Biographie par : West Indian
Steel Pulse est probablement un des groupes de reggae les plus appréciés en France. Il faut dire que leur Live at l’Elysée Montmartre : "Rastafari Centennial" fait partie des classiques pour de nombreux amateurs de roots reggae…
Steel Pulse est probablement un des groupes de reggae les plus appréciés en France. Il faut dire que leur « Live at l’Elysée Montmartre » fait partie des classiques pour de nombreux amateurs de roots reggae…
Formé en 1975 par des adolescents du ghetto d’Handsworth à Birmingham, Steel Pulse fut très largement inspiré à l’époque par Bob Marley & the Wailers. Composé au départ de David Hinds, au chant, à la guitare et à la composition, Basil Gabbidon à la guitare et dans les chœurs, et Ronnie McQueen à la basse. Ils furent rejoints par le batteur Steve Nisbett, par le clavier Selwyn Brown, le percussionniste Alphonso "Fonso" Martin, et le chanteur (chœur) Michael Riley.
Le groupe émergea à une époque difficile en Angleterre. Les conditions de vie désastreuses d’une grande partie de la population participèrent à l’émergence du mouvement punk mais également à l’explosion de groupes de reggae. Il faut d’ailleurs préciser que ces types de musiciens, loin de s’ignorer allaient travailler ensemble lors de grandes manifestations populaires contre le racisme notamment.
Leur premier album « Handsworth Revolution » fut le gros succès reggae de 1978. Ils avaient sorti auparavant deux singles « Kibudu, Mansetta and Abuku » et « Nyah Love » sur les labels indépendants Dip et Anchor. Ceux-ci n’avaient pas rencontré leur public, mais les Steel Pulse avaient persévéré jusqu’à signer chez Island, sur les recommandations de Burning Spear, pour le titre « Klu Klux Klan » qui devait être le premier morceau de l’album « Handsworth Revolution ». Un carton comme nous le disions. Un an plus tard ils sortent leur album « Tribute to Martyrs ».
Après quelques problèmes relationnels avec Island, notamment en qui concernait leur plan de carrière, notamment parce qu’ils avaient perturbé leur public avec un morceau plus léger, « Caught You », ils rejoignent Elektra pour qui ils sortent « True Democracy » en 1982. On ne peut pas dire que l’album qui suit, « Earth Crisis », soit la meilleure période du groupe (mais les couleurs et les goûts de ne se discutent pas). Ils évoluent entre son pop, reggae parfois un petit peu trop commercial. Les fans jugeront.
Leur « State of Emergency » sort, chez MCA cette fois-ci, en 1988. La recette est la même : le roots reggae n’est pas forcément au rendez-vous. Mais c’est avec Rastafari Centennial qu’ils enregistrent en live à l’Elysée Montmartre qu’ils reviennent sur le devant de la scène reggae. Le live est tout simplement l’un des meilleurs du genre : textes engagés, instrumentaux massifs, voix envoûtantes… ! ! ! Ils seront d’ailleurs nommés aux Grammy Awards. Comme quoi, parfois les Américains ont du goût.
Ils enchaînent en 1994 avec « Vex », qui lui aussi est dans la veine roots du groupe. Ils ont sortis depuis quelques compilations et Live. On vous conseille à ce propos d’aller les voir s’ils passent près de chez vous car Steel Pulse est vraiment un groupe dont on apprécie toutes les qualités en concert…
I say the people of Handsworth, know that
One hand wash the other so they say
So let's join hands my bredren
Make the way for our children (our children, our children)
And their children (their children, their children)
Ensuring that they get life's fair share of...
Equality...
Doesn't justice stand for all
Doesn't justice stand for all
Doesn't justice stand for all mankind
We find society putting us down
Crowning us, crowning us, crowning us, crowning us
A place of Evil, OH, OH
Handsworth means us the Black People
Handsworth means us the Black People
We're taiklng now. Speaking Jah Jah language!
It's a long, long way we're coming from
To send this message across, across
Its been hidden, forbidden, concealed, unrevealed
Its got to come out In the open that -
BABYLON IS FALLING
BABYLON IS FALLING
It was foolish to build It on the sand
Handsworth shall stand, firm - like Jah rock
- fighting back
We once beggars are now choosers
No intention to be losers
Striving forward with ambition
And if it takes ammunition
We rebel in Handsworth revolution
Dread town, dread town, dread town,
Dread town, dread town, dread town,
Dread we are for a cause
Deprived of many things
Experienced phoney laws
Hatred Babylon brings
We know what we got to offer
We know what's going on
Don't want no favours
Cause there is still hunger
Innocent convicted
Poor wage, hard labour
Only Babylon prospers
And humble suffer
They are brothers in south of Africa
One Black represent all, all over the world
Can't bear it no longer
Blessed wlththe power
Of Jah Creator
We will get stronger
And we will conquer
And forward ever, and backward never
Handsworth Revolution
Handsworth Revolution
Handsworth Revolution
Revo- Revo- Revolution
Revo- Revo- Revolution
Revo- Revo- Revolution
Revo- Revo- Revolution
Revo- Revo- Revolution
Bad Man
Dem dread seh
Dem dread seh
Dem dread seh
Dem dread seh
No matter how you bad I man badder than you
No matter how you dread I man dreader than you
No matter how you hard I man harder than you
No matter how you raw
I more-weak heart back way so
A bad man no want go back Into captivity
A bad man no want go back to slavery
Uprising from the claws of the wicked
Two bulls can't reign in one pen
Two lions can't roar in a small den
Two scorpions don't sting at the same spot
Two guns can't fire the same bullet shot so
Move right out now
Move right out now
Move right out now
Move right out now
Two kings don't wear the same crown
Two beauties don't have the same gown on
Tomorrow Is too late to leave town
If you're still here at noon,
There'll be one big, big, big showdown so
Uprising, uprising
Uprising, uprising
I give you tlil noon to go
On your way to survival,where
Your heart will beat more fonder
With life
And breath still enters your body
Repeat verse one
If you still coming me nah run
If you still coming, me ah go, drop you
If you still coming me nah run
So better stop running before I, break you
So run and hide before I, find you
Woe betide if I catch up on you
If you still coming I box you down
If you still coming I clart you down
Long time we deh under backraw...
Four hundred years (many, many years)
Slavery days...
Slavery days...
Slavery days...
Oh you've been bought
Oh you've been sold
Oh cast over me
Got strung up for nothing at all
Strange fruit...
Soldiers
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
And when soldiers came
Them say them come to make us tame
And from that day until now on
We were jeered and laughed to scorn
Things used to be ire (before the soldiers came)
Things used to be nice, so nice now
Things used to be ire
Things used to be nice, so nice
Our country them did enter, yeah
Troops trodding left right and centre
Everywhere
One moment at peace with Nature
Now victims of a massacre
We got our spears
We got our shields
But their guns were greater
Prepare for a slaughter
Give I back I witch doctor
Give I back I Black Ruler
Me no want no dictator
Me no want no tyrant on yah
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Way down in Africa
Where the backra still rules day after day
The Black Man is suffering now far more
Than when he was a slave
Is there a need for war?
No.
Peace my bredren - here them bawl
Bodies in mutilated condition
Faces scarred beyond recognition
Is this what civilization means to me?
Then without it I prefer to be
So...
Give I back I witch doctor
Give I back I Black Ruler
Me no want no dictator
Me no want no tyrant on yah
Dutallee!...
Sound Check
If anything should mash up my head Sah
Play the music me can't dead
Jah in music prolongs gives me life to
Praise Jah
In motion with music getting what we want
Getting what we need
In motion with music getting what we want
Getting what we need
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Dancing, stepping in a ridim fashion
Dancing, go deh, go deh
Dancing, let the music rock me
Dancing away
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
No burdens to haunt me
No pressures to taunt me
Cos Zion is
Cos Zion I
Cos Zion is
Cos Zion I
Destiny yeh
A children rock (like so)
A children skank (like so)
A children rock (like so)
A children skank (like so)
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
I love Jah, I praise Jah
Forget me not, no
No burdens to haunt me
No pressures to taunt me
Cos Zion is
Cos Zion I
Cos Zion is
Cos Zion I
Destiny yeh
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
Rock little children, rock
A children rock (little children rock)
A children roll (little children roll)
A children rock (little children rock)
A children roll (little children roll)
A children rock me can't dead
Play the music me can't dead
Play the music me can't dead
Play the music me can't dead
I love Jah, praise Jah
I love Jah, praise Jah
I love Jah, praise Jah
I love Jah, praise Jah
Motion with music
Motion with music
In motion with music...
Prodigal Son
Woy! Desperation has return
Sodom and Gomorrah no deh yah so!
Woy desperation has return over yonder
Sodom and Gomorrah no deh yah so!
Wild one, you are like the Prodigal Son yeah
And if you're the Prodigal Son, my friend
Then you're the one, you
Left taking your only possession
Your culture
To enter a world known for hacklings
In abundance, yeah
The hustlers of life
Have hooked and drained you from the man
Form the man that you used to be, turn your back on us
Return Rastaman where you came from
The land of your forefathers
Reaching the gates with your two long hands
Searching out for clean water
Wild one...
Prodigal come forth and rejoice with your voice
To the heavens
Chant some song, chant some song
Prodigal come forth and repent
Rastafari sins forgiven
Woy! Desperation has return...
One has returned without one's soul
And has squandered all his possessions
Let us cleanse your body now
From your service to the swine, because
You've been dead and now to anoint your head
With wisdom, knowledge and overstanding
A lesson has been taught unto you my friend
Time for a feast and rejoicing
Wild one...
Woy! Desperation has return
Prodigal has returned to his culture
Prodigal has returned give him water
Prodigal has returned, has returned......
Ku Klux Klan
Walking along just kicking stones
Minding my own business
I come face to face, with my foe
Disguised In violence from head to toe.
I holla and I bawl (Ku Klux Klan)
But dem naw let me go now
To let me go was not dem intention
Dem seh one nigger the less
The better for the show
Stand strong black skin and take your blow
It's the Ku, the Ku Klux Klan
Here to stamp out blackman yah
The Ku, the Ku Klux Klan heh!
To be taught a lesson not to walk alone
I was waiting for the Good Samaritan
But waiting was hopeless
It was all in vain
The Ku Klux Klan back again
I holla and I bawl (Ku Klux Klan)
Dem naw let me go now
Dem seh one nigger the less
The better the show
Stand strong blackskin and take your blow
The Ku, Ku Klux Klan
Rape, lynch, kill and maim
Things can't remain the same yah no!
Blackman do unto the Klan
AS they would do to you
Prediction
Prediction, prediction foretold
Prediction, yeh, from the days of old
Prediction, yeh, from way back when
The years Jah send, years Jah send
Prediction a long, long time ago
Selassie was neglected, tell me when?
Like the tales of the Messiah, yah
All over again
Garvey was rejected tell me when?
Unlike the Baptist he has kept his head
I said vank!
William Gordon and Paul Bogle led
A rebellion cause they used their heads
But had their necks in a noose
Martyrs of freedom, freedom condemned
But Jah Jah cut them loose. Hen heh
Prophesised that, we would suffer by
Those who think themselves superior to
Our colour, yes sah
Descendants of Naiman the Leper
Ask Elisha
Offsprings of Naiman the Leper
Ask Elisha
If a lie, ask Elisha, ask Elisha
If a lie, ask Elisha, ask Elisha
If a lie, ask Elisha, ask Elisha
If a lie, ask Elisha, ask Elisha
If a lie, ask Elisha, ask Elisha
If a lie, ask Elisha, ask Elisha
Tomorrow's what we're on about
Tomorrow's what we're on about
Not yesterday
It's up to man to understand
To have success upon this land
He better have some faith
Have
Some
Faith
Repeat
Have, some, have some, faith!
Have, some, have some, faith!
The impossible have a habit of happening
If you think a lie I atell ask Elisha
Ask Elisha ... ask Ellsha...
Macka Splaff
Hi
I just feel blockup on you
Hey bum bu
Hey Jah stab
Hey size nine
Hey grey seed
Is like seh grizzly ah folly
Him smoke off the collie
So, ma it, grizzly
Mash It!!!
Mister collie, collie collie man
Me want some herbs to smoke tonight
Mister collie, collie collie man
Me want some herbs to smoke tonight
Feeling high, high high
Feeling down, down down
Feeling high, high high
Feeling down, down down
Feeling high, high high
Feeling down, down down
Mister collie, collie collie man
Me want some herbs to smoke tonight
Mister collie, collie collie man
Marijuana smoke tonight
Mister collie man
Want some herbs to smoke tonight
Mister collie man
Ganja smoke tonight
Feeling high ... (chorus)
Mister collie man, plant of Jah Jah
Smoke tonight
Feeling high (chorus)
Block up feelings ire in I self
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