Rob Beg and Steal
Videographer: NU JAE
TRACK 4: Rob, Beg and Steal
CREDITS
Drums: Jason Gerald Myers
Bass: Ryan 'Gutty' Windross
Backing Vocals: Kandaka and Makeda Moore
Lead Vocals: Jesse James MacFarlane
Feature vocals: Kandaka Moore
Guitar: Jesse James MacFarlane
Mixing: Laurent Dupuy
Mastering: Simon Capony
Written and Produced by: Jesse James MacFarlane
Back Story
This song was written as if talking to a friend. It is despairing about them finding themselves in yet another bad circumstance.
The song is exploring the way it seems like we are choosing to make certain bad choices in life, but actually those bad options continue to appear because we live in a world/ economic system that is designed to exploit our weaknesses and our conflicts. The message is that: even though it's easy to understand the external conditions that have us falling again and again, we won't overcome the problems that keep bringing us down unless we actively leave the environment that keeps putting us down that path. To achieve a greater self we have to reject the influences and forces around us and have courage to move into the unkown and so become a source of power ourselves.
In order to free ourselves from the down- pressions of our society we have to release ourselves from our own reliance and addiction to those trappings. That comes from discipline, consistency and compassion. Compassion is important because the trappings of greed are as destructive as the trappings of poverty.
It's hard to leave and disregard a hand that you were once dealt
It's harder to live free in a world that chooses not promote health
The trap is real and yet we feel to take control of this life
Even when babylon offers you to grab the wrong end of a knife
We take the deal, win the bet or lose at this game of chess
We sign our name accept conditions of this unholy mess
Just as long as we find ourselves in the same boat as all of the rest
They set the stage and we seek favour in this Babylon
We deserve to see better days
so lets just keep going on
Riding through this pit,
don't give in to temptation
'Cos they built this world this way
It's there to get you down
You can only Rob, Beg and Steal in a Babylon
You can only Rob, Beg and Steal in a Babylon x4
In this age of disrespect they value the heart a lot less
Many mandem leave the nest believing those with lots deserve best
So greed feeds and never rests, supersedes love
and all invest in that so called trickle down effect
Those at the top that stir the pot
make sure babylon won't stop
Of it's own demise, desire and fear
have brought their bags set up shop
The streets we know were never there
to share the burden of the cost
My brother its hard I know it's tough
but time to leave the ways of the block
And
Get Out of Babylon
We deserve to see better days
so lets just keep going on
Riding through this pit,
don't give in to temptation
'Cos they built this world this way
It's there to get you down
You can only Rob, Beg and Steal in a Babylon
You can only Rob, Beg and Steal in a Babylon x4
