This morning I woke up in a curfew
O God, I was a prisoner, too – yeah!
Could not recognize the faces standing over me
They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality. (Ay!)
How many rivers do we have to cross
Before we can talk to the boss? (Yeah!)
All that we got, it seems we have lost
We must have really paid the cost
(That’s why we gonna be)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(Say we gonna burn and loot)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(One more thing)
Burning all pollution tonight
(Oh, yeah, yeah)
Burning all illusion tonight
Oh, stop them!
Give me the food and let me grow
Let the Roots Man take a blow
All them drugs gonna make you slow now
It’s not the music of the ghetto. (Ay!)
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(Who can stop the tears?)
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(We’ve been suffering these long, long-a years!)
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(Will you say cheer?)
Weeping and a-wailing tonight
(But where?)
Give me the food and let me grow
Let the Roots Man take a blow
All them drugs gonna make you slow now
It’s not the music of the ghetto. (Ay!)
We gonna be burning and a-looting tonight
(To survive, yeah!)
Burning and a-looting tonight
(Save your baby lives)
Burning all pollution tonight
(Pollution, yeah, yeah!)
Burning all illusion tonight
(Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord!)
Burning and a-looting tonight
Burning and a-looting tonight
Rebellion and Reflection: The Meaning Behind “Burnin’ And Lootin'”
“Burnin’ And Lootin'” by Bob Marley is a striking anthem of resistance, capturing the struggles and injustices faced by oppressed communities. The song’s vivid opening—waking up in a curfew, surrounded by “uniforms of brutality”—immediately sets a tense, urgent tone. Marley’s lyrics question the cost of freedom, expressing frustration and a longing for justice with lines like “How many rivers do we have to cross / Before we can talk to the boss?” The chorus, repeating “burning and a-looting tonight,” is not just a call to action but a metaphor for breaking down oppressive systems and illusions. Marley also warns against escapism and societal decay, urging listeners to seek nourishment and consciousness rather than turning to destructive habits.
Song Credits
Artist: Bob Marley
Songwriters: Bob Marley
Release Year: 1973
Label: Island Records