Roots and Branches - E Ruscha V

Words get written. Words get twisted. Old meanings move in the drift of time. Lift the flickering torches. See gentle shadows change The features of the faces cut in unmoving stone. Bad mouth on a prayer day, hope no one's listening. Roots down in the wet clay, branches glistening. True disciples carrying that message To colour just a little with their personal touch. Home-spun fancy weavers and naked half-believers -- Crusades and creeds descend like fiery flakes of snow. Bad mouth on a prayer day, hope no one's listening. Roots down in the wet clay, branches glistening. Roots to branches Roots to branches Roots to branches In wet and windy priest-holes. Grand in vast cathedrals. High on lofty minarets or in the temples of doom. I hope the old man's got his face on. He'd better be some quick change artist. Suffer little children to make their minds up soon. Bad mouth on a prayer day, hope no one's listening. Roots down in the wet clay, branches glistening. Roots to branches Roots to branches Roots to branches Roots to branches Roots to branches Roots to branches

Hey, hey So many things to do and say But I can't seem to find the way But I wanna know how I know I'm meant for something else But first I gotta find myself But I don't know how Oh, why do I reach for the stars When I don't have wings to carry me that far? I gotta have roots before branches To know who I am Before I know who I wanna be And faith to take chances To live like I see A place in this world for me Oh, hey Sometimes I don't wanna feel (Sometimes I don't wanna feel) And forget the pain is real (And forget the pain is real) Put my head in the clouds (Oh, ooh) Oh, I start to run and then I fall (Start to run and then I fall) Thinking I can't get it all (Thinking I can't get it all) Without my feet on the ground (Oh, ooh) There's always a seed before there's a rose The more that it rains, the more I will grow I gotta have roots before branches To know who I am Before I know who I wanna be And faith to take chances To live like I see A place in this world for me Oh, oh Whatever comes, I know how to take it Learn to be strong, I won't have to fake it Oh, you're understandin' Oh, but we can come and do what's best There won't be north and south, east and west But I'll still be standing I'm standing If I have roots before branches To know who I am (To know who I am) Before I know who I'm gonna be And faith, oh, to take chances To live like I see A place in this world I gotta have roots before branches To know who I am Before I know who I wanna be And faith to take chances And live like I see A place in this world for me, oh I gotta have Roots before branches Oh, yeah

Now here comes a special request To each and everyone Especially those of my brethren Who forget where they are coming from, you know This song is called roots and culture Don't you bite the hands that feed you My brethren no Don't you bite the hands that feed you Don't you burn your bridges then behind you My brethren no Don't you burn your bridges them behind you Cause if you burn your bridges down That is a wrong thing to do The good you do today will surely live after you I say Don't you bite the hands that feed you my brethren no Don't you bite the hands that feed you Remember the days of bread and water man Remember the days of hunger Don't forget your roots and culture My brethren say Remember your place of shelter Cause if you deal with war man You can't run far You deal with grudge You a go melt like fudge Don't you bite the hands that feed you my brethren no Don't you bite the hands that feed you no Don't you bite the hands that feed you my brethren no Don't you bite the hands that feed you Don't you burn your bridges them behind you my brethren no Don't you burn your bridges them behind you Cause if you deal with war man you can't run far You deal with grudge You a go melt like fudge mi say Don't you bite the hands that feed you mi brethren say Don't you bite the hands that feed you no Remember your roots and culture my brethren say Remember your place of shelter Don't forget the days of bread and water man Remember the days of hunger For you never miss the water till the well runs dry You spit ina the sky It a go fall ina you eye mi say Don't you bite the hands that feed you my brethren no Don't you bite the hands that feed you

I got red dirt stains On my boots and jeans Calloused fingers From my guitar strings Wild like the wind In the tall pine trees I got roots And I got wings I raise my glass On a Saturday night I thank the Lord above On my Sunday drive For Daddy's hands And Mama's dreams He gave me roots She gave me wings He said run on love And run on life And plant some seeds Until you're tired Don't take anything at all for granted She said raise your hands And raise your babies Be yourself And never change it Be everything you ever wanna be He said run on love And run on life And plant some seeds And take your time Don't take anything at all for granted She said raise your hands And raise your babies Be yourself And never change it Be everything you ever wanna be I saddle up When I get down Sing every night In a different town And I've got a man who wears my ring And I got roots And I got wings Yeah I got roots I got wings

Yeah yeah yeah yeah! Yeahhhhh yeah yeah Yeahhhhh yeah yeah Ooo Lawd, Ooo Lawd, Ooo Lawd Ooo Lawd, Ooo Lawd, Ooo Lawd (Look outta road!) A who dat, di Rootsman Many get di call, but dem never get chosen Yes we bringing all a di King's meditation Rastafari (Is self-realization) Let's big up di real ones Jah Jah put dem here up on di land for a reason Never disrespect cuz Mama set a foundation You can never rise if you never yet fall down Cause you can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs Cause you can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs Yes I know I'm made for this journey Ask Mark, ask Barnz, dem will defend me Soul Circle is the family base And mi bredda Jamar, say fi gwan keep the faith Love what you doing, don't do it in haste Learn the business, run your own race I sing righteousness always Even in the Judgement Days You can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs You can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs Sometimes the frustration take me I call upon the Father to help me (Jah help me!) Sometimes we weak, but we have to be stronger And we nuh accept no failure (No day!) No, in times of struggle, I call on the Saviour Inna life, there's no one greater Than the Creator Babylon a traitor Fire pon hater Jah is the Maker, yeah Cause you can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs A suh life goes And you can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs It's ups and, ups and, ups and downs We going, going, round and round Oh yes we, yes we, rise and fall Yes we, yes we, and we stand tall A who dat, di Rootsman Many get the call, but them never get chosen Yes we bringing all a di King's meditation Rastafari Cause you can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs A suh life go Cause you can never rise if you never yet fall down You can never rise if you never yet fall down It's ups and downs