Give Thanks & Praises – English Lyrics

• By: Bob Marley, The Wailers
• Album: Confrontation

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the powerful message of gratitude and faith in Bob Marley's "Give Thanks & Praises." This classic reggae track offers a glimpse into Rastafarian beliefs while teaching key English phrases of thankfulness and spiritual devotion. Explore the rich lyrics and musical nuances that make this song a timeless expression of appreciation and guidance.

[English]

Give thanks and praises to the Most I (Jah)

Give thanks and praises so high (so high)

He will not deceive us, my brother

He will only lead us again (again)

Oh, take that veil from off of your eyes

Look into the future of realize

Noah had three sons, Ham, Shem and Japhet (Ham, Shem and Japhet)

And in Ham is known to be the Prophet

Glory to Jah, the Prophet has come (through all these stages)

Glory to Jah, the Prophet has come (through all these stages)

When my soul was hurting deep within

And I'm worrying to be free, desperately, yeah

So guide and protect I 'n' I, O Jah, Jah

Through all these stages

Guide and protect I 'n' I, O Jah, Jah

Through all these stages

Rastafari is his name (Jah)

Rastafari is his name (Jah)

If Jah didn't love I (love I)

If I didn't love I (love I)

If Jah didn't love I (love I)

If I didn't love I

Would I be around today?

Would I be around to say...

Give thanks and praises, give thanks and praises

Give thanks and praises, give thanks and praises

Give thanks and praises, give thanks and praises

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
thanks /θæŋks/ A1	noun - an expression of gratitude
praises /ˈpreɪzɪz/ B1	noun - expressions of approval or admiration verb - express warm approval or admiration of
deceive /dɪˈsiːv/ B2	verb - to make someone believe something that is not true
lead /liːd/ A2	verb - to guide or direct
veil /veɪl/ B2	noun - a piece of fine material worn by women to protect or conceal the face
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of sight
future /ˈfjuːtʃər/ A2	noun - time that is to come
realize /ˈriːəlaɪz/ B1	verb - to become aware of something
prophet /ˈprɒfɪt/ B2	noun - a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God
glory /ˈɡlɔːri/ B2	noun - high renown or honor won by notable achievements
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal
hurting /ˈhɜːrtɪŋ/ B1	adjective - causing emotional pain or distress verb - cause pain or injury to.
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not under the control or power of someone else; able to do or be whatever you want
guide /ɡaɪd/ B1	verb - show or direct the way
protect /prəˈtekt/ B1	verb - keep safe from harm or injury
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - feel deep affection for

Key Grammar Structures

• Give thanks and praises to the Most I (Jah)

  ➔ Imperative mood for giving thanks and use of 'Most I' as a title for Jah

  ➔ The sentence uses the imperative mood, 'Give', to instruct the listener to offer thanks and praises. 'Most I' is a Rastafarian term, often used to refer to Jah (God), emphasizing His supreme and divine nature. 'I' is often used by Rastafarians instead of 'me' or 'my'.

• He will not deceive us, my brother

  ➔ Future simple with negation ('will not') expressing certainty about a future event.

  ➔ The phrase 'will not deceive' uses the future simple tense to convey a strong belief that Jah will not betray or mislead them. The addition of 'my brother' adds a sense of solidarity and shared faith.

• Oh, take that veil from off of your eyes

  ➔ Imperative mood with a phrasal verb ('take...off') indicating removal.

  ➔ This line uses the imperative form 'take' to command the listener to remove a 'veil' from their eyes. 'Take...off' is a phrasal verb that means to remove something. The 'veil' is used metaphorically, representing ignorance or a lack of understanding.

• Look into the future of realize

  ➔ Imperative mood ('look') followed by an infinitive used as a noun ('to realize'), creating a command to consider the future for the purpose of understanding.

  ➔ This sentence is somewhat grammatically unconventional. 'Look into' is in the imperative mood, urging the listener to consider the future. 'Of realize' is unusual. It's likely a poetic shortening or simplification meaning 'in order to realize' or 'so that you may realize'. It suggests a purpose for looking into the future: to gain understanding.

• And in Ham is known to be the Prophet

  ➔ Passive voice ('is known') to emphasize the widely held belief or recognition of Ham as the Prophet.

  ➔ This sentence uses the passive voice, 'is known,' which focuses attention on the established knowledge or belief rather than the agent (who knows it). It highlights that Ham is widely recognized as the Prophet.

• When my soul was hurting deep within

  ➔ Past continuous tense ('was hurting') to describe an ongoing state in the past.

  ➔ The use of the past continuous tense 'was hurting' indicates that the feeling of pain within the speaker's soul was not a brief or instantaneous occurrence, but rather a continuing state of being at some point in the past. The phrase 'deep within' emphasizes the intensity and location of this suffering.

• And I'm worrying to be free, desperately, yeah

  ➔ Present continuous tense ('I'm worrying') used to describe an ongoing feeling of anxiety or concern, even though grammatically the use of the gerund would have been more accurate ('worrying about')

  ➔ The phrase 'I'm worrying to be free' is grammatically unconventional. A more standard construction would be 'I'm worrying about being free'. However, the original phrasing emphasizes the act of worrying and its direct connection to the desire for freedom. 'Desperately' modifies the verb, highlighting the intensity of the worry and desire.

• So guide and protect I 'n' I, O Jah, Jah

  ➔ Imperative mood ('guide and protect') and the use of 'I 'n' I', a Rastafarian term replacing 'we' or 'us', with 'O' as an interjection.

  ➔ The sentence implores Jah to 'guide and protect' the speaker and their community. 'Guide and protect' is in the imperative mood, directly addressing Jah. 'I 'n' I' is a Rastafarian expression that represents the unity of the speaker with Jah, and also other Rastafarians. 'O Jah, Jah' is a direct address to God, using a vocative 'O' and repeating the name for emphasis.