ROOTS REGGAE Happy Hour
Ragtime, 1345 North Courthouse Rd., Arlington, VA
Come out and enjoy the Raw Bar at Ragtime..in the heart of Arlington!
REBEL SOUL (Nyabinghi)
Far from the sea there is a house, up in the hills
That's where I'll be spending my time, biding my time
Nyabinghi come play your drums for me
When I was a boy I leaned on the strength of my father's shoulders
And now I am grown I'm clearing my path of all the boulders
Nyabinghi come play your drums for me
I'm a rebel soul
Mother I'm growing my locks I want to become a musician
I'll stand up for human rights... be a warrior
Guitar in my hand - a spear, I'll be aiming for the meridian
Strong is my cause and truth I rely on
Because I learn as I'm growing
There's no use in only knowing pretty lies
I'll open my eyes
I'm a rebel soul
Nyabinghi come play your drums....
coz I'm a rebel soul
Mother they're outside my door
They say it's time for me to conform
I've "joined the fight", they say, I'm "a bad seed"
But I know what's wrong from right
And the road I'm on - it's providence
At the end of the day my logic remains clear
The embers are glowing
My ideas are counterflowing
Goodwill arise - guide the strong and the wise
I'm a rebel soul
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LONG ROAD
(intro) I've got a ticket
I wanna go to Sidamo
I've got a ticket, I wanna be in Arussi
I've got a ticket, show me the way to Dessie
I've got a ticket to Dire Dawa, and to Massawa
Way past midnight, and I'm still walking
It took so long for directions to your town
At a local inn I sought help from an old man
He said "Son, I can't show you the way, but the drink's on me"
(chorus) Would you mind telling me
How do I get to Africa
'Cause I keep on wandering
Lose another day on the wrong road
I'm looking for a miracle, or a ride
Because I know
14,000 miles is no joke
(chorus)
And I know I can make it, I'm halfway there already
(I can clear it) Over the ridge
And anything the road brings
Somebody said "Take the Long road"
And another said "Head for the beach"
Never ceasing to reach for you Africa
In my thoughts I've never left you
I fear no strife, my gourd is full of His wisdom
Alone I've lumbered through furies in magical dreams
Where tears fell, lost into the see
No Babylon can stop me
I'm on my way, I'm heading home
No Babylon can stop me now
(intro)
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SIMIEN BREEZE
On many a morning I'd wake up and something would trigger a memory of home
(I) think I've been gone for far too long
If I could recapture my youth I would turn back the clock to a life I once knew
And lose myself like the wind in the trees
I dream of forests and I dream of wide open spaces
I dream of walking on red earth with no shoes in the rain of summer
I dream of the plans we'd laid, of the games we played
Of promises made to last all time
When that day comes I will not fear the guns - faith will be my ammunition
Prodigal was no invention - it's true
Man and kingdom will sound the horn and drum on arrival in Addis Ababa
Green, gold, red, and black behold my eyes
On many a morning I'd wake up and something would trigger a memory of home
Lomi Terra, Shiro Meda
If I could go back to my youth - rediscover the places so old yet so new
I recall fine weather - Simien breeze
I dream of forests......
...............................
When the tale is told and the facts unfold no prize could be a consolation
Take me back to the land where I was birthed
King and country I'll come home to see - keep some land for me in Mendefera
No sapphire dome nor the ships of Rome can hold me back
Ke feedel qotera wede Lemma be Gebeya
Eske semm enna worq
Lomi Terra, mehede new wedeza
When that day comes..........
.........................................
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DR CRAZY
Dr Crazy . . you're lazy without a doubt
Have you got a remedy for me?
I've been thinking . . you're taking far too long
Would you play that melody for me?
Or I'm gonna stay here 'til you've solved every one
of the world's problems
You never told me what could be done
So here I am again!
Dr Crazy . . you're lazy without a doubt....
.......................
The illusion's getting stronger
We might soon be overcome
And I really feel it's urgent
I think it's time we get things done
So here I am again!
Dr Crazy . . you know this is our only chance for happiness
Even 'maybe' would be better than 'no'
So work you're magic . . do your magic
Rock and come in!
Well , We're going round in circles
Is it true you've lost your mind?
And what of your reputation . .
That there's nothing you can't find an answer to?
Don't pretend
Dr Crazy . . you know it's no use trying to ignore this circumstance
Good intention is never mentioned in history, you see
So work your magic . . do your magic
Rock and come in!
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MOYALE
If then we knew now what we know
If then we knew what was to unfold
We'd dare a union, defy the course
The crossed the bush, they crossed savannah
Through the wild they ran on , they ran on
Never been so many down in a hole
No word at the frontier of their arrival
If you've never been outside the ring
Follow the tracks of the Shadow Road
(chorus) Moyale na na
To Moyale come on
They left without a word, without a sound
Down to the border, heading for the southern frontier
Never been so many down in a hole
No tales to convey of their survival
If you've never been outside the ring
Follow the tracks of the Shadow Road
Moyale na na
To Moyale come on
Ever since the revolution
We've been running for our lives
I wish there could have been another solution
(in Amharic) It is said more than
40 thousand took that road
If then we knew now what we know
If then we knew what was to unfold
If then we knew now what we know
We'd dare a union - defy the course
(chorus)
Ragtime, 1345 North Courthouse Rd., Arlington, VA
Come out and enjoy the Raw Bar at Ragtime..in the heart of Arlington!
Lesaac Ethiopian Cafe, 8200 Fenton St., Silver Spring, MD
Lesaac Ethiopian Cafe, 8200 Fenton St., Silver Spring, MD