Roots Ragga

You have some people going around saying roots music is dead
"Roots music dead"
I wonder if they know what them a talk 'bout

What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!
What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!

Cho!
Me is a deejay who travel all 'bout
Me travel inna east, west, north, and south
Everywhere me go the roots still a shock out
Alive and kicking, man, there ain't no doubt
When you say the roots dead, mind you don't shout
Mi say, mind the words can't come out of your mouth
Don't you know music is like a big roundabout?
And the roots music, it just deh-deh throughout

What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!
What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!

Cho!
You check Cutty Ranks if you waan hear the bammer
You check Shabba Ranks if you waan hear the rammer
You check Super Cat if you waan done da-da
Me have mi own style, some call it roots ragga
Maccabi style, some call it roots ragga
Maccabi style, a style of roots ragga
Maccabi style, some call it roots ragga
Maccabi style, some call it roots ragga
No slackness, you woulda never hear me holler
Everything me talk censored by Jah Jah
Jah Jah is just like a computer planner
Me a the computer, him a the programmer
A conscious lyrics I man try fi utter
Then me put it pon a riddim that I man require
It could be a dance, or fi catch dance a fire
Or a riddim that a woulda more play by Shaka
Now take it from me 'cause I am not a liar
A the roots that a whole heap of people desire
Dem respect the roots, it's a thing dem admire
So they know that the roots coulda never expire

Maccabi style, a style of roots ragga
A Maccabi style, some call it roots ragga
A Maccabi style, a style of roots ragga
A Maccabi style, a style of -
What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!
What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!

Me love the dancehall and a dem me come from
The vibes dem nice when a dancehall jam
I man love the roots from me was a youth man
The roots, it give me nuff inspiration
Me love the two of dem, me no just love one
I man is a roots and a dancehall man
Lovers Rock even give me good vibration
Me just love reggae, that you must understand
Now all the deejays on the radio station
You have an obligation to the youth man
Can't play pure slackness and sing 'bout gun
You haffi play some tune fi uplift we nation
And give the youth knowledge and education
The youth haffi know which part dem come from
Dem haffi know who they are, and where they belong
If you waan keep we nation strong

What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!
What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!

Bob Marley, him big everywhere
Inna nuff place the roots gone clear
You have man like Burning Spear
Dem deh man tour every year
The roots crowd, it is very sincere
Dem will support you throughout your career
Some dancehall people last fi a year
The next year you find dem disappear
Inna America, mi say, the roots still clear
Inna Africa, mi say, the roots still clear
Inna Europe, mi say, the roots still clear
And inna Jamaica the roots is there
Don't you know that the roots is big everywhere?
Mi say, make dem talk, man, I don't care
'Cause you know that the roots will always be here
Who say the roots dead? Boy, get out of here!

What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?
Who say the roots dead? Go 'way! Shut your mouth!
What dem a say? What dem a say?
And what dem a talk 'bout?