Gunman World by Damian Marley

Although I’m not a very big fan of Bob Marley songs – I mean not as big as everyone around me – there is one song from Damian Marley that got me hooked. Damian is one of Bob’s sons. And he’s a chip off the old block – although not as famous obviously.

In his song “Gunman World,” Damian Marley opens an argument with a driving theme, then develops his argument that neatly expounds his theme: The Gunman (Assassin) is One of the Wonders and Ills of Jamaican Society.

Among the poorer class Jamaican families, the gunman is rampant due to the high and growing population of the lower class or “ghetto” of Jamaica.

Here are the lyrics:

Two sides to a coin
And one must chose which side they join
You know?
Brotherman

Yeah
And meanwhile one man’s meal
Is another man’s poison
Mankind will do what they must to survive
Innit

Hear me now

[Verse 1: Damian Marley]
In a gunman world
Any night him clock in at work
Marrow splatter, the toolbox pull
The magazine inna the two Glock full
And he’s watching as the days go by
And he’s counting as his peers all die
Sleeping with the rifle ‘cross his chest
So he never gets a good night’s rest
And then he’s cranky in the morning times
And more victims have to lose their lives
The community a twist and twirl
Wishing that they wasn’t in a gunman world

In a gunman life
He might not come home from work one night
So every minute matter
Ignores advice
From his weeping baby mother and child
That he won’t win every game he plays
So she know he’ll meet his end one day
Some juvenile will have to earn his stripe
And have to take another gunman’s life
What if a backstabber names his price
And how ironic if him dead from knife
The ‘mount of bullet weh him put ‘pon boy
Job description: kill and destroy

[Refrain: Damian Marley]
Now tell me is it worth it all?
If one don rise then a next must fall
Tell me is it worth it all?
Those sleepless nights on patrol roll call
Tell me is it worth it all?
One child smile while a next one bawl
Tell me is it worth it?
Is it worth it?
Is it worth it all?

[Verse 2: Damian Marley]
Well in a gunman world
Life is so stressful
Back to school time come
‘cuz when a gunman work
If he is successful
And the job is well done
Then there will be an unsolved crime
With no one to fill out all blank line
John Public haffi hear and deaf
Informer get a kuff, kaff, kweff
Does he get nervous just like you and I?
Watching out if the police pass by
‘cuz any day you hear a gunman fail
Then it’s either dead house or jail
What will it cost to make a gunman rich?
How many lives before a gunman switch?
The truth me want the youth them stop ignore
Say the majority of gunman poor, oya oh

[Refrain: Damian Marley]
Now tell me is it worth it all?
If one don rise then a next one fall
Tell me is it worth it all?
Those sleepless nights on patrol roll call
Tell me is it worth it all?
One child smile while a next one bawl
Tell me is it worth it?
Is it worth it?
Is it worth it all?

[Verse 3: Damian Marley]
And when a gunman makes choice
I wonder what goes through a gunman’s mind
And does a gunman think twice?
Before him takes another someone’s life?
I wonder what it is a gunman say
To the Father when a gunman pray
Does he kiss his kids to bed at night?
Making sure the blanket tucked just right?
Nothing no scary like a gunman voice
When people beg a gunman think twice
And him say no

Wha coulda scary like a gunman voice
When people beg a gunman think twice
And him say no

[Refrain: Damian Marley]
Can you tell me is it worth it all?
If one don rise then a next must fall
Tell me is it worth it all?
Those sleepless nights on patrol roll call
Tell me is it worth it all?
One child smile while a next one bawl
Tell me is it worth it?
Is it worth it?
Is it worth it all?