Legalize It – English Lyrics

• By: Peter Tosh
• Album: Legalize It

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Peter Tosh's revolutionary reggae track, “Legalize It,” a bold anthem advocating for cannabis legalization. Explore the rich Jamaican Patois and understand Tosh's powerful message about social justice and spiritual freedom. Discover how this song ignited a global movement and continues to inspire change.

[English]

Legalize it, don't criticize it

Legalize it, yeah, yeah, and I will advertise it

Some call it tampee, tampee

Some call it the weed

Some call it marijuana, marijuana

Some of them call it ganja, ganja

Every man got to legalize it, and don't criticize it

Legalize it, yeah, yeah, and I will advertise it

Singers smoke it

And players of instrument too

Legalize it, yeah, yeah

That's the best thing you can do

Doctors smoke it, nurses smoke it

Judges smoke it, even the lawyer too

So you've got to legalize it, and don't criticize it

Legalize it, yeah, yeah, and I will advertise it

It's good for the flu, a good for asthma

...

Good for tuberculosis, even umara composis

Got to legalize it, don't criticize it

Legalize it, yeah, yeah, I will advertise it

Birds eat it, ants love it

...

Fowls eat it, goats love to play with it

So you've got to legalize it, don't criticize it

...

Legalize it, yeah, yeah, and I will advertise it

Keep on telling you, legalize it

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
legalize /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/ B2	verb - to make (something) legal
criticize /ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz/ B2	verb - to express disapproval of (someone or something)
advertise /ˈædvərtaɪz/ B1	verb - to describe or praise (something) publicly so as to promote sales
weed /wiːd/ B1	noun - a wild plant growing where it is not wanted noun - marijuana
marijuana /ˌmærɪˈhwɑːnə/ B2	noun - cannabis, especially as smoked in cigarettes
ganja /ˈɡɑːndʒə/ C1	noun - marijuana
singers /ˈsɪŋərz/ A2	noun - a person who sings
instrument /ˈɪnstrəmənt/ B1	noun - a tool or device used for a particular purpose
doctors /ˈdɑːktərz/ A2	noun - a person who is qualified to treat people with illness or injury
nurses /ˈnɜːrsɪz/ A2	noun - a person trained to care for the sick or injured
judges /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/ B1	noun - a public official appointed to decide cases in a law court.
lawyer /ˈlɔːjər/ B1	noun - a person who practices or studies law; an attorney or counselor.
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of
flu /fluː/ A2	noun - influenza
asthma /ˈæsmə/ B1	noun - a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing.
tuberculosis /tjuːˌbɜːrkjʊˈloʊsɪs/ C1	noun - an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues, especially the lungs.
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of affection for (someone)
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.

Key Grammar Structures

• Legalize it, don't criticize it

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ This uses the base form of the verbs "legalize" and "criticize" to issue direct commands or requests. It's a simple and direct way to express a strong opinion.

• and I will advertise it

  ➔ Future simple (will + verb)

  ➔ This uses the auxiliary verb "will" followed by the base form of the verb "advertise" to indicate a future action contingent upon the legalization. It shows a promise or intention.

• Some call it tampee, tampee

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ The simple present tense here ("call") expresses a general truth or a common activity. It's used to state a fact about how some people refer to marijuana.

• Every man got to legalize it

  ➔ Modal verb "got to" (have to)

  ➔ "Got to" is a colloquial equivalent of "have to," indicating obligation or necessity. In this context, it expresses a strong belief that every man should legalize it.

• That's the best thing you can do

  ➔ Superlative adjective "best" with a relative clause

  ➔ "Best" is the superlative form of "good," indicating the highest degree. The clause "you can do" functions as a relative clause modifying "thing," specifying what is being compared. It suggests legalization is the most beneficial action.

• It's good for the flu, a good for asthma

  ➔ Use of "good for" + noun (expressing benefit)

  ➔ The phrase "good for" indicates that something has a beneficial effect on something else. In this case, it's claiming marijuana is beneficial for the flu and asthma.

• Birds eat it, ants love it

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (general truths/habits)

  ➔ The simple present tense is used to express general truths or habitual actions. Here, it's used to make a general statement about birds and ants and their supposed behavior towards the subject (marijuana/cannabis).