Poor Slave lyrics - Jimmy Cliff

Poor slave

Take the shackles off your body

Poor slave

Put the shackles on your mind

Please listen to me carefully

And if I'm wrong, then correct me

But if I'm right, mind not the praise

Now let us see if we agree

The definition of a slave

Means once a tree, entirely

So a slave is still a slave

If he can think independently

Poor slave

Take the chains off your body

Poor slave

Put the chains on your mind

A tree is still a tree

Though it shed its leaves when winter falls

But it blooms again in spring

Because it did not lose its roots at all

But a slave

Remains a slave

Without the knowledge of its roots

Until, he thought his past

Not just some, but all the truths

Poor slave

Take the chains off your body

Poor slave

Put the chains on your mind

There was a brother the other day

Telling me he's feeling high

Well I just sadly had to sigh

'Cause drugs and booze are lorey

And if I'm asked how to get high

I'll tell them truths and not a lie

The highest high that man can get

Is with knowledge and understanding

Poor slave

Ease the pressure off your body?

Poor slave

Put the pressure on your mind

Poor slave

Ever take the pressure off your body?

Poor slave

Put the pressure on your mind

Poor slave

Take the shackles off your body

Poor slave

Put the shackles on your mind