Ku Klux Klan – English Lyrics

• By: STEEL PULSE
• Album: Revolver

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the potent lyrics and historical backdrop of Steel Pulse's "Ku Klux Klan," a rallying cry against racial injustice. Explore how this seminal reggae track ignited conversations, challenged societal norms, and blended music with activism. Discover the unique blend of reggae and punk influences, and learn about the band's bold artistic choices that made this song a timeless anthem.

[English]

Walking along just kicking stones

Minding my own business

I come face to face, with my foe

Disguised in violence from head to toe

I holla and I bawl (Ku Klux Klan)

But dem naw let me go now (Ku Klux Klan)

To let me go was not dem intention

Dem seh one nigger the less

The better for the show

Stand strong black skin and take your blow

It's the Ku, the Ku Klux Klan

Ku Klux Klan (Ku Klux Klan)

Here to stamp out blackman yah

The Ku, the Ku Klux Klan heh!

...

To be taught a lesson not to walk alone

I was waiting for the Good Samaritan

But waiting was hopeless

It was all in vain

The Ku Klux Klan back again

I holla and I bawl (Ku Klux Klan)

Dem naw let me go now (Ku Klux Klan)

Dem seh one nigger the less

The better the show

Stand strong blackskin and take your blow

The Ku, Ku Klux Klan

Ku Klux Klan (Ku Klux Klan)

Rape, lynch, kill and maim

Things can't remain the same yah no!

...

Blackman do unto the Klan

AS they would do to you

In this case hate they neighbour

Those cowards only kill who they fear

That's why they hide behind

The hoods and cloaks they wear

I holla and I bawl (Ku Klux Klan)

Dem naw let me go no (Ku Klux Klan)

Oh no, oh no

Ku Klux Klan (Ku Klux Klan)

Here to stamp out black man yah

Rape, lynch, kill and maim

Things can't remain the same yah

No, no, no, no (Ku Klux Klan)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
disguise /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ B2	noun - the act of concealing or obscuring the identity or true nature
violence /ˈvaɪələns/ B2	noun - behavior involving physical force intended to hurt or damage someone or something
lynch /lɪntʃ/ C1	verb - to kill someone, especially by hanging, for an alleged offense with or without legal trial
siege /siːdʒ/ C2	noun - a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies
oppression /əˈprɛʃən/ C1	noun - prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control
racial /ˈreɪʃəl/ B1	adjective - relating to race or origins and characteristics associated with race
hatred /ˈhæt.rɪd/ B2	noun - intense or passionate dislike or ill will
suppression /səˈprɛʃən/ C1	noun - the act of forcibly preventing something or someone from doing or expressing something
covert /ˈkoʊ.vərt/ C2	adjective - not openly displayed or acknowledged; secret or concealed
intimidate /ɪnˈtɪmɪ.deɪt/ C1	verb - to frighten or overawe someone, especially in order to make them do what one wants

Key Grammar Structures

• Minding my own business

  ➔ Gerund phrase as adverbial of manner

  ➔ The gerund "minding" functions as an adverbial modifier, explaining *how* the subject was walking along.

• I come face to face, with my foe

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression: "face to face"

  ➔ "Face to face" means directly confronting someone or something. It highlights a direct and immediate encounter.

• Dem seh one nigger the less The better for the show

  ➔ Ellipsis; "The [is] better"

  ➔ The word "is" is omitted for stylistic effect, common in informal speech and song lyrics. It implies a direct correlation: *the less of one thing, the better*.

• Blackman do unto the Klan AS they would do to you

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 2) - mixed with an imperative.

  ➔ This is a conditional statement expressing a hypothetical situation and its likely consequence. The structure is an imperative ("do unto...") followed by a comparison using "as." It presents a reciprocal concept, implying revenge or retribution.

• Those cowards only kill who they fear

  ➔ Relative Clause with "who" as object of kill

  ➔ "Who" functions as the relative pronoun introducing a clause that describes the people that the cowards kill. They only kill those people *whom* they fear.

• That's why they hide behind The hoods and cloaks they wear

  ➔ Relative Clause with "they wear" acting as a reduced relative clause. (The hoods and cloaks that they wear)

  ➔ The relative pronoun "that" (or "which") is omitted. The phrase "they wear" modifies "hoods and cloaks," specifying *which* hoods and cloaks are being referred to.