Repent – English Lyrics

• By: Shaggy
• Album: Clothes Drop

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Shaggy's powerful reggae track "Repent" and experience how music can deliver a profound message. This song is perfect for language learners, as its clear, direct lyrics about societal issues and a call for change offer accessible vocabulary and compelling themes to explore. You'll grasp both the rhythm of reggae and a deeper understanding of English expressions used to discuss global concerns and spiritual reflection.

[English]

Yuh hear mi, God fi repent, yuh know

God up, God up, fi real time serious

Yuh dun know, God up, God up, God up

Check the state of the world we live in

Can't you see it's a cryin' shame? (Forgive them)

Leadership fails before it begins

Motivated by personal games (forgive them)

Tempers flare and patience wear

Ten finger pointin' but who is to blame?

Repent, repent, repent, repent

'Cause we're two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray, forgive them

Two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray

Fightin' for what they did not create

Cryin' peace while inflicting pain (forgive them)

Man deciding another man's fate

Claiming power in their god's name (forgive them)

Words of love but their actions speak hate

Seems like mankind has gone insane

Repent, repent, repent, repent

'Cause we're two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray, forgive them

Two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray

(They don't know)

If they stick to this path there'll be nothing else left to defend

(They don't know)

Instead of finding a cure, we should look for the means to prevent

(They don't know)

We can talk to the Lord, ain't no need for a special event

Repent, repent, repent, repent

'Cause we're two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray, forgive them

Two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray

Check the state of the world we live in

Can't you see it's a cryin' shame? (Forgive them)

Leadership fails before it begins

Motivated by personal games (forgive them)

Tempers flare and patience wear

Ten finger pointin' but who is to blame?

Repent, repent, repent, repent

'Cause we're two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray, forgive them

Two steps away from a real disaster

Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

Need to slow down and pray

Repent, repent, repent, repent

Repent, repent, repent, repent

Repent, repent, repent, repent

Repent, repent, repent, repent

Forgive them

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
repent /rɪˈpɛnt/ B2	verb - to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features
shame /ʃeɪm/ B1	noun - a feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior
leadership /ˈliːdərʃɪp/ B2	noun - the action of leading a group of people or an organization
fail /feɪl/ A2	verb - to be unsuccessful in achieving a goal
motivate /ˈmoʊtɪveɪt/ B2	verb - to provide someone with a reason for doing something
personal /ˈpɜːrsənəl/ A2	adjective - relating to or affecting a particular person
temper /ˈtempər/ B2	noun - a person's state of mind seen in terms of their being angry or calm verb - to moderate
patience /ˈpeɪʃəns/ B1	noun - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset
blame /bleɪm/ B1	verb - to assign responsibility for a fault or wrong
disaster /dɪˈzæstər/ B2	noun - a sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life
boss /bɔːs/ A2	noun - a person who is in charge of a worker or organization
master /ˈmæstər/ B1	noun - a person having control or authority
pace /peɪs/ B1	noun - a rate of movement, speed
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - to address a solemn request or expression of thanks to God or another deity
peace /piːs/ A1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury
fate /feɪt/ B1	noun - the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.
power /ˈpaʊər/ A2	noun - the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ B2	adjective - in a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction; seriously mentally ill
cure /kjʊr/ B1	noun - a substance or treatment that cures a disease or condition.
defend /dɪˈfend/ B1	verb - resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger.

Key Grammar Structures

• Yuh hear mi, God fi repent, yuh know

  ➔ Use of Jamaican Patois/Creole: "fi" meaning "to/for"

  ➔ The word "fi" is used here as a preposition, meaning 'to' or 'for'. It's a common feature of Jamaican Patois.

• Can't you see it's a cryin' shame?

  ➔ Gerund as adjective ("cryin'")

  ➔ The word "cryin'" which is a shortened form of 'crying' is used as an adjective here to describe "shame", adding emotional intensity to the phrase.

• Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence structure with subject-verb inversion, and use of Jamaican Patois ('a' before 'who').

  ➔ Instead of the standard "who is the master?", the sentence uses "a who are the master?". The 'a' is typical of Jamaican Patois. Also, the inverted structure emphasises the question.

• Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission) of auxiliary verb ("has" or "is") and comparative adverb ("much") with adjective.

  ➔ The sentence "Life set a pace" could be interpreted as "Life has set a pace." Also, "every thing's much faster" is a casual way to say "everything is much faster" omitting the auxiliary verb for brevity.

• Fightin' for what they did not create

  ➔ Relative clause with a reduced form of "fighting" and negative past simple tense

  ➔ The word 'fightin'' is a colloquial shortening of 'fighting'. The 'what' introduces the clause that describes the object they are fighting for, but it's something that they didn't create.

• Instead of finding a cure, we should look for the means to prevent

  ➔ "Instead of" + gerund (finding), modal verb (should) + infinitive (look), "the means to" + infinitive (prevent)

  ➔ This sentence uses 'instead of' followed by a gerund to introduce an alternative action. The 'should look' expresses a suggestion or obligation. 'The means to prevent' indicates purpose or capability.