Beenie Man & Sly & Robbie
Beenie Man
Beenie Man
Beenie Man
Beenie Man & A.R.P.
Beenie Man
Beenie Man & Lady Saw
Beenie Man
Beenie Man
Beenie Man & Steven “Lenky” Marsden & & & Sly Dunbar
Beenie Man & A.R.P.
Beenie Man
Not the first to do it but a tribute to the late Bantu Stephen Biko, murdered by police in apartheid South Africa at the age of just 30. Beenie Man recognises Biko’s personal struggle against apartheid and remembers him with this inspired adaptation of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song
[Intro]
When slavery demolish 400 years ago
25 years ago an' it over it still going on
[Bridge: Sly Dunbar and Steve Marsden & (Beenie Man)]
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery (Freedom Man)
None but ourselves can free our minds (Children of Soweto)
Have no fear for atomic energy (Somalia)
'Cause none of them can stop a' the time (How can it be the only refugees in di world)
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look? Ooh (Africa, it's for Africans)
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill Jah Book (Rasta say)
[Chorus]
Do you know tell me what you really know
'Bout that great man Steve Biko
Do you know tell me what you really know
Of that great man, oh naw
[Verse 1]
I say seeing is believing but knowin' is best
I know he never deal with Rastafari concept
But I know he was a man of black people interest
So I say, black I am, my people must be strong
He gave me the confidence to sing this song
I hear they speak of Martin Luther
But as him get that dream dem shoot him after
I know, Steve Biko was a freedom fighter
A well educated South African lawyer
And one more
He was a hope for the people of Africa
'Cause in those time dey capture Mandela
Mount I [?]
[Chorus]
Do you know tell me what you really know
About that great man from Soweto
Do you know tell me what you really know
About that great man, Steve
[Verse 2]
Oppression, suppression, depression cause debt
Dem take what dem want an' give man what left
Equal right and justice [?]
Di children of Soweto were gettin' upset
They were fighting for freedom and getting restless
Instead of freedom they got instant death
[Bridge]
Like just, take over the street
Naked children, your glutchings too deep
Mother and father can't make two ends meet
Nuh turn way yuh face
'Cause I know yuh see it and I say
[Chorus]
Do you know tell me what you really know
About that great man from Soweto
Do you know tell me what you really know
About that great man, Steve Biko
[Verse 3]
I know we don't rise and fall
He stand tall and tear down Babylon wall
He fought for freedom for Mandela
And people cry, and people cry eh yeah
He was a defender for all African slave
They gon' to jail and beat him and put him inna grave
They were so afraid of Steve Biko
He was so strong, he was too strong
He was a threat for Babylon
So I say eh eh
Do you know, brother tell me what you really know
About that great man from Soweto
[Bridge: Sly Dunbar and Steve Marsden & (Beenie Man)]
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy (Have no fear at all)
As none of them can stop a' the time
How long shall they kill our prophets (How long)
While we stand aside and look? Ooh
Some say it's just a part of it (They just say)
We've got to fulfill Jah Book (I want to knooowwwww)
[Chorus]
Do you know tell me what you really know
About this great man yah, Steve Biko
Do you know just tell me what you really know
About that great man, woah woah woah
[Outro]
I say seeing is believing but knowin' is best
I know he never deal with Rastafari concept
But I know he was a man for black people interest
So I say, black I am, together we be strong
He gave me the confidence to sing this song, woooaahhh
Do you know, tell me what you really know
Please tell
Steve Biko was written by Beenie Man.
Beenie Man released Steve Biko on Tue Dec 09 1997.