Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a rendition of the song "Downpressor Man" by the Wailers (Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, and Bunny Wailer) and a later performance of that song by Peter Tosh. Information aboout this song and lyrics to those versions are also included in this post.
The song "Downpressor Man" are Jamaican versions of the African American Spiritual "Sinner Man". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/07/nina-simone-sinnerman-with-lyrics.html for a pancocojams post that provides information about "Sinner Man" and showcases a full version of Nina Simone's rendition of that song.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
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INFORMATION ABOUT "DOWNPRESSOR MAN"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinner_Man
"Peter Tosh and the Wailers versions
Sinner Man" has also been recorded as ska and reggae versions several times by the Wailers.
It was first recorded by the group at Studio One in Kingston, Jamaica in early 1966; Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer shared lead vocals.
A different version entitled "Downpressor" was recorded by Peter Tosh & The Wailers in 1970 ("downpressor" meaning "oppressor" in Rastafarian vocabulary). The song featured Tosh on lead vocals and Bunny Wailer on background. An instrumental version was also released. Songwriting credit for this version is sometimes given to Tosh.
Another version was recorded in 1971 as Oppressor Man. This version was billed as a Peter Tosh solo single, and the B Side of the single featured an instrumental version. It was one of the rarer songs from the period before being included, along with its version, on JAD's Black Dignity compilation in 2004.
Tosh recorded the song again as "Downpresser Man" for his 1977 solo album Equal Rights and released a live recording of the song in a medley with "Equal Rights" on his 1983 album Captured Live."
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FEATURED EXAMPLES (with Lyrics)
Example #1: Downpressor Man - Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer
Vldmaiden, Uploaded on May 30, 2011
First recorded by the group at Studio One in Kingston, Jamaica in early 1966; Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer shared lead vocals. A later version was recorded by Peter Tosh & The Wailers in 1971 ("downpressor" meaning "oppressor" in Rastafarian vocabulary)
LYRICS
Mercy lord when judgement come
Mercy lord when judgement come ...
Mercy lord when judgement come
All on that day all on that day*
Downpressor man where you gonna run to
Tell me
Downpressor man where you gonna run to
Downpressor man where you gonna run to
All on that day, ...
You run to the rocks, rocks will be melting
You run to the rocks, rocks will be melting
When you run to the rocks, rocks will be melting
All on that day, sad day for you
And when you run to the sea, the sea will be boiling
When you run to the sea, the sea will be boiling
You run to the sea, the sea will be boiling
All on that day, ...
So you gonna run to the lord, lord will you hide me
Run to the lord, lord would you hide me
Run to the lord, lord would you hide me
All on that day, sad day for human
Mercy lord when judgement come
Mercy lord when judgement come
I said
Mercy lord when judgement come ...
All on that day
I wouln't like to be a flea in your collar man
I wouln't like to be a flea inna your collar man
I wouln't like to be a flea inna your collar man
All on that day
You can run but you can't hide (...)
You can run but you can't hide
Source: http://www.chartlyrics.com/DOGWwgoRA0Ged0e_67f7Lg/Downpresser.aspx
*That transcription gave this sentence as "all along that day". I changed it to conform with the words from the traditional African American Spiritual because I think that those are also the words that are sung in this song.
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Example #2: Peter Tosh - Downpressor Man ( Live ) ( High Quality )
dreadlocke12, Uploaded on Apr 15, 2010
LYRICS - DOWNPRESSOR MAN
(Songwriter: Peter Tosh)
DownPresserMan
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
(3x)
All on that day
(CHORUS)
You gonna run to the sea
But the sea will be boiling
When you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling(2x)
All on that day
You gonna run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
When you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melitng(2x)
All that day
So I said
CHORUS
You drink your big champagne and laugh(3x)
All on that day
I wouldn't like to be a flea
Under your collar man
(3x)
All on that day
You can run but you can't hide(3x)
Telling you all along that day
You gonna run to the Lord
Beggin' to hide you
(2x)
You gonna run to Jah
Beggin' to hide you
All, all along that day
And I said Downpresser Man
Where you gonna run to
Where you gonna run to Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
I said all on
All on, on that day Downpresser man(4x)
Wait, Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
I don't know where you gonna run to
All on that day
Downpresser man
You can't run, you can't bribe Jah-Jah
Can't call him in a bar
Fe can drink some
Devil soup
Can't bribe him to run a car now
Can't test him faith
Downpresser man(5x)
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
You can't bribe no one
Them no want no money
Them run'f money
That money get funny
Downpresser Man...
S here"
Source: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/peter+tosh/downpressor+man_20191736.html
-snip-
Note: I changed "All along that day" to "All on that day".
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Thanks to the composer/s of this song and thanks to the Wailers & Peter Tosh (soloist) for their musical legacy, including their renditions of this song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, the transcribers of these lyrics, the publisher of the sound file, and the publisher of this video.
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