Bob Marley & The Wailers — Small Axe
Album: Burnin’Avg rating:
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Total ratings: 219
Length: 3:56
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Why boasteth thyself, oh evil men
playing smart and being clever, oh no
I say, you're working inequity
to achieve vanity, yeah, if I sow I sow
but the goodness of Jah, Jah
I'doreth for Iver
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down (we shall)
ready to cut you down, oh yeah
These are the words of my Master
keep on telling me
no weak heart shall prosper
oh no, they can't, eh
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down
ready to cut you down
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, fall in it, eh
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are the big tree,
We have a small axe
ready to cut you down (we shall)
sharpened to cut you down
playing smart and being clever, oh no
I say, you're working inequity
to achieve vanity, yeah, if I sow I sow
but the goodness of Jah, Jah
I'doreth for Iver
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down (we shall)
ready to cut you down, oh yeah
These are the words of my Master
keep on telling me
no weak heart shall prosper
oh no, they can't, eh
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down
ready to cut you down
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, fall in it, eh
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are the big tree,
We have a small axe
ready to cut you down (we shall)
sharpened to cut you down
Comments (40)add comment
Bob could pretty much do no wrong. His message seems tame in the upbeat sound of his songs but this one is pretty ominous to those "big trees" in power.
siandbeth wrote:
Very good comment, only one thing more i would like to say: also see his message that he is giving in all his songs. Think, that a lot of people dont understand the meanings. And also the Patois, what is the jamaican language!
Gosh what's with all the "monotonous" comments? Of course it's the same beat on and on - like a mantra, no? Some cultures have music that is much more spiritually based than say, um, Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" in America. Open your heart and explore what happens when you sit still and let a little music invade your bloodstream. Plus the boss will think it's cute that you've stopped typing.
Very good comment, only one thing more i would like to say: also see his message that he is giving in all his songs. Think, that a lot of people dont understand the meanings. And also the Patois, what is the jamaican language!
Original Album Release:1973
Hey, long time ago, i heared this!! Very , very nice!
By the way,some
very strange comments!!!
By the way,some
very strange comments!!! siskinbob wrote:
Um, what's the "Christians" version? Is someone keeping secrets we heathens should know? I love Bob Marley's music. Something about reggae and rasta just makes me want to kick back and let things be...
Much prefer the Christians version. This is not one of Bobs best.
Um, what's the "Christians" version? Is someone keeping secrets we heathens should know? I love Bob Marley's music. Something about reggae and rasta just makes me want to kick back and let things be...
thewiseking wrote: Wait up, I'll join ya - that boat's floating in a sea of more-enlightened-than-thou hubris!
.
Listen to your Marley - it's good for you! But I don't want any Marley, Mom. Do you want the other kids to make fun of you? Listen to your Marley! I tried Mom, but it's just an empty bowl of puffery and self congratulation. Don't let anybody hear you say that, they'll think you're weird. I don't care, Mom - I want to be weird! Where did we go wrong?
excuse me but how can i get off this cruise? if the tenders aren't ready i'll jump and swim.
.
Listen to your Marley - it's good for you! But I don't want any Marley, Mom. Do you want the other kids to make fun of you? Listen to your Marley! I tried Mom, but it's just an empty bowl of puffery and self congratulation. Don't let anybody hear you say that, they'll think you're weird. I don't care, Mom - I want to be weird! Where did we go wrong?
Much prefer the Christians version. This is not one of Bobs best.
thewiseking wrote:
See ya later! We'll throw you a life vest, K?
excuse me but how can i get off this cruise? if the tenders aren't ready i'll jump and swim.
See ya later! We'll throw you a life vest, K?
idureth !
thewiseking wrote:
Off you go then. Bye
excuse me but how can i get off this cruise? if the tenders aren't ready i'll jump and swim.
Off you go then. Bye
thewiseking wrote:
Dive in and swim for it but, please, tie a cinder block around your waist first.
excuse me but how can i get off this cruise? if the tenders aren't ready i'll jump and swim.
Dive in and swim for it but, please, tie a cinder block around your waist first.
excuse me but how can i get off this cruise? if the tenders aren't ready i'll jump and swim.
arserocket wrote:
He still sounds so fresh
Aye, mon!
He still sounds so fresh
a crappy regaee song I haven't given a one yet, well now I have
This gets me in all the right placesAlll..right..
Vicey wrote:
You're a heretic.
Interesting sidenote to the song: the title is something of a Jamaican pun. The Big Three were the dominant Kingston record labels at the time, against which Bob was venting some frustration. Big Three would of course be pronounced Big Tree for many Jamaicans.
This is not to say that the song isn't relevant to many situations in this postcolonial world of ours.
inner restn'
Love this Bob song.Gosh what's with all the "monotonous" comments? Of course it's the same beat on and on - like a mantra, no? Some cultures have music that is much more spiritually based than say, um, Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" in America. Open your heart and explore what happens when you sit still and let a little music invade your bloodstream. Plus the boss will think it's cute that you've stopped typing.
So I was having a not so great day. Made a couple of mistakes that cost me dearly in business. Then I turned on RP and heard the wonderful sounds of Bob Marley. It's hard to feel sorry for yourself with these uplifting tunes.
As for the negative comments, please, give it a one and move on. If you don't like what Bill is playing, TURN IT OFF.
¿De dónde vienen todo estos pendejos?
Hey, my favorite Bob Marley song. Love the lyrics, the groove and the melody. Yes, the reggae beat can seem monotonous to those who haven't latched on to the melody yet, but you can say that about any genre of music, including bluegrass, country, hip hop, classical...
KevDog wrote:
Call me a heretic, but I just don't see what the fascination with Bob Marley is. To me, it's the same song over and over. Sorry.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
... thanx Bill for any an' all of Bob! 
anytime, anywhere!
anytime, anywhere!Great version. It's too bad Bob is so commercial that his message gets so harshly judged.
Wow, no comments since 2003.
My fiancee likes Marley poolside, but I find it monotonous and unimaginative while I am working.
One of my favorite Marleys, among many. I love early, middle and late Marley.
Originally Posted by talus:
I completely Agree 
I partly agree. A few do stand out. But their musical simplicity can get monotonous. Why not play B.M. right after something very complicated and cerebral, for a head cleanser?
You're a heretic.
Interesting sidenote to the song: the title is something of a Jamaican pun. The Big Three were the dominant Kingston record labels at the time, against which Bob was venting some frustration. Big Three would of course be pronounced Big Tree for many Jamaicans.
This is not to say that the song isn't relevant to many situations in this postcolonial world of ours.
Originally Posted by KevDog:
Call me a heretic, but I just don't see what the fascination with Bob Marley is. To me, it's the same song over and over. Sorry.
Originally Posted by KevDog:
Call me a heretic, but I just don't see what the fascination with Bob Marley is. To me, it's the same song over and over. Sorry.
I completely Agree
Great tune off a great album. What did the government in Kingston think when the first four songs off this album were Get Up-Stand Up, Hallelujah Time, I Shot the Sheriff and Burnin' and Lootin'? 
Much dread
Much dreadOriginally Posted by rmurray248:
believe it or not, sometimes things are less popular for a reason. This is a case in point.
case in point, you are now less popular in my book for a reason. sometimes things are less popular only for the reason that people are too lazy to listen to anything else other than the radio hits. give me this over anything off 'Legend' any day.
I absolutely love Bob Marley, but this is a B- effort. There are dozens of better songs in his catalog. I know you love to play the more obscure stuff (sometimes I think, just to be obscure and \"cool\"), but believe it or not, sometimes things are less popular for a reason. This is a case in point.
Um, what's the "Christians" version? Is someone keeping secrets we heathens should know? I love Bob Marley's music. Something about reggae and rasta just makes me want to kick back and let things be...