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The Journey

by John Blood

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1.
The Journey 03:34
lyrics
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I can’t deny that I haven't done bad Or made the most of the trust I had I can’t deny I’ve felt evil inside When I forgot the one and followed my pride Chorus ‘Cause it’s all part of the journey So when you stumble man stay humble man Everyday is a learning on the journey Of life It’s not so easy for someone to be Truly honest with their innermost feelings Even those who shout for all to hear Might just be doing so to hide their fears Chorus Virtue, Righteousness Try not to owe and pay all your debts Prosperity is a must but greed don't trust Enjoy the life you live before you turn to dust Enlightenment the key to progress Don’t bring no harm to others if you don't like stress The tree remembers what the axe forgets So be true in what you do Chorus You play with fire you will get burn But sometimes it’s the best way to learn Still don't jump in fire trying to be wise Keep an open mind and don’t close your eyes Chorus
2.
Roots 04:44
lyrics
Chorus 1 When we cut our chains we will free ourselves If we cut our roots then we will die When our roots are deep there is no reason To fear the wind for InI When we cut our chains we will free ourselves If we cut our roots then we will die When our roots are deep there is no reason To fear the wind for InI Remnant of a time when it was a crime To be black and fine, jealous were the times Papa run away, said he couldn’t stay For a son with a different colour face Mama took control of this troubled soul Taught me right from wrong, taught me to be strong Showed me that I came from a land of Kings So I already had my place Now I am a man, searching for my plan One thing that I know I’m an African And nobody can take this away from me This is InI story Chorus 2 Know yourself, love yourself, be yourself Can’t be no one else Know your roots Know your truth now We were wearing the disguise of so many lies Told to us by those who would us despise Just so they could take our land and lives From these depths they never thought we’d rise Like the ancient Kushites who once were slaves To the old Egyptians, they learnt their ways And over time they became The black Pharaoh’s of history’s fame They told us how we couldn’t read or write But now we know they told us this for spite From Kilwa Kisiwani to Timbuktu Places where trade and knowledge blossom true Kingdoms and Empires which we once ruled From Great Zimbabwe, Songhai, Ghana and Axum And Mansa Musa a wealth so rare No Rockefeller ever could compare Chorus 2 Nigba ti a ba ja awon èwòn ti o de wa, a o gba ominira. Ti a ba ge awon gbongbo wa, a o Ku. Nigbati awon gbongbo wa ba jinle, ko si idi lati beru ìjì. Chorus 1 Chorus 2
3.
Head Down 03:52
lyrics
And yeah though I walk through The valley of the shadow of temptation No evil shall I fear ‘Cause Jah is with me here It’s dark on the road and I cant see No sign to say I’m on the right way and the Clouds cover the night sky Hiding the path blocking the moonlight Now the journey get harder and time get slower And temptation wanna talk to me Saying it could be so easy to jack it all in baby Come and kick back and leave reality Chorus So I keep my head down and then step-by-step Forward I keep moving and I can’t forget That the Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want So I’ll keep my choices righteous no matter how tough And yeah though I walk through The valley of the shadow of temptation No evil shall I fear ‘Cause Jah is with me here Be my shield and my sword for the fight Be my whole armour and source of my might Be my soul’s shelter and tower of strength Raise me to the heaven Great One of all things Left turn, right turn, wrong turn No matter how many times I learn Still I yearn, still I burn Those who can’t hear will feel they say But I don’t wanna feel to learn the right way Got to keep my focus, can’t be led astray Now I’ve come so far I can’t throw it all away For things that take me close to vanity, envy and gluttony Take me from my livity to mediocrity Don’t wanna be like chaff blowing in the wind, oh no Chorus
4.
I Believe 04:38
lyrics
Many times I have been on my way To a victory of humankind but I Suddenly fall away from the path And I wish my feet could control my mind ‘cause I hopelessly run away from the things that make me strong Then I leave when I see that I get too much too wrong now The I retreat from my faith Leaving life to chance but time won’t wait Chorus It took me a minute for me to get organised ‘Cause I just couldn’t see it until I opened my eyes And I now I just live it I don’t need to compromise ‘Cause I live the life I love and I believe Said I believe Many times it could be too hard to find a place inna dis here society And other times it could feel as though you’re just here to be Whatever someone else wants you to be And in these times it is necessary to break the chains That bind the mind and can be the source of much heartache and pain And even though you might question what you believe You will never win if you try and fail and don’t try again yeah Chorus Love is to open Jah door And the love of The One is always here And all we need So don’t hopelessly run away from the things that make you strong Plant your feet, find your bearings and mark your destination Never retreat from your fate Don’t leave life to chance ‘cause time won’t wait Might take you a minute for you to get organised ‘cause You just might not see it until you open your eyes And then you will live it, you need to compromise ‘cause You’ll live the life you love and you'll believe Chorus
5.
Dead or Alive 06:51
lyrics
I would like to tell you everything will be alright But if I ever told you that my baby It would only be a lie ‘cause We’re living in a world war 24/7 Where the end of our lives is a bomb away And the powers that be just stoking the fire Blinding us with screen-lights while in foreign lands They go to seize the day. Chorus Can’t tell you don’t fret, can’t tell you don’t worry ‘Cause the tings that-a-gwan dem nah move too funny So I can’t tell you more than I’ll been your side Dead or alive, dead or alive Just like the oppressors of the past They all claim God is behind their wicked deeds And they know the sheep will follow To feed their need for superiority Abusing spiritual enlightenment f For the sake of blind human ambition Living out hypocrisy, repeating histories Of the ones they liken to demons And now, everywhere I look someone’s fighting a war Don’t even need to be on a battlefield tone a casualty no more I got to watch what I talk, watch who I know Watch what I draw, and still watch the law ‘Cause from street to chamber the whole ting helter-skelter Only Jah return or war will restore the order Chorus Wake up every morning what do I see Iniquity growing in the society Corruption done gone and mash up the place While our leaders find it easy to lie to our face But I thank Jah Jah each and everyday For the blessings I have I give thanks and pray And for your lovely smile everyday I see You don’t know what you mean to me You maintain my sanity Inna dis state of emergency I only feel safe with you my baby Chorus
6.
Psalm 121 02:37
lyrics
I will lift up mine eye to the hills from whence cometh my help My help cometh from The One who has made all things Jah will not suffer thy foot to be moved Jah will not keep you and then slumber Behold The One that keepeth all Shall neither slumber nor sleep Chorus I will lift up mine eye to the hills from whence cometh my help My help cometh from The One who has made all things Jah is my keeper, Jah is my shade at my right hand The Sun shall not smite I by day nor the Moon by night Jah will keep me from all evil Jah will keep my soul Jah will preserve my going out and my coming in Chorus
7.
Come To Me 03:25
lyrics
Come to me, rescue me Save me from the bounds of insanity Baby girl light my world Take all my sorrows away now Come to me, stay with me At my side ’til the end of the journey For as long as we are here Stand by me and we’ll have no fear Lift my soul and take me away In your arms may I always stay Take me to your special place Where InI alone shall see your face Be my life, be my lover To my children be a mother Be my friend let’s stay together Be with me now and forever Well baby whenever I see you feel like morning time When I look at the horizon and I see the sun rise ‘Cause when you walk to me and you talk to me I could feel your warmth and your energy You got the body, mind and soul to help a man grow wise And the spiritual supremacy shining from your eyes While the only thing I have is my heart to give And the promise that I’ll love you as long as we live So many of us in the world say we can’t find love And some others have no clue what we talking of So many fake bodies, fake truths and fake judiciaries Leading hearts down the lonely path of antipathy So when I say I feel lucky to be at your side Believe me baby when I say, dat-eh-no-lie Just the reality of what was meant to be As we find our way through life’s odyssey So don’t ever leave me alone We can have our own happy home Ain’t got no money but I’ve nothing to hide Because I know that Jah will provide Thank you Jah for my sweet lady Gift of love my one and only In the midst of a world that is dying You give me a reason for living Be my life, be my lover To my children be a mother Be my friend, let’s stay together Be with me now and forever
8.
As One 02:57
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Chorus I come from the land of rum The land where they say party never done The land where Jesus, The Prophet, Olorun and Mahavishnu Living each day as one I come from the land of rum The land where they say party never done The land where Jesus, The Prophet, Olorun and Mahavishnu Living each day as one From the four corners of the earth this land gave birth To a new nation, a new vibration From Africa, Syria, India, China France, Portugal, Spain and Britannia All kinda ting bring we together From clear skies to real stormy weather From humble servant to oppressor Dem days it had nothing called zesser Was blood, sweat and tears to the massa Whether forced labour or indenture If not for we will and we culture Sufferation would be the winner Time pass and now we takeover Perfection still far from the order But through struggle we’s brother and sister So let’s build this nation together Chorus Now this ting called Carnival Is more than just bacchanal It’s the people’s renewal Of love and the spiritual Europe bring the tradition, Africa bring the rhythm China bring the art, India bring the colour So why you find it hard to know your brother When he’s there in every beat and every colour Chorus Boy sometimes I feel like Olorun and Mahavishnu and the rest of dem Including Buddha and the Emperor too I feel like they does watch we and shake they heads As though they saying those people have all the spiritual secrets of the world and still messing things up yes When it is they go teach one another When they go share what we have to offer Instead of using us to fight down each other Like they feel we can’t see they want power But true power is love and light and doing what’s right Not finding excuses just to pick a fight Not failure to use foresight or hindsight Only respect and overspending brings the love to unite Chorus
9.
Pass The Pepper 03:49
lyrics
Was a Thursday evening and I man was feeling For some kinda healing from this life I’m living Because things in the city too hot Even on the mountaintop So I call me brother, he say whais the order I say curry cooking, he say he coming over And he bringing buss-up-shut, well look at trouble Better I make this pot bubble on the double So my brother reach and he walk with a guitar He pull out some herb and we discuss matters Of this journey that we on called life And how it’s a mixed-bag of joy and strife So now I taste the pot but like something missing It have two pepper on the side but I man flinching Then me brother watch me and he suck up him teeth He say “you can’t be a Rastaman and ‘fraid a little heat” Chorus He say “pass the pepper let me throw it inna the pot” Make the vibe come sweet and hot And watch how Rastaman a bubble Season him pot without trouble He say “pass the pepper let me throw it inna the pot” Make the vibe come sweet and hot And watch the Rastaman bubbling Just like the rudeboy skanking So me brother tell me don’t be frighten Johnny We go bomb this curry, you go like your belly But something moving inside with trepidation And only tampie could heal the situation So I roll me ganja, and he pull the guitar And we make some tune and I man feel much better So much so I forget about the pepper But now my body say it’s time to feed the hunger So I ready to eat and I sit down with my plate Buss-up-shut all around me and I feeling great But when I see the curry is then I remember But now I hungry and no time to ‘fraid no pepper So when I taste the food I could feel the fire But it feel so good I say thank you Jah Jah Then me brother watch me buss out a laugh and say Rastaman don’t ‘fraid no fire night nor day Chorus
10.
Bring A Little Light 03:40
lyrics
Why you never tell me things was going bad? Why you never tell me that things was real hard? Don’t think because I was here in the good times That I won’t be here for you in the bad times That’s what a friend is supposed to be ‘Cause that’s what Granny told me Chorus We got to love each other in the good times and bad Don’t you ever turn your back when your brother is sad Could be something simple like to listen or a smile Bring a little light into the darkness for a while Anytime I see you there’s never time to stay Always in a hurry to hide yourself away Now I may not know what is the answer But one thing I promise to stand in your corner That’s what a friend is supposed to be ‘Cause that’s what Rasta teach me Chorus All is never lost my friend Until the day we come to the end So whatever it may be that casts a shadow Know that there will always be tomorrow Another chance to put it right To love yourself stand up and fight And when you need I’ll be the friend I’m supposed to be ‘Cause that’s what Jah Jah teach me yeah Chorus
11.
Better Know 03:38
lyrics
I say me can’t keep running from the rings that hard inna me life ‘Cause they will find another place to fill up my mind And when me head done full of unsolved, unresolved And incomplete problems Well InI turn away and let time pass While anxiety stay and fester And then become something else This can’t be the way to heal myself Chorus But Jah help those who help themselves Don’t wait for something that may never happen To reveal itself Whether you win or lose is not the issue Got to learn if we ever gonna grow, better know True say it nah easy to see a way forward When jealousy run tings And when hypocrisy run tings And when self-righteousness and greed is king But that don't mean InI get a pass from reality ‘Cause there’s no escaping And all the herbal procrastinating Just make me more skilled at writing while doing nothing Chorus ‘Cause it’s just one chance we get to experience life And it would be a shame if we do nothing ‘cause we fear our own light What’s the point of an education if you’re afraid to take a risk Cultured naysayers and clever vibe snipers are anti-human so pay no attention Walk good, walk tall and walk strong ‘Cause the journey is long Do the things that you love and you should And you will soon belong Chorus
12.
Higher Power 05:03
lyrics
Spirit come and take me home Ain’t no place left for me to roam Searching long and far and wide Searching for a love denied And every step I took I learned some more about myself About the good and bad and all the things I could not help And even though sometimes it could be sour There ain’t no living life without a higher power Chorus Papa forsake you, mama forsake you Jah Jah will take you yeah And when the sun hides behind the dark skies Jah Jah say I am here, I am here Don’t fear my son to be alone I am here, Jah is here And if we don’t know love, we won’t know Jah ‘Cause Jah is love And if we don’t know love, we won’t know Jah ‘Cause Jah is love And there’ll be times when things are tough And there’ll be moments when the journey is rough And when we’re facing our darkest hour We can still call on our Higher Power Chorus x2

about

My new album ‘The Journey’ is my most personal work to date, taking in some of my ups and downs, the lessons I’ve learnt from childhood until now and some of the good & bad people and things I’ve encountered along the way. The album takes in themes of love, identity, faith and friendship, and aims to see individual situations from a universal perspective. Using the power of Reggae and other grooves from the African diaspora, as well as a storytelling style direct from Trinidad, ‘The Journey’ is my attempt to make sense of reality, and move forward.

credits

released December 3, 2020

Hitinui Cattani (didgeridoo, track 2)
Otis Tabasenge (lead guitar, track 2)
Charlie Smith (lead guitar, track 5)
Adam Peebles (bass, track 5)
Dominic Gomes (bass, tracks 1, 9, 11) (lead guitar, tracks 1, 9, 11)
Selorm Anku (piano/keys, tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
John Blood (all Vocals, Drums) (bass on tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12) (rhythm guitar on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11) (keys on tracks 3, 4, 7, 11, 12)
Tracks 1 & 9, produced by Dominic Gomes
Track 6 produced by Selorm Anku
All other tracks produced by John Blood
All lyrics written by John Blood

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John Blood London, UK

From Yèré to the world! Mixing smooth vocals with riddims from the Caribbean diaspora, John Blood's songs are a blend of spirituality, social commentary, hope and love.

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