can find
Yes, you did and you'll even #Rob the blind
It's about a guy called Rob i.e Robert = Bob Marley
This man and that man Yes they are the same man You taught us this just as well That the rich man heaven is the poor man's hell You must see want I fe com'a com'a funeral Natty no go no one burial Yet you want I Com'a com'a burial [Make your friend come claim say You are the genie]**
The nazirite vow doesn't allow Rastas to go to a funeral so it's a refusal to attend one . Them are the general mean the general is the one in charge. When looking at the date the song was made that could not have been about Bob Marley and it was written by Bunny Wailer and not Peter Tosh. Listen to Jacob Miller sing this song also it's really good