Bob Marley and the Wailers – Midnight Ravers

"Midnight Ravers" as written by and Bob Marley....
(You can't tell the woman from the man)
No, I say you can't, 'cause they're dressed in the same pollution
(Dressed in the same pollution)
Their mind is confused with confusion
With their problems since they've no solution
They become the midnight ravers

Someone say (please, don't let me down!)
Oh, please, don't let me ee-ya-bab, oh, please don't let me down!
(Midnight) midnight ravers (ravers), midnight ravers!
(Please don't) oh, please, please
Don't let me down, down, down, down, down!
Don't let me down
Don't let me down

I see ten thousand chariots (ah-ah-ah-ah)
And they coming without horses (coming without horses)
The riders, they cover their face (ah-ah-ah-ah)
So you couldn't make them out in smoky place (make them out in smoky places)
In that musical stampede, where everyone is doing their thing
Musical stampede, people swingin'
Musical stampede, someone say
People, ride on! (Keep a-ridin'!)
(Keep a-ridin'!) ride on!
(Keep a-ridin' midnight ravers!)
People, ride on! (Keep a-ridin'!)
(Keep a-ridin' ridin'!) ride on!
(Keep a-ridin' midnight ravers!)

I can't tell my woman from the man
She is dressed in the same pollution (dressed in the same pollution)
Her mind is confused with confusion
To my problem seems there's never, never no solution!

I've become a night-life raver
And I'm beggin' you, (please) please, please
Oh, beel-ya-ba-ba, please don't ya let me down!

(Night-life ravers) night-life ravers! Night-life ravers!
Oh, please, please, please, please, don't let me down
Don't let me down
Don't let me down!

I see ten thousand chariots (ah-ah-ah-ah)
And they coming without horses (coming without horses, yeah)
The riders they cover their face (ah-ah-ah-ah)
So you couldn't make them out in smoky place (make them out in smoky place)
In that musical stampede, oh!
It's the musical stampede. Ride on!
It's the musical stampede, some preacher say

People ride on! (Keep a-ridin'!)
(Keep a-ridin'!) Ride on!
(Keep a-ridin', midnight ravers!)
A-ride on! (Keep a-ridin'!)
(Keep a-ridin'!) Ride on!
(Keep a-ridin', midnight ravers!)
Ride on, y'all! (Keep a-ridin'!)
(Keep a-ridin'!) Ride on!
(Keep a-ridin', midnight ravers!)
Ride on! (Keep a-ridin'!)
(Keep a-ridin'!) don't let me down, midnight ravers!
(Keep a-ridin'!)
Midnight ravers, don't let me down! (Keep a-ridin'!)
Don't let me down, don't let me down! (Keep a-ridin'!)
Well, I'm comin' (keep a-ridin'!)
I got too much problems, midnight ravers!


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

"Midnight Ravers" as written by Bob Marley

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Midnight Ravers song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Commentwicked song
    wolfman6on August 09, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song is easily in my top 10 Bob Marley list. I used to think it was about Paul Revere's "Midnight Ride", but now I know it's about not letting Bob down.
    goonie1462on February 16, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentRight on.
    flytyster03on October 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationBob may have written this song from the perspective of being on stage looking over the crowd. Jamaicans use the word chariot as a metaphor for car.. He is reflecting on current collective consciousness of people in general.
    janeissaon March 20, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt is actually about the metro-sexual fashions Bob saw when he first lived in America. You can't tell the woman from the men. They are dressed in the same pollution' etc..
    zakinbristolon April 07, 2014   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationYou can’t tell the woman from the man is a very straightforward (i.e., like a little baby could understand it) reference to the blurring of the lines in Babylon society between the roles of men and women. Women do all the things that men do and they are taught that they must be able to compete equally with men in all areas. Their sacred role as mothers and nurturers of the next generation is demeaned and disparaged by Babylon as a lack of accomplishment and a form of subjugation. Their role in the family as a loyal supporter of the husband & father is disparaged as a form of servitude, exploitation & subjugation. All of this quite simply works toward the Devil’s goal of undermining the love between men & women, the love of families, and, ultimately, the procreation of human life.
    The midnight ravers are the people who, out of sight & earshot of Babylon while hidden in the darkness of the midnight hour, contemplate the Truth of what Babylon is and how it separates us from reality and one another. They renew their energy to continue the struggle against the Babylon System.
    aizel11289on December 13, 2017   Link

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