Murderer Lyrics

[Intro]
I see them lie and lay in wait
Standing at the gate
But yay I hold up my head and I sing
Hear what I sing nah...

[Chorus]
Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder
Kill I today you cannot kill I tomorrow
Murder! Your insides must be hollow
How does it feel to take the life of another?
Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder
Kill me today you cannot kill I tomorrow
Murder! Your insides must be hollow
How does it feel to take a life?

[Verse 1]
You can hide from man but not your conscience
Unnu nyam the bread of sorrow, drink the wine of violence
Allowed yourself to be conquered by the serpent
Why you disobey the first commandment?
Walk through the valley I fear no pestilence
God is my witness and him ah meh evidence
Lift up mine eyes from whence cometh help
You will never escape this judgement
[Chorus]
Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder
Kill I today you cannot kill I tomorrow
Murder! Your insides must be hollow
How does it feel to take a life?

[Verse 2]
I tell you, all men are created equal
But behind the trigger its a different sequel
Some ah murder people just to collect medals
Stop commit dirty acts for the high officials
You could wash your head until you can't wash no more
It is like an epidemic and you won't find a cure
Upper class you could be rich, middle class whether you poor
Only the righteous won't feel insecure
You ever think about your skull getting bored? (buck buck!)

[Chorus]
Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder
Kill I today you cannot kill I tomorrow
Murder! Your insides must be hollow
How does it feel to take a life?

[Verse 3]
Drinking sulphur bitters won't bitter like your end
Only God can help you, no family no friend
Don't let the curse be upon your children's children
Abednigo, Shadreck, Meshek, Daniel in the den
Jonah in the whale's belly, but him never condemned
Job with the leprosy, and he still reached heaven
He will do for you everything He has done for them
[Chorus]
Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder
Kill I today you cannot kill I tomorrow
Murder! Your insides must be hollow
How does it feel to take a life?

[Verse 4]
You can hide from man but not your conscience
Unnu nyam the bread of sorrow, drink the wine of violence
Allowed yourself to be conquered by the serpent
Why you disobey the first commandment?
Walk through the valley I fear no pestilence
God is my witness and him ah meh evidence
Lift up mine eyes from whence cometh help
You will never escape this judgement

[Chorus]
Murderer! Blood is on your shoulder
Kill I today you cannot kill I tomorrow
Murder! Your insides must be hollow
How does it feel to take a life?

[Verse 5]
I tell you, all men are created equal
But behind the trigger its a different sequel
Some ah murder people just to collect medals
Stop commit dirty acts for the high officials
You could wash your head until you can't wash no more
It is like an epidemic and you won't find a cure
Upper class you could be rich, middle class whether you poor

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About

Genius Annotation

Released in 1995, “Murderer” is an expression of Buju Banton’s frustration at the loss of three of his fellow dancehall artists. In 1993, Panhead and Dirtsman were killed in separate incidents, and then in 1994 Garnett Silk was killed as well. Buju released this single and dedicated it to the murders of the three DJ’s, who were never brought to justice.

This marked the beginning of Buju’s transformation from a rude bwoy chanting gunman-lyrics to a conscious rasta. His 1995 album ‘Til Shiloh features this track and marked a huge transformation from the dancehall to more of a roots reggae vibe, complete with a live band for the studio album.

Although best known for “Boom Bye Bye”, a song about killing homosexuals, this was a positive point in Buju’s life where he accepted Jah Rastafari and caused many other dancehall artists, most notably Capleton aka King Shango, to accept the faith as well.

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Credits
Written By
Release Date
July 18, 1995
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