[Verse 1] Now I see them giving the woman abortion to kill another baby Miscarriage and misfortune and premature crack baby Strength of Ras Tafari I'm hoping someday maybe They don't obey parents, maybe they will obey me Future for the babies Hopes for the babies Tommorrow for the babies No sorrow for the babies Babies having babies Raising our babies All of these young ladies Give them thanks and praises How long can she take it? Dreams are full of 'maybes', Will she ever make it? Hustles on a daily
In the club she shake it, strip down 'till she naked Don't ever mistake it, Much too real to fake it Need it then she'll take it She'll do it for the babies A mother's love is sacred Now you don't you ever fail me
[Chorus: Stephen Marley] A woman needs caring, sharing, love all the time (no don't you ever fail me) A child needs loving, caring...
[Verse 2] Is there no other option than adoption for you babies You're raffling and jacketing and auctioning your babies Strength of Ras Tafari I'm hoping someday maybe They don't obey their parents, maybe they will obey me Cowards play the game thing Fathers do the brave thing And that's participating He keeps on concentrating There is no debating No running away thing A new life is awakening, From his ejaculating, It's in the oven baking Takes two for the making He's right there through the cravings And early morning waking
School and educating Sports and recreating, Karate and ballet thing Teenager of today thing Fathers still relating, still communicating And they'll always embrace him Cause they cannot replace him
[Chorus Repeats]
[Verse 3] And always do your very best to keep a promise to your babies And if you can't be good, at least be honest to your babies The strength of Ras Tafari I'm hoping someday maybe They don't obey their parents maybe they will o... History of the babies Beginning of the ages You're flipping thru the pages And up and thru the 80's Some are gang related, Drug affiliated Some intoxicated, Headed for the snake pit And Papa's locked in cages And Mama's lacking wages And this what they're faced with, upon a daily basis
Bleaching out dem faces, Running from dem races Shooting up them places Killing other babies As bitter as the taste is, And words can not explain it Just walk the narrow pavement And of love not hatred