Jamming

• By: Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Album: Exodus

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
jam /dʒæm/ A2	verb - to play music together informally noun - a session of informal music-making
hope /hoʊp/ A2	verb - to want something to happen or be true noun - a feeling of expectation and desire
rules /ruːlz/ A2	noun - principles or regulations governing conduct or procedure
price /praɪs/ A2	noun - the amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something
living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ B1	adjective - alive
past /pæst/ A2	noun - the time before the present
bullet /ˈbʊlɪt/ B1	noun - a small piece of metal fired from a gun
right /raɪt/ A1	noun - a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty or the legal age of majority
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1	noun - a yellow precious metal
lord /lɔːrd/ B1	noun - someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.
mount /maʊnt/ B2	noun - a mountain
creation /kriˈeɪʃən/ B2	noun - the act of creating the universe or the world, especially by God
pride /praɪd/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of one's close associates, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
truth /truːθ/ A2	noun - the quality or state of being true.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection

Grammar:

• I wanna jam it with you

  ➔ Contraction of "want to" - "wanna"

  ➔ "Wanna" is an informal contraction of "want to". It's commonly used in spoken English and informal writing. Here, it simplifies the sentence and gives it a more casual, conversational tone. "I "wanna" jam it with you" means I want to jam with you.

• Ain't no rules, ain't no vow

  ➔ Double negative (Ain't no)

  ➔ "Ain't" is a colloquial contraction for "is not", "are not", "am not", "has not", or "have not". Using "Ain't no" is a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect in standard English but common in some dialects and informal speech. Here, it emphasizes the lack of rules and vows: There are "no" rules, there is "no" vow. Also using "ain't" shows a kind of old English used in this case for stylistic purpose

• I'n'I will see you through

  ➔ Use of "I'n'I" (Rastafarian term)

  ➔ "I'n'I" is a Rastafarian term that refers to the unity of all people with Jah (God). It's a complex concept that encompasses both "I" and "we", emphasizing the interconnectedness and shared divinity within each individual. The expression means I and God will see you through.

• Cos everyday we pay the price, we're the living sacrifice

  ➔ Use of "Cos" (contraction of because)

  ➔ "Cos" is a colloquial contraction of "because". It's often used in informal speech and writing to shorten the sentence and give it a more relaxed tone. The full phrase is "Because everyday we pay the price, we're the living sacrifice".

• We neither beg, nor we won't bow

  ➔ Neither...nor structure

  ➔ The "neither...nor" structure is used to indicate that two options are not true or do not happen. It's a correlative conjunction, connecting two negative alternatives. Here, it means "We do not beg, and we will not bow". Using "won't" after "nor" may sound redundant, but it adds emphasis.

• Jah, Jah, children must unite

  ➔ Use of "must" for emphasis/exhortation

  ➔ While "must" usually indicates obligation or necessity, in this context, it carries a stronger sense of exhortation and importance. It's not simply saying that uniting is a good idea, but rather that it is an essential imperative. It means Jah, Jah, children have to unite.

• Jam's about my pride

  ➔ Ellipsis/Omission of "is"

  ➔ The word "is" is omitted for a more informal and rhythmically pleasing flow. The sentence should read "Jam is about my pride". This is common in casual speech and song lyrics.