(Scoop, scoop, scoop, scoo-doo
Scoop, scoop wa-doo.)
Up a cane river to wash my dread
Upon a rock I rest my head
There I vision through the seas of oppression, oh-oo-wo!
Don’t make my life a prison
We come from Trench Town, Trench Town (Trench town)
Most of them come from Trench Town
We free the people with music (sweet music)
Can we free the people with music (sweet music)?
Can we free our people with music? With music
With music, oh music!
Oh-y, my head
In desolate places we’ll find our bread
And everyone see what’s taking place, oh-oo-wo!
Another page in history
We come from Trench Town
Come from Trench Town
We come from Trench Town
Lord we free the people with music (sweet music)
We free the people with music (sweet music)
We free our people with music
With music, oh music (oh music)!
They say it’s hard to speak
They feel so strong to say we are weak
But through the eyes the love of our people, oh-oo-wo!
They’ve got to repay
We come from (Trench town) Trench Town
We come from (Trench town) Trench Town
Trench – Trench Town (Trench town)
They say, “Can anything good come out of Trench Town?”
(Trench – Trench town)
That’s what they say, (Trench town); (Trench – Trench town)
Say (Trench – Trench town) we’re the underprivileged people
So (Trench town) they keep us in chains:
“Pay (Trench – Trench town) – pay – pay tribute to” (Trench town)
We come from (Trench – Trench town)
We come from (Trench – Trench town)
Just because we come from Trench Town
Not because we come from Trench Town
Just because we come from (Trench town)
Roots and Resilience: The Heart of Trench Town
“Trench Town” by Bob Marley is a heartfelt tribute to the neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica that shaped the artist’s life and music. Through vivid imagery and evocative lines, Marley captures the struggles and spirit of people living under oppression. The song’s refrain, “We free the people with music,” highlights the power of reggae as a tool for liberation and unity. Marley’s references to washing his dread by the cane river and finding bread in desolate places evoke both spiritual cleansing and resilience in the face of adversity. The lyrics challenge stereotypes, asserting pride and strength despite societal marginalization. Ultimately, “Trench Town” stands as both a personal reflection and a broader social commentary, celebrating the transformative force of music and community.
Song Credits
- Artist: Bob Marley
- Songwriter: Bob Marley
- Release Year: 1971
- Label: Tuff Gong