Black Survivors

Original Song: “Survival”

Album: Survival

Label: Tuff Gong/Island

Year: 1979

Notes:

After introducing what this (Reggae Musick) is, we must introduce WHO we are. We are the Survivors. The Black Survivors. Much of Bob’s lyrics expose the state of Africa and its people brought into slavery on western soil and the Survival album precisely discusses this subject. While much has still to be reveiled about this, here Bob exposed an even greater Truth. “I don’t stand for the black man’s side, I don’ t stand for the white man’s side. I stand for God’s side” , he once said. This state of blackness is one the current leaders of this world have coined for the flocks of human beings who have been systematically cut from their original God, language, culture and traditions, subjugated under a “new” rule and system of governance. This is evident in the current situation of any native aboriginal peoples and families of the american continent, as well across the globe. We have survived this genocide and have been divinely appointed to bring forth this Truth within our travels.

How can you be sitting there telling me that you care ?
When every time I look around, the people suffer in the suffering
In everyway, in everywhere.

We’re the survivors, yes, the Black Survivors!

Some people got everything;
Some people got nothing;
Some people got hopes and dreams;
Some people got ways and means.

We’re the survivors, yes, the Black Survivors!
Yes, we’re the survivors, like Daniel out of the lions’ den
Survivors, Survivors!

6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

(Daniel 6:16-23)

So I Idren, I sistren,
Which way will we choose?
We better hurry ’cause we got no time to lose.

Some people got facts and claims;
Some people got pride and shame;
Some people got the plots and schemes;
Some people got no aim it seems!

We’re the survivors, yes: the Black Survivors!

We’re the survivors, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Thrown in the fire, but never get burn.

3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

(Daniel 3:19-28)

So I Idren, I-sistren,
The preaching and talkin’ is done;
We’ve gotta live up,
‘Cause the Father’s time has come.

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

(Luke 4:24)

Some people put the best outside;
Some people keep the best inside;
Some people can’t stand up strong;
Some people won’t wait for long.

We’re the survivors
In this age of technological inhumanity,
Scientific atrocity,
Atomic misphilosophy,
Nuclear misenergy
It’s a world that forces lifelong insecurity.

We’re the survivors,
We’re the survivors!
Yes, the Black Survivors!
We’re the survivors,
A good man is never honoured in his own country.

And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

(Luke 4:24)