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begging is a ting

from 333 by d'bi.

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about

about poverty. written by anita stewart (mother of d'bi.) when she was a member of the pioneer group of dub poets in jamaica called 'poets in unity.' the track originally appeared on the album 'woman talk' produced by mutabaruka in 1985 featuring miss lou, jean binta breeze and other visionary female dub poets

lyrics

d’bi. this one goes out to my anita stewart original member of poets in unity, pioneer dubpoet and my mommy.

begging is a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime
begging is a ting a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime

walk down town one a dem days
had to stand up a while and tek a good gaze
di city is plagued and it reach a stage
dat beggign is a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime
seh begging is a ting a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime


pickney deh a stoplight a wipe windscreen
dem seh beg yuh a ten cent mam, yuh nuh see di glass clean
di solushun to di problem by di war-crime police
fine di pickney dem and further force dem fi tief
lock dem inna jail, throw away di time
who give a damn if punishment nuh fit di crime

begging is a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime
seh begging is a ting a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime

riding on a bus, hear a womban a cuss
mi baby faada left mi wid ten pickney
suh mi last resort was to start start start
walking in di city and beg beg beg
hope dat mi get more than pity pity pity
hope that mi get some clothes pon mi back
and likkle food inna mi belly

begging is a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime
seh begging is a ting a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime

I went to di bank today
as I reach di door I hear somebody say
beg yuh a 10 cent mam
I see a man wid a pan in him hand
say di pan was labeled
help the disabled!

went to the church hear parson a preach
give what you have because the lord will give you more
give what you have cuz there is something more in store
give what you have mi seh fi give what yuh have mi seh fi
give what you give what yuh give what yuh have
and him start emulate christ wid di plate
mi tink to myself does di beggar ever
guh inna di holy warmth of the church
no! him just a trod
beggar don’t guh church for di fear of di rod
beggar don’t guh church for di fear of di rod
beggar don’t guh church for di fear of di rod and di shout
get out! get out! get out! get out! get out!

begging is a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime
begging is a ting a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime

it cyaan be a crime (repeat 8)

begging is a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime
begging is a ting a ting a carry di swing
inna disya time it cyaan be a crime (repeat)
begging cannot be a crime
it cyaan be a crime (repeat 4)

begging cannot be a crime

d’bi. you know when you walk around the streets you see a lot of people begging you know. and then we have conversations about equality and freedom and liberation. well differently you know, if some of us are not free, then none of us are free. equality fi everybody zeen. fi everybody.

credits

from 333, released September 23, 2023
begging is a ting
lyrics by anita stewart & d’bi.
vocals by d’bi
produced & arranged by mandiemafu

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about

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d'bi.

d'bi. is a global dub poet jamaican-dancehall-diva-womxnist-warrior-chanting-conscious-fyah on the mic. their lyricism stems from the socio-political genre of dub poetry fused with dancehall reggae, hiphop, punk rock, blues & performance art; producing a pepperpot of theatricality that crosses cultural boundaries, reconfigures social norms & inspires r/evolution. ... more

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