Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases the Bob Marley & The Wailers' song "Who The Cap Fits". A sound file and lyrics with explanations are given in this post, with special emphasis on the line "who Jah bless, no man curse".
This post is part of a pancocojams series of songs that include the line "Who Jah (God) bless, no man curse. Other songs in this series are:
I-sasha -"Who Jah Bless" (Reggae) http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-who-jah-god-bless-no-man-curse-line_95.html
Sizzla - "Rasta Bless" and "Solid As A Rock" (Reggae) http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-who-jah-god-bless-no-man-curse-line_11.html
and Iyanya - "Kukere" (Afrobeat). http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/iyanya-nigerian-afrobeat-song-kukere.html.
Lyrics for all of these songs except "Jah Bless" are also included in these posts.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
This is only a sampling of songs that include "Who Jah bless, no man curse'" etc. or "Who God bless, no man curse".
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Bob Marley and the Wailers for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube, the transcriber of these lyrics, and all those who are quoted in this post.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Who the Cap Fit - BOB MARLEY
Back To Classic, Uploaded on Jun 14, 2008
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"Who The Cap Fit" is a song in Bob Marley & The Wailers 's 1976 album Rastaman Vibrations.
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LYRICS
(Robert Nesta Marley)
Man to man is so unjust, children:
Ya don't know who to trust.
Your worst enemy could be your best friend,
And your best friend your worse enemy.
Some will eat and drink with you,
Then behind them su-su 'pon you.
Only your friend know your secrets,
So only he could reveal it.
And who the cap fit, let them wear it!
Who the cap fit, let them wear it!
Said I throw me corn, me no call no fowl;
I saying, "Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."
Some will hate you, pretend they love you now,
Then behind they try to eliminate you.
But who Jah bless, no one curse;
Thank God, we're past the worse.
Hypocrites and parasites
Will come up and take a bite.
And if your night should turn to day,
A lot of people would run away.
And who the stock fit let them wear it!
Who the (cap fit) let them (wear it)!
And then a-gonna throw me corn,
And then a-gonna call no fowl,
And then a-gonna "Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."
[Instrumental break]
Some will eat and drink with you,
Then behind them su-su 'pon you, yeah!
And if night should turn to day, now,
A lot of people would run away, yeah!
And who the cap fit, let them wear it!
Who the cap fit, let them wear it!
Throw me corn, me no call no fowl;
A-saying: "Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."
"Cook-cook-cook, cluk-cluk-cluk."
Throw me corn (cook-cook-cook);
Me call no fowl (cluk-cluk-cluk)
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bobmarley/whothecapfit.html
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EDITOR'S NOTES
What the title of this song means:
The song title "Who the Cap Fit Let Them Wear It" is a variant form of the common saying "if the shoe fits, wear it". That saying means that "If what I said applies to you, accept it".
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What the song "Who The Cap Fits" means:
From http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20140820/features/features1.html The Jamaican Star: "Misinterpreting Marley - 'Who the cap fit'" by Blakka Ellis
[Note that this article's author writes that it's a misinterpretation to claim that the words "man to man is so unjust" in this song mean that Bob Marley was speaking out against homosexuality".]
..."Anyone who attempts a serious interpretation of the song [one that takes into account the other verses and chorus] would agree with me that those initial lines are referring to the unfair and [bad mind] ways in which human beings deal with each other. And although the word used is 'man', the song is clearly [as in the case of plenty biblical references] using man to refer to all human beings.
Di song a talk about people generally, woman, man and 'others', and how dem wicked and deceptive. Marley was reminding unnu say 'your worst enemy, could be your best friend and your best friend your worst enemy', so watch some a dem, how dem 'eat and drink with you, then behind dem su-su pon yu'.
Is that kind of unjust way, how man deal wid man, Bob Marley did a pree! So stop twist and mix up the words of the Gong. What? Who me a talk? Who di cap fit!"
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"su su pon you"
From http://www.speakjamaican.com/jamaican-slang-glossary-words-and-phrases/
"Su-Su (sue-sue)- To gossip and spread rumors. The sound of whispering in one’s ear denotes gossip and backbiting. Nuh su-su pon mi back. (Don’t gossip behind my back.)"
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"dem" = them
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"wid" = with
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"Who Jah bless, no man curse" ("Who God bless, no man curse") means that no one can successfully curse (do evil toward) anyone who Jah (God) blesses (is treated very favorably by God) because that person is under God's protection.
These lyrics are based on the Old Testament Biblical passages Numbers 22:1 – 24:25. Those verses tell the story of Balak, king of Moab [who] hired Balaam to curse Israel, in order to save Moab, but God blessed Israel and cursed Moab. https://thatnextlevelthinking.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/no-one-can-curse-what-god-has-blessed/
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"did a pree" = alerted people to something they should know
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pree
Pree
1. To take notice of something.
2. To pay close attention to
3. To check out
Pree
"to watch or stare. to grill(Jamaican slang)"
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"Tough Gong" is a nickname for Bob Marley.
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