About this album
The album’s main focus centres on the Native American legend of the hummingbird, brought up to date by Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. One day, as the legend goes, a forest was burned by a raging fire and the animals fled for their lives. All but for the little hummingbird, who decided to fly to the nearest brook, took a few drops of water in its bill and scattered them onto the fire. He then flew back to the brook and repeated the operation again and again and again. All animals were sheltering at the top of a hill and looked on. After a while, one of them said jeeringly: “What do you think you’re doing? Your bill is too small, you can only take one drop at a time and you’ll burn your wings! ”. Without wasting a single second, the hummingbird merely answered: “I’m doing my bit…”
Though the metaphor may seem a tad childish at first, this legend reminds us that each and every action we take or opinion we express matters and may help the global voice find an echo and be heard. Using the legend as their starting point Rod Anton & The Ligerians have written songs imbued with an undeniable ecological commitment. Their Reggae is pure stripped-down Roots, with beguilingly skillful arrangements and a touch of early 80s Rockers Reggae sound.
“Wevolution” is about our common responsibility through actions defiling the beauty of the natural world and debasing our societies in decline as they sink into unmitigated individualism. Actions that destroy our collective consciousness, and encourage the kind of profit and corruption that poisons rivers, the soil and the entire environment. Contamination that stems from an excess of all types of plastics, and the foolish drift of an oil industry addicted to ever-increasing profits, as denounced by Rod in Addicted. This track features a musical interlude by Vaughn Benjamin, singer of the group Midnite, who has already contributed to the album “Reasonin”.
To the sound of Nyahbinghy drums, Vaughn joins Rod Anton in his musical struggle to raise public awareness. Rod and this charismatic artist thus strengthen the collaboration established between France and Sainte Croix, one of the American Virgin Islands that is also Midnite’s native home. He reminds us of the yet unknown side effects of plastics that are so ingrained in our everyday lives. In a second musical interlude, he focuses on another type of pollution — that of agricultural land planted with GMOs sprayed with chemicals and toxic substances peddled by devilish multinational companies and that will eventually contaminate neighboring crops… This musical interlude precedes Seeds of Death, a track with a singular rhythm in which Rod condemns the excesses of the agribusiness while setting up agro-ecology up as the savior of Humanity.
The hummingbird metaphor has been used by a large number of organizations for the protection of the environment lately. It aims at heightening public awareness of the significance of individual actions in the struggle for change. It has naturally inspired Rod Anton when writing his new songs. The album features militant songs with haunting instrumental themes such as Carpe Diem or We are One, as well as Like the Hummingbird, the opening track that directly refers to the famous legend. Beyond the political activism of “Wevolution”, Rod also offers less committed songs like Mr. Bear or Lazybone’s Landing; the latter is a hymn to the advocates of procrastination that should not be taken literally as it illustrates the sheer laziness and apathy our society is prone to lapse into. The number Smooth But Revolutionary is a reminder of the very grounding of Reggae music: a passionate revolutionary message with languorous soft bass lines.
Gabriel, one of the Ligerians’ guitar players wrote three songs on this album. On the track Balance, he uses the concept of Yin and Yang, a deep-seated stimulus that encourages each one of us to seek a balance in our lives and look for what we believe to be good beyond any moral judgment. On Faceless Men, Gabriel, backed by Rod’s vocal interpretation, pays a tribute to all those people forgotten by History, all those who have struggled over the centuries to prevent our world from sinking into despair and chaos, all those who will never be mentioned in our history books. As for Scandalmongers, it is a critical viewpoint of newspapers and television, pointing a finger at slanderous journalism, spreading distorted information with a view to promoting scandal and better controlling those who are taken in by their stories. This song is also marked by vocal harmonics worthy of the most popular vocal trios of the Golden Age of Reggae.
The final track of the album is Come Together. Once again, Rod Anton’s voice is joined by the outstanding falsetto of Cedric Myton, the leading member of the legendary group The Congos. He is Rod Anton’s true artistic “godfather”, and emerges as a master sharing his own experience of life and calling for unity and solidarity beyond individual differences, so as to bring this Wevolution to a successful conclusion!
Available Lyrics
Like The Hummingbird
One day in a deep green forest, a huge fire was raging, all the animals fled their homes and ran out of the forest to save themselves from the inferno except one little hummingbird. He swooped into a stream, picked up a few drops of water and put them on the fire. Then he went back to the stream to do it again and again and again. All the other animals looked up in amazement and one of them in a mocking and challenging voice shouted out: What do you think you’re doing ? And the hummingbird, without wasting time or losing a beat, simply answered : « I’m doing what I can »…
So like the hummingbird, I’m doin’ my part
To put out this fire of pollution
Like the hummingbird, doin’ the best I can
To stop the spreading of contamination
aaa…a…aaa..aaa..aaahhh
You can watch me in disbelief
Tryin’ to discourage me
Does it bring you some relief
To think my efforts won’t help anybody ?
You can look hopeless and forlorn
But do you think it can help the situation ?
Foolish people can mock me with scorn
I won’t give up in this wevolution
You haffi give if you wanna receive
but if you’re not ready to receive
you can’t give
No matter how small your actions are
cause it all starts with every single one of us
You may not be a superstar
but you surely can inspire others
So like the hummingbird, I’m doin’ my part
To put out this pollution fire
Like the hummingbird, doin’ the best I can
To stop the spread of this contamination
aaa…a…aaa..aaa..aaahh
No matter how small your actions are
cause it all starts with every single one of us
You may not be a superstar
but you surely can inspire others
Written by Frank De Carvalho
Scandalmongers
There’s nothing fi me on channel one
On the second, on the third, same things a gwaan
Yes, they sing the same chorus at the same time
as a tune blocking off your mind
as a tune blocking off my mind
Scandalmongers come to your home right now
seep through radio and television waves
Poor folks sitting on the same straight row
Focused on the screen, they are slaves
It is a permanent sleight of hand
You’ll see all around the world, that’s what they’re trying to maintain
No need to leave your little homeland
to claim that you know the truth, without any shame
If there’s one way to know, one media axis
One track-thinking, then there will be dazed masses
One way to know, one media axis
One track-thinking, then there will be dazed masses
Scandalmongers!!!!
There’s nothing fi me on channel one
On the second, on the third, same things a gwaan (are going on)
Yes, they sing the same chorus at the same time
as a tune blocking off your mind
as a tune blocking off my mind
Hung-reporters (hungry reporters) chase after breaking news
gesticulating like Looney Toons
Every blood drop, nowadays is a boon
To show how dreadful this world is
I’d like to blackout all TV waves
They can no longer impose any truth on me
and look through the eyes of my own body
cause I know only real things will stay
There’s nothing fi me on channel one
On the second, on the third, same things a gwaan
Yes, they sing the same chorus at the same time
as a tune blocking off your mind
as a tune blocking off my mind
Written by Gabriel Bouillon
Smooth but Revolutionary
My music is smooth but revolutionary
Smooth so that the people have time to get ready
Smooth but revolutionary
A revolution like the one led by Gandhi
My music is smooth but revolutionary
Smooth so that my people have time to get ready
Smooth but revolutionary
Revolutionary like Che Guevara used to be
Give me some skank
And let the roots flow out of my mouth
I will be frank
Take my melodies as a real shout
A sweet way to raise awareness
and honor righteous people
The ones fallen in the fight for justice
And equal rights for all
My music is smooth but revolutionary
Smooth so that the people have time to get ready
Smooth but revolutionary
A revolution like the one led by Gandhi
My music is smooth but revolutionary
Smooth so that my people have time to get ready
Smooth but revolutionary
Revolutionary like the Stepping Razor used to be
Play me a bassline
Let me feel the loudness of this wevolution
Follow the V-sign
Together we will tackle the dragon
The beast fed by Hunger, illness and poverty
Plagues we could have eradicated for so long
Life shouldn’t be this dirty lottery
It’s time fi climb the mountain and sound the gong
My music is smooth but revolutionary
Smooth so that the people have time to get ready
Smooth but revolutionary
A revolution like the one led by Gandhi
My music is smooth but revolutionary
Smooth so that my people have time to get ready
Smooth but revolutionary
Revolutionary like Mr Music used to be
Like Burning Spear uses to be, like the Lion of Panjshir used to be…
Written by Frank De Carvalho
Carpe Diem
Today it seems nobody knows how to repair used items anymore
When something is broken, you have to buy a new one
Yes more fashion, we need more!
This is the result of planned obsolescence
The essence of our consumption society
With their codes of life they create dependence
To make us forget what it means to be free
The superfluous has become so important
Wanting a simple life nowadays sounds so discordant
Chorus:
So me bredren, you might think “Carpe Diem”
But think about the future of your children
Me bredren, you might think “Carpe Diem”
But nah forget the next generation
Ca dem system, corrupted system
It needs us all fi waste
So inna dem system, oppressive system
I&I feel so disgraced
Most of us say we need a real change for the future
So all of us haffi secure it together
We’ve all been walking in different directions
But it’s still time to break this selfishness fever
The kingdom of individualism must fall down
No more senseless waste of water, no more murderous pollution
Earth doesn’t belong to us, we belong to earth
If you disrespect that, it’s your own flesh and blood that you’re gonna hurt!
Chorus
Written by Frank De Carvalho
Mr Bear
When you’re talking to me, you’re too rough, yeah, Mr Bear!
Sure enough me nah like that, Mr Bear! (You’re just a tactless bear)
You’re bein’ too tough, me nah like that, Mr Bear!
Sure enough you nah need that, Mr Bear!
Yes you can gwaan, gwaan, gwaan with your bad bad manners
Ca me nah really care ‘bout what you might think or say
Yes you can gwaan, gwaan, gwaan with your bad bad manners
Ca me nah really care ‘bout what you might think or say
You may say you’re not rough
You only express what everyone is feelin’
But if they don’t tell it your way
Don’t you think there must be good reasons?
One of those reasons is called “tact” (but it seems you don’t know it)
One other is called “respect” (but it seems you have lost it)
Who do you think you are to come and judge me?
If someone did the same to you, you would kick him…
So think twice before opening your chatty mouth
And let people rule their own destiny
Take good decisions for your (own) life
And don’t tell me who I should be
When you’re talking to me, you’re too rough, yeah, Mr Bear!
Sure enough me nah like that, Mr Bear!
You’re bein’ too tough, me nah like that, Mr Bear! (You’re just a tactless bear)
Sure enough you nah need that, Mr Bear!
Yes you can gwaan, gwaan, gwaan with your bad bad manners
Ca me nah really care ‘bout what you might think or say
Yes you can gwaan, gwaan, gwaan with your bad bad manners
Ca me nah really care ‘bout what you might think or say
Written by Frank De Carvalho
Interlude - Side Effects Enigma
Well I & I say Greetings in the name of his Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I The First
Hear tidings of aware.
I say: BPA, what did the Center for Disease Control say?
Environmental estrogen release from plastic bottle contact with hot water, migraines.
With a genda reverse agenda, multinational research centers said that.
Mutated unknown side effects enigma.
Imagine the infants, think of…
Unknown side effects enigma, don’t give I to drink that, eat that
Vegetal nature kaleidoscope aura.
Ises unto the emperor, Haile I Selassie I the First, Jah!
Written by Vaughn Benjamin (Midnite)
Addicted
Chorus:
We all been addicted
This world is turning toxic
We all been addicted
Its use is so ecstatic
We all been addicted
This world is turning toxic
We all been addicted
Its use is so ecstatic
It’s on us, inside us, everywhere you can see, all around
In our rivers, seas and oceans, you find it easier than plankton
In everything we eat, every beverage we drink
It’s under your pillow when you go catch a wink
In every lost corner of any forest
In the most remote places of any desert
Chorus
It has been produced for more than one entire century
Now babies come into this world pre-polluted by its toxicity
What an unnatural material developed by the evil lobby
Dem say: “Throw it away!” but where is “away”? Tell me…
It’s used once and flushed, then lasts forever
It’s convenient but it’s our biggest failure
Chorus
If we are the problem, we should all provide the solution
Come together my people, united we can lead this WEVOLUTION
So beware, a good start would be to simply stop its foolish production
Mankind is so smart; we can find a way for its substitution
It has become invisible though you find it everywhere
Quietly poisoning us though some say: “Beware!”
We all been addicted
This world is turning toxic
We all been addicted
Its use is so ecstatic
We all been addicted
This world is turning toxic
We all been addicted
We can’t live without plastic
Written by Frank De Carvalho
Balance
Chorus :
I have to sit on the plinth of balance
To see the good face up the evil suspended above my head
Walk on the way of the common sense
To live my own time rather than sit on the fence
To say my own words rather than sit on the fence
All is not white, all is not black
Everything has the color we would like to see
All the shades reveal themselves in the broad daylight
When my path crosses yours, shortly
In this human network made of lace
Each thread I’ll pull, will bring some others (threads) closer to me
So each of my moves shall respect
Its delicate balance and diversity
Chorus
I don’t wanna hear the strong views of the strongest anymore
Or feel the violence caused by vengeance
If the extremes fight each other in a rocking close to rupture
Everyone is back to square one, so hear me brother
All is not white, all is not black
Everything has the color we would like to see
All the shades reveal themselves in the broad daylight
When my path crosses yours, surely
Written by Gabriel Bouillon
Lazybones' Landing
Chorus:
I’m a king inna me realm
The lazybones’ landing
You may see it as a big problem
Fi me it’s just a cool way of living
I’m a king inna me realm
The lazybones’ landing
On my ship I’m at the helm
I take my time but won’t stop sailing
Some would call it indolence
But in my case it’s not such a dislike of work
I’d love to be the song writer’s quintessence
But I’m not ready to go berserk
I am the ruler of my procrastination
If I have to rush, I do it cool and easy
Always delaying any stressful action, deferring it to a later time
Punctuality is not really for me
Chorus
So many insignificant things can be done
Before doing the important one
Wandering on the tortuous path of laziness
While you always try to do more
I will always try to do less
Some say being a slacker is a sin
It brings nothing but sorrows
I know that I should stop it, maybe I will…surely I will…Tomorrow!
Written by Frank De Carvalho
We are One
We’re not what they expect us to be, that’s why we feel free
We’re not the ones they want us to be in their society
We’re not what they expect us to be, that’s why we feel free
We’re not the ones they want us to be in their society
Dem should stop looking away
And face our denial cause this world is in trouble
Listen to what people say
Yes, we nah need no more struggle
We haffi keep on fighting against their thirst for power
Cause we are on the road to a human disaster
They vindicate individualism
Though the motto of their nation is “E Pluribus Unum”
If out of many people we are one
Why are some countries in this world dying of starvation?
They would like us to turn a blind eye to this aberrant situation
Sorry but we can not agree with such a contradiction
We’re not what they expect us to be, that’s why we feel free
We’re not the ones they want us to be in their society
We’re not what they expect us to be, that’s why we feel free
We’re not the ones they want us to be in their society
Dem haffi stop denigrating the poor
Who are suffering at their door
While they’re so comfortable
We really need some changes now cause this world a go crumble
Allocating trillions of unexisting dollars
to save their big companies from bankruptcy
the protection of their own interests
is our rulers’ number one priority
The richest 20% of the world’s population consumes 80% of the world resources and creates 80% of the world’s waste. We can’t stand it any longer, we are not like our leaders. Wake up my people, out of many we are one! Scream it out, loud and clear, we’re only One single nation, under the same sun!
Written by Frank De Carvalho
Interlude - Agricultural Irony
So is it? Is white phosphorous fertilizer and simultaneously chemical warfare?
Must I & I flee inescapable agricultural irony, fused and spliced, tec and bio life living in the already?
The reap without the seeds, design for emotionless reap, with no repeat.
Population decline in parallel lane at similar speed
All the remote places of original seed
I pray Jah bless and keep
And with humble thanks, all bless and eat.
Written by Vaughn Benjamin (Midnite)
Seeds of Death
No a Mondiablo !
Chorus :
No more seeds of death in our fields
We need safe crops for the future
No more Evil venom spread on our fields
D’ya hear us Mondiablo ?
No more seeds of death in our fields
We want safe crops for the future
No more Evil Venom spread on our fields
No more Mondiablo !//No a Mondiablo !
Corrupted scientists say genetically modified organisms
are the only way to feed the world’s growing population
Manipulating genes, you create a defenseless-looking poison
treating people as guinea pigs without any compunction
We know your smart genetic engineering professors
are directed at meeting the commercial needs of food processors
making money is your only goal…as real oppressors
You nah care about the nutritional needs of poorer consumers
Chorus
Stop promoting your GM crops, you machiavellian liars
Conscious people now know what the fight against hunger requires
Time has come for a real wevolution, for a safe Agriculture
Forget all your evil pesticides, forget monoculture
Nah talk us about food security, what we all need is food sovereignty
Let’s develop the milpa and the push-pull technology
Open the way for agroforestry to increase the soil fertility
Agroecology is the key…
Written by Frank De Carvalho
Faceless Men
Some people wanna leave a mark in History
Some of them became walking legends
Some people write real and fictitious stories
Some of them perpetuate Traditions
What you’re living inna now is the imprint of the ancient days
Pages of tomorrow’s writings turn today
Voices raised, only whispers remained
They will soon shut up but we’ll hear the echo of what they said
This is a tribute to the faceless men
Who’ve been ruled out of the History
This is a tribute to the faceless men
Those whose name won’t be quoted
This is a tribute to the faceless men
Who’ve been ruled out of the History
This is a tribute to the faceless men
Those whose name won’t be quoted in that story
Some people are duppy conqueror
Some people broke their deal with the devil
Some of them soothed down the terror
Some people don’t know they are rebel
How many of them are lost in the globalization
How many words taken over by civil lie zation
Cause they were seeking love and no evilution
By giving life to thoughts for a social construction
Kings of today turned to financial oppression
so people ran things with local connection
That’s what they did in a inner wevolution, Wevolution!!!
Some people wanna leave a mark in History
Some of them became walking legends
Some people write real and fictitious stories
Some are the guardians of tradition
This is a tribute to the faceless men
Who’ve been ruled out of the History
This is a tribute to the faceless men
Those whose name won’t be quoted, in that story
Written by Gabriel Bouillon
Come Together
People make up your mind, let’s talk about the future
We can enjoy ourselves, let’s learn to love one another
Children you’d better take heed and listen to the warning
People you’d better get ready for there’s gonna be a calling
Give up on jealousy, righteous brothers
This evil envy is not what really matters
If you really want more, you haffi work for it
Why don’t you write the lyrics of your fate ?
You can’t pretend to be a Lion when you’re only a sheep
ca real Lions will be lying in wait
Day by day we sit and reason, how we’re gonna make the right decision
As a fatherless child we talk together (about) how we gonna work it out
Through this trial and tribulation, we’ve got to be strong to survive now
Through financial difficulties, we’re gonna prepare for our needs now…yow
Come together, Come together, we gonna work it out now
Let’s put all differences aside and try to stay alive
Come together, Come together, we can work it out, work it out
Let’s put our differences aside and try to stay alive
Day by day we sit and reason about how to take the right decision
As real bredren we talk together and we’re gonna work it out
Through this trial and tribulation, (we’ve) got to be strong to survive yeah
Through financial difficulties, (we’ve) got to prepare for our needs now…yow
Come together, Come together, we can work it out, work it out now
Come together, Come together, got to stay alive now…
Come together, Come together, we can work it out, work it out
Come together, Come together, got to stay alive yow…
People make up your mind, let’s talk about the future
We can enjoy ourselves, let’s learn to love one another
Children you’d better take heed and listen to the warning
People you’d better get ready for there’s gonna be a calling
People…
Come together, Come together…
Written by Frank De Carvalho & Cedric Myton