We refuse to be
What you wanted us to be
We are what we are
That's the way it's going to be, if you don't know
You can't educate I
For no equal opportunity (talkin' 'bout my freedom)
Talkin' 'bout my freedom
People freedom and liberty!
Yeah, we've been trodding on the winepress much too long
Rebel, rebel!
Yes, we've been trodding on the winepress much too long
Rebel, rebel!

Babylon system is the vampire, yea! (vampire)
Suckin' the children day by day, yeah!
Me say de Babylon system is the vampire, falling empire,
Suckin' the blood of the sufferers, yeah!
Building church and university, wooh, yeah!
Deceiving the people continually, yeah!
Me say them graduatin' thieves and murderers
Look out now they suckin' the blood of the sufferers (sufferers)
Yea! (sufferers)

Tell the children the truth
Tell the children the truth
Tell the children the truth right now!
Come on and tell the children the truth
Tell the children the truth
Tell the children the truth
Tell the children the truth
Come on and tell the children the truth

'Cause, 'cause we've been trodding on ya winepress much too long
Rebel, rebel!
And we've been takin' for granted much too long
Rebel, rebel!

(Trodding on the winepress) Trodding on the winepress (rebel)
Got to rebel, y'all (rebel)
We've been trodding on the winepress much too long, yeah! (rebel)
Yeah! (rebel) Yeah! Yeah!

From the very day we left the shores (trodding on the winepress)
Of our Father's land (rebel)
We've been trampled on (rebel)
Oh now! (takin' for granted) Lord, Lord


Lyrics submitted by uNifusE

Babylon System Lyrics as written by Bob Marley

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Babylon System song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    Bob Marley is a genius and I wish everybody had his spirit. He has such a pure and powerful message, but people alway ignore it. The first thing most people think of when they hear Bob Marley is "pot-head" or something like that. Bob Marley was much more than just a pothead. He's one of the most freethinking men of our time and he has a powerful message that people refuse to acknowledge. He sees the evil in the world and he uses his music to spread the word to resist it. Certain people such as myself have been affected by his message, and I wish that everybody could. This song is about Babylon, all the oppressors of the world (government, bueracracy, etc.), and how we need to rebel agaisnt Babylon.

    MrMojoRisin5552on May 03, 2002   Link

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