BEHIND THE SONGS
Big Man Ting
The grand performance of power shrinks into a childish contest when the song looks closely at it.
Big Man Ting (Babylon Too Far)
THE STORY
The grand performance of power shrinks into a childish contest when the song looks closely at it. Tanks, missiles and televised speeches become props for an ego that demands applause while other people pay the price. Against that spectacle stand ordinary needs: a clinic, a schoolbook, children able to live without fear. The blunt jokes about masculinity are part of the attack, stripping military posturing of its dignity. Across the versions, the question stays pointed. If a leader can organise destruction but cannot care for people at home, what exactly makes him a big man?
Lyrics Read the full words
Dem a play soldier but act like clown Push button bomb like dem own di town All now mi nuh hear no righteous sound Just likkle bwoy flex fi manhood crown Dem waan show who big, but dem heart small Push button bomb fi a headline call Tweet war flame like it a carnival But mi see blood run like waterfall Big man ting But a likkle ting war Dem flex like king But get bun inna war Claim crown inna foreign car But mi nah see no real star Dem a shout 'bout power and ground But cyaan feed di people dem inna town Gwaan wid suit and a money frown But fire bun fake king, bun di crown Big man ting But a likkle man war Dem ride tank But cyaan tek par Youth blood spill While dem sip cigar Jah know, Babylon gone too far Talk 'bout border and legacy name But playin size-up like a likkle game Whole heap a dead fi no real aim And still dem a boast pon TV fame It nah matter di missile nor money Di manhood clash jus' sound funny Dem buss gun fi prove who thick Meanwhile mi granny cyaan pay fi di clinic Dem a flex wid jet but cyaan fly brain Gold chain thick but dem thoughts stay plain Drop bomb tweet fi a likkle campaign While di youth dem dead inna hunger pain Mi nuh join no big man show If a crown fake, mi lef' dat low Dem doh build, dem blow A likkle ting clash mek di whole world glow Big man ting But di war so small Dem call it order But mi call it gall Jah seh build Dem seh destroy Now di children cry, no joy
Big Man Ting (Clear Edit)
THE STORY
The grand performance of power shrinks into a childish contest when the song looks closely at it. Tanks, missiles and televised speeches become props for an ego that demands applause while other people pay the price. Against that spectacle stand ordinary needs: a clinic, a schoolbook, children able to live without fear. The blunt jokes about masculinity are part of the attack, stripping military posturing of its dignity. Across the versions, the question stays pointed. If a leader can organise destruction but cannot care for people at home, what exactly makes him a big man?
Lyrics Read the full words
Dem line up tanks like chess piece fi gain position Dem flexin' ego, mask bloodshed under tradition Every conflict a contest, not of truth but ambition Dem measure manhood by missile launch precision Big suit, big speech, but a likkle bwoy mind Dem send poor youth go bleed pon front line Silk tie, big lie, hide behind design While dem sip fine wine and claim divine sign Dem seh nation first, but action cyan align Politrix in disguise, death in di headline Posturing like dem di alpha of mankind But all mi see is fear dressed up as spine Big man ting? Nah, it a li'l man war Fi di sake of pride, dem tek it too far Dem press di button, but cyaan press pause Whole place burn, and dem still want applause Big man ting? Mi nuh see di cause Just a playground beef wid nuclear jaws Claim dem noble, righteous, and pure But underneath dat robe is a likkle ting sure Dem write long speech but cyaan write plan Mi granny still wait pon clinic van Dem chart campaign wid drone and scan But cyaan chart schoolbook fi likkle man Dem posture pon screen like warrior god But cyaan explain why youth lie pon sod A war fi respect, but none in di yard A bark fi crowd, but spirit cyan guard So mi ask, who dem try impress? When earth a cry, and hope get less Dem test bomb like dem test chest But mi test soul, and dem fail dat test Mi nuh play no soldier game fi who got length Dem debate girth while dem stretch state strength Call it doctrine, launch campaign at expense While di people dem drown in a debt so dense Political stiff-neck, flexin' steel But cyan't address how di hungry feel Mi pen dig deep like excavation drill Unearth every file weh dem try conceal Dem calculate war inna PowerPoint slide Wit a likkle man complex dem cyaan hide If a missile test mean di peace collide Then mi rise wid verse and di truth mi ride Big man ting? Nah, it a li'l ting parade Mi see more dignity in di roots crusade Dem fight fi empire, mi chant fi shade Mi chant fi youth weh Babylon betrayed Big man ting? Mi call bluff clear Is a ego war, and di blood deh near Mi seh bun dat crown, mi nah wear fear Mi voice a bullet, mi word a spear So next time yuh hear dem talk 'bout might Look pon di silence in di dead of night Big man ting? Nah man Mi call it likkle bwoy fight
Big Man Ting (Dub Mix)
THE STORY
The grand performance of power shrinks into a childish contest when the song looks closely at it. Tanks, missiles and televised speeches become props for an ego that demands applause while other people pay the price. Against that spectacle stand ordinary needs: a clinic, a schoolbook, children able to live without fear. The blunt jokes about masculinity are part of the attack, stripping military posturing of its dignity. Across the versions, the question stays pointed. If a leader can organise destruction but cannot care for people at home, what exactly makes him a big man?
Lyrics Read the full words
Dem line up tanks like chess piece fi gain position Dem flexin' ego, mask bloodshed under tradition Every conflict a contest, not of truth but ambition Dem measure manhood by missile launch precision Big suit, big speech, but a likkle bwoy mind Dem send poor youth go bleed pon front line Silk tie, big lie, hide behind design While dem sip fine wine and claim divine sign Dem seh nation first, but action cyan align Politrix in disguise, death in di headline Posturing like dem di alpha of mankind But all mi see is fear dressed up as spine Big man ting Nah, it a li'l man war Fi di sake of pride, dem tek it too far Dem press di button, but cyaan press pause Whole place burn, and dem still want applause Big man ting Mi nuh see di cause Just a playground beef wid nuclear jaws Claim dem noble, righteous, and pure But underneath dat robe is a likkle ting sure Dem write long speech but cyaan write plan Mi granny still wait pon clinic van Dem chart campaign wid drone and scan But cyaan chart schoolbook fi likkle man Dem posture pon screen like warrior god But cyaan explain why youth lie pon sod A war fi respect, but none in di yard A bark fi crowd, but spirit cyan guard So mi ask, who dem try impress? When earth a cry, and hope get less Dem test bomb like dem test chest But mi test soul, and dem fail dat test Mi nuh play no soldier game fi who got length Dem debate girth while dem stretch state strength Call it doctrine, launch campaign at expense While di people dem drown in a debt so dense Political stiff-neck, flexin' steel But cyaan't address how di hungry feel Mi pen dig deep like excavation drill Unearth every file weh dem try conceal Dem calculate war inna PowerPoint slide Wit a likkle man complex dem cyaan hide If a missile test mean di peace collide Then mi rise wid verse and di truth mi ride Big man ting Nah, it a li'l ting parade Mi see more dignity in di roots crusade Dem fight fi empire, mi chant fi shade Mi chant fi youth weh Babylon betrayed Big man ting Mi call bluff clear Is a ego war, and di blood deh near Mi seh bun dat crown, mi nah wear fear Mi voice a bullet, mi word a spear So next time yuh hear dem talk 'bout might Look pon di silence in di dead of night Big man ting? Nah man Mi call it likkle bwoy fight
Big Man Ting (Dub)
THE STORY
The grand performance of power shrinks into a childish contest when the song looks closely at it. Tanks, missiles and televised speeches become props for an ego that demands applause while other people pay the price. Against that spectacle stand ordinary needs: a clinic, a schoolbook, children able to live without fear. The blunt jokes about masculinity are part of the attack, stripping military posturing of its dignity. Across the versions, the question stays pointed. If a leader can organise destruction but cannot care for people at home, what exactly makes him a big man?
Lyrics Read the full words
Dem line up tanks like chess piece fi gain position Dem flexin' ego, mask bloodshed under tradition Every conflict a contest, not of truth but ambition Dem measure manhood by missile launch precision Big suit, big speech, but a likkle bwoy mind Dem send poor youth go bleed pon front line Silk tie, big lie, hide behind design While dem sip fine wine and claim divine sign Dem seh nation first, but action cyan align Politrix in disguise, death in di headline Posturing like dem di alpha of mankind But all mi see is fear dressed up as spine Big man ting Nah, it a li'l man war Fi di sake of pride, dem tek it too far Dem press di button, but cyaan press pause Whole place burn, and dem still want applause Big man ting Mi nuh see di cause Just a playground beef wid nuclear jaws Claim dem noble, righteous, and pure But underneath dat robe is a likkle ting sure Dem write long speech but cyaan write plan Mi granny still wait pon clinic van Dem chart campaign wid drone and scan But cyaan chart schoolbook fi likkle man Dem posture pon screen like warrior god But cyaan explain why youth lie pon sod A war fi respect, but none in di yard A bark fi crowd, but spirit cyan guard So mi ask, who dem try impress? When earth a cry, and hope get less Dem test bomb like dem test chest But mi test soul, and dem fail dat test Mi nuh play no soldier game fi who got length Dem debate girth while dem stretch state strength Call it doctrine, launch campaign at expense While di people dem drown in a debt so dense Political stiff-neck, flexin' steel But cyaan't address how di hungry feel Mi pen dig deep like excavation drill Unearth every file weh dem try conceal Dem calculate war inna PowerPoint slide Wit a likkle man complex dem cyaan hide If a missile test mean di peace collide Then mi rise wid verse and di truth mi ride Big man ting Nah, it a li'l ting parade Mi see more dignity in di roots crusade Dem fight fi empire, mi chant fi shade Mi chant fi youth weh Babylon betrayed Big man ting Mi call bluff clear Is a ego war, and di blood deh near Mi seh bun dat crown, mi nah wear fear Mi voice a bullet, mi word a spear So next time yuh hear dem talk 'bout might Look pon di silence in di dead of night Big man ting? Nah man Mi call it likkle bwoy fight
One way into the song. What you hear in it is yours.