Natty Rebel – English Lyrics

• By: U-Roy
• Album: Original DJ

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into U-Roy's seminal reggae track, 'Natty Rebel,' and discover the vibrant language of toasting, a unique Jamaican vocal style that laid the groundwork for modern rap. This song, with its empowering message of rebellion and self-discovery, offers a fantastic entry point into understanding not just reggae's rhythmic complexities but also the cultural and spiritual depth of Rastafarian expression.

[English]

Natty Rebel/Soul Rebel

I'm a rebel, soul rebel.

I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.

I'm a rebel, soul rebel.

I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.

See the morning sun, the morning sun,

On the hillside.

If you're not living good, travel wide,

You gotta travel wide.

Said I'm a living man,

And I've got work to do.

If you're not happy, children,

Then you must be blue,

Must be blue, people say.

I'm a rebel, let them talk,

Soul rebel, talk won't bother me.

I'm a capturer, that'w what they say,

Soul adventurer, night and day.

I'm a rebel, soul rebel.

Do you hear them lippy.

I'm a capturer, gossip around the corner,

Soul adventurer. How they adventure on me.

But, see the morning sun, the morning sun,

On the hillside.

If you're not living good, travel wide,

You gotta travel wide.

Said I'm a living man,

I've got work to do.

If you're not happy, then you must be blue,

Must be blue, people say.

I'm a rebel, soul rebel.

I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.

Do you hear me?

I'm a rebel, rebel in the morning.

Soul rebel, rebel at midday time.

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rebel /ˈrebəl/ B2	noun - a person who resists authority, control, or convention verb - to resist authority or control adjective - defying or resisting authority
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal
capturer /ˈkæptʃərə(r)/ B2	noun - someone who captures something or someone
adventurer /ədˈventʃərə(r)/ B2	noun - a person who enjoys or seeks adventure
morning /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time between sunrise and noon
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
hillside /ˈhɪlsaɪd/ B1	noun - the side of a hill
living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ A2	adjective - alive
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
work /wɜːrk/ A1	noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result verb - to do tasks
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - plural of child
blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - sad or depressed
talk /tɔːk/ A2	verb - to speak noun - conversation
gossip /ˈɡɑːsɪp/ B2	noun - casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as true verb - engage in gossip
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - a period of 24 hours as a unit of time
midday /ˈmɪddeɪ/ A2	noun - the middle of the day; noon

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm a rebel, soul rebel.

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (Stating a fact/identity)

  ➔ Uses the simple present tense of the verb "to be" ("I'm" which is a contraction of "I am") to state his identity as a rebel and a soul rebel. This is a basic statement of fact.

• I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.

  ➔ Appositive Noun Phrase

  ➔ "Soul adventurer" functions as an appositive noun phrase, further defining or clarifying the noun "capturer". It provides additional information about what kind of capturer he is.

• If you're not living good, travel wide,

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1 - Likely/Possible Condition)

  ➔ This is a conditional sentence. The "if" clause expresses a condition ("if you're not living good"), and the main clause suggests a consequence ("travel wide"). The implied meaning is that if you are unhappy, you should travel.

• Said I'm a living man, And I've got work to do.

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense (Implied/Continued Relevance)

  ➔ "I've got" is a contraction of "I have got", similar meaning to "I have". It implies that the work he has is still ongoing or relevant to the present.

• Then you must be blue, Must be blue, people say.

  ➔ Modal Verb of Deduction (Must + be)

  ➔ "Must be blue" expresses a strong deduction or conclusion based on the condition stated previously. "Must" implies a high degree of certainty.

• I'm a rebel, let them talk, Soul rebel, talk won't bother me.

  ➔ Imperative (let them talk) + Negative Future Prediction (talk won't bother)

  ➔ "Let them talk" is an imperative, giving permission for others to speak. "Talk won't bother me" is a future prediction using "won't" (will not), indicating that their words will have no effect on him.

• Do you hear them lippy.

  ➔ Present Simple (question form) with slang/dialect usage

  ➔ This is a question in the present simple tense, but the grammar is not standard. It's a more informal or dialectal way of saying "Do you hear them being lippy?" "Lippy" is slang for being insolent or disrespectful.