Do You Remember
Echoes of Suffering: Reflections on the Legacy of Slavery in 'Do You Remember'
Lyrics
Do you, do you remember those days of slavery?
Reflection on the days of slavery, prompting memories.
It wasn't black man alone, who died through bravery
Acknowledging that bravery and sacrifice were not exclusive to black men.
'Though some a dem threw dem self over board
Some individuals chose to end their lives by throwing themselves overboard.
Because dis ya slaveship overload
Highlighting the dire conditions of the overloaded slave ship.
It wasn't black man alone, that really really suffer as slaves
Emphasizing that suffering wasn't exclusive to black men as slaves.
But we suffer the hardest way until today
Expressing the enduring and severe hardships faced by the community.
Some a dem commit suicide
Reference to some slaves resorting to suicide.
And through disease we caught some a dem died
Highlighting the impact of diseases that claimed the lives of some slaves.
De whole world a cry, dem a cry, dem a cry, dem a cry
Describing the collective sorrow and cries of the entire world in response to the slave experience.
Do you, do you remember those days of slavery?
A repetition, reiterating the earlier reflection on the days of slavery.
through crooked rocks, dangerous ocean
Describing the treacherous journey through crooked rocks and dangerous oceans.
In ya dis ya civilisation
Connecting the difficulties of the journey to the existing civilization.
Me said-a do you, do you really remember
Repeating the question about remembering the days of slavery.
When it was the day of slavery?
Reiterating the time reference to the days of slavery.
Chiney man, Indian, white man died through bravery
Acknowledging that individuals from various ethnicities also died bravely during slavery.
But as black man we suffer as slave
Asserting that black men suffered the most as slaves.
The hardest way until today
Reaffirming the enduring impact of the severe suffering faced by black men.
But a-so dey say, but a-so, but a-so dey say
Introducing a perspective or commentary on what is commonly said or believed about the historical events.
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