Equal Rights – English Lyrics

• By: Peter Tosh
• Album: Equal Rights

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the potent language of protest and justice with Peter Tosh's 'Equal Rights.' This landmark reggae album offers a compelling lesson in standing up for your rights and challenging oppression, all while immersing yourself in the rhythms and Rastafarian spirit that define Tosh's unique sound.

[English]

Everyone is crying out for peace, yes

None is crying out for justice

Everyone is crying out for peace, yes

None is crying out for justice

I don't want no peace

I need equal rights and justice

I need equal rights and justice

I need equal rights and justice

Got to get it equal rights and justice

Everybody want to go to heaven but nobody want to die (follow us, Jesus)

Everybody want to go up to heaven but none of them, none of them want to die

I don't want no peace

I, man need equal rights and justice

I got to get it, equal rights and justice

I really need it, equal rights and justice

Just give me my share, equal rights and justice

What is due to Caesar, you better give it unto Caesar, heh heh heh

And what belong to I and I, you better, you better give it up to I

...

'Cause I don't want no peace

I need equal rights and justice

I need equal rights and justice

I've got to get it, equal rights and justice

I'm a fighting for it, equal rights and justice

Everyone heading for the top

But tell me how far is it from the bottom

Nobody know but

Everybody fighting to reach the top

How far is it from the bottom

I don't want no peace

I want equal rights and justice

I need equal rights and justice

I've got to get it, equal rights and justice

I really need it, equal rights and justice

Everyone is talking about crime

...

Tell me who are the criminals

I said everybody is talking about crime, crime

Tell me who, who are the criminals

I really don't see them

I don't want no peace

I need equal rights and justice

We got to get equal rights and justice

There'll be no crime, equal rights and justice

There'll be no criminals, equal rights and justice

Everyone is fighting for equal rights and justice

Palestinians fighting for equal rights and justice

Down in Angola, equal rights and justice

Down in Botswana, equal rights and justice

Down in Zimbabwe, equal rights and justice

Down in Rhodesia, equal rights and justice

Right here in Jamaica, equal rights and justice

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
peace /piːs/ A1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
justice /ˈdʒʌstɪs/ B1	noun - just behavior or treatment.
rights /raɪts/ A2	noun - a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way.
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important. noun - a thing that is necessary or desirable.
equal /ˈiːkwəl/ A2	adjective - being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value.
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - stop living.
heaven /ˈhevən/ A2	noun - a place regarded in various religions as the abode of God (or gods) and the angels, and of the good after death, often traditionally depicted as being above the sky.
share /ʃeər/ A2	noun - a part or portion of something owned, allotted to, or contributed by a person or group. verb - have a portion of (something) with another or others.
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ B1	verb - take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons.
top /tɒp/ A1	noun - the highest point or part of something.
bottom /ˈbɒtəm/ A1	noun - the lowest point or part of something.
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law.
criminals /ˈkrɪmɪnəlz/ B2	noun - a person who has committed a crime.