Bongo Red is a single by Roots Reggae band The Gladiators released on Studio 1 in 1974. Another higher-fidelity recording of this song was later released.
Natty dread, natty dread, natty dread, yes
I-man don't like to get mix up (mix up, mix up)
By pushing me mouth in something I can't prove (no, no, no)
I-man don't take hearsay (hearsay)
Dem kind of things bring mix up (mix up, mix up)
I-man no say what next man say (next man say)
I like to prove things for I-self (for I-self)
2) So I take a walk from 6th street
Trying to prove something
Going to the bottom of 8th street
From corner to corner you can hear
Yes, the youths dem a shout
3) Natty dread, yes them dread
Natty dread, natty roots
Natty cool, (cool-cool natty dread)
Yes them dread
For they stand up in Babylon
Natty dread, natty roots
Natty cool, (congo natty dread)
Yes them dread
For they stand up in Babylon
Repeat 2)
Repeat 3)
Natty dread, natty roots now
Natty dread internationally
All around town
Yes them dread
For they stand up in Babylon
Bongo Red was written by Albert Griffiths.
Bongo Red was produced by Coxsone Dodd.