Here I am, walking down the street (walk walk walk walk walk walk walk)
And the terrain, everything is so sweet (woah woah woah sweet, woah woah woah sweet)
I'm doing my thing and I'm doing it slow
But there is just one thing I would like you to know, oh

When it wet it slippery, yeah
When it dump it crumpy
If it's likely you will tumble down
Don't want you on the ground
Oh, oh, oh, caution, the road is wet
Black soul is black as jet (do you hear me)
Caution the road is hot
You got to do better than that ('cause ah)

When it wet it slippery (when it wet it slippery, yeha)
When it damp it crampy (when it damp it crampy)
If it's likely you were tumbling down
Don't want you on the ground, brother

Hit me from the top
You crazy motherfunky
Hit me from the top
You crazy motherfunky
Hit me from the top
Crazy motherfunky

When it wet it slippery, yeah
When it dumpy crumpy
If it's likely you were tumbling down
Don't want you on the ground (don't, don't)
Caution the road is wet
Black soul is black as jet (black soul)
Caution the road is hot
You got to do better than that


Lyrics submitted by stretch, edited by ChungFah

Caution Lyrics as written by Bob Marley

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Caution song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    "Written after Planno was stopped by the police for driving Bob's car without a full license; Bob was held in prison overnight for aiding and abetting his friend. But the line "Caution, the road is wet" is a metaphor, for the conditions of the struggle. Watch your step, says Bob."

    stretchon April 16, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "I'm doing my thing and I'm doing it slow"

    I really like this line alot. In my opinion, this song is just about going through life with a peaceful, yet watchful state of mind. Probably my favorite Marley song.

    word.lifeon November 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love the guitar in this song. It's great, with kind of an old western feel or something, hard to describe. and of course the lyrics are great. its bob marley

    brettonknighton August 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great

    mikadoon September 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Some of this will seem quite obvious, without stating:

    This song is a warning about proceeding though life without a constant awareness of evil, and the conditions from whence it arises.

    Here I am, walking down the street (walk walk walk walk walk walk walk) And the terrain, everything is so sweet (woah woah woah sweet) (woah woah woah sweet) I'm doing my thing and I'm doing it slow

    Marley, says I, but this "I" is also us, the listener. The song opens by setting the stage, for an individual travelling the road of life. This person find themselves taking their time, and everything seems to be a great vibe.

    But there is just one thing I would like you to know, oh (However, looks are deceiving, and everything is not just a hippie parade in the prairie.)

    The WARNING!

    When it wet it slippery yeah When it dump it crumpy If it's likely you will tumble down Don't want you on the ground Oh oh oh caution, the road is wet Black soul is black as jet Do you hear me Caution the road is hot You got to do better than that

    Translation: When it rains it pours. If evil persists, you will likely get taken down by it. No one wants to see that happen, so try a little harder to have some self-discipline.

    Hit me from the top You crazy motherfunky Hit me from the top You crazy motherfunky Hit me from the top You crazy motherfunky

    This could be a couple different things, but I think mostly this is a shout out to reggae music which literally hits at the "top" of the beat, as opposed to other rock styles. If this indeed the case, that this is a reggae refference, then it may also be possible the following lines:

    If it's likely you were tumbling down Don't want you on the ground (don't don't)

    Could Bob be saying, "I don't want you to stop dancing." ? Indeed, let's keep these bodies dancing, and purging the negative effects of culture and society!

    indiadamjoneson August 16, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Hit me from the top"

    I think what bob was trying to say as you can throw things at my feet but I won't fall try get me another way

    Satisfyjahsoulon January 03, 2015   Link

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