Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight
Preacher man don’t tell me heaven is under the earth
I know you don’t know what life is really worth
It’s not all that glitter is gold and
Half the story has never been told
So now you see the light, ay
Stand up for your right. Come on
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight
Most people think great God will come from the sky
Take away everything, and make everybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You would look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
You stand up for your right, yeah
Get up, stand up (Yeah, yeah)
Stand up for your right (Oh-huh)
Get up, stand up (Get up, stand up)
Don’t give up the fight (Life is your right)
Get up, stand up(So we can’t give up the fight)
Stand up for your right (Lord, Lord)
Get up, stand up (Keep on struggling on)
Don’t give up the fight (Yeah)
We’re sick and tired of your ism and schism game
Die and go to heaven in Jesus’ name, Lord
We know and we understand
Almighty God is a living man
You can fool some people sometimes
But you can’t fool all the people all the time
So now we see the light
(What you gonna do?)
We going to stand up for our right
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
So you’d better
Get up, stand up (Don’t give it up)
Stand up for your right (Stand up right now)
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight
(Don’t give it up, don’t give it up)
Get up, stand up (Get up, stand up)
Stand up for your right (Get up, stand up)
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right
The Anthem of Empowerment and Resistance
“Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley is a powerful rallying cry for social justice, personal empowerment, and spiritual awareness. The song’s repetition of its title phrase urges listeners to assert their rights and never accept oppression. Marley critiques blind faith and passive acceptance, advocating for self-realization and action in the face of injustice. The lyrics question religious dogma and societal norms, encouraging people to seek their own truths and actively strive for equality. By blending reggae rhythms with bold, uplifting messages, Marley crafts a universal anthem that continues to inspire movements for change worldwide.
Song Credits
- Artist: Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Songwriters: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh
- Release Year: 1973
- Label: Island Records