Backed by an all-star band that includes Cuban trumpeter Julito Padrón (Irakere) along with Jamaican legends Sly Dunbar on drums, the late Robbie Shakespeare on bass and the late Winston “Bopee” Bowen on guitar, “The Human Chain” is a powerful and uplifting rocksteady roots anthem about the looming threats to humanity.
Fearon, an icon of Jamaican music who was the lead singer for the legendary band The Gladiators, sings in his trademark gravel-toned and soulful voice, “A chain is only as strong / As its weakest link / Greed and poverty / Weaken the chain / Now is the time to reflect / On what's gone wrong / With the human chain.” The single is accompanied by an epic music video filmed on the rooftop of a skyscraper in Fearon’s current home in Seattle interspersed with stirring clips of protest and conflict drawn straight from the headlines.
The sixth single to be released so far from the upcoming Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 album, “The Human Chain” offers a stark warning and an uplifting message of hope that we can come together to strengthen the ties that bind us all.
lyrics
(Lyrics by Clinton Fearon / Music by Jake Savona, Lowell Sly Filmore Dunbar, Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare)
Do deh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, oh
Yeh deh da da deh deh, now
Ooh ooh
Oh now now now
Oh
A chain is only as strong
As its weakest link,
Talkin' about
Talkin' about, oh
A chain is only as strong
As its weakest link,
Talkin' about,
The human chain, oh
Grudge and jealousy,
Greed and poverty
Weaken the chain
Weaken the chain, oh
Grudge and jealousy,
Greed and poverty
Weaken the chain
Weaken the chain, oh
No more can we neglect
Now is the time to reflect
On what's going down
What's going down, oh
No more can we neglect
Now is the time to reflect
On what's gone wrong
What's gone wrong, with the human chain
Grudge and jealousy,
Greed and poverty
Weaken the chain
Weaken the chain, oh
Grudge and jealousy,
Greed and poverty
Weaken the chain
Weaken the chain, the human chain
Oh, now now now now now now
Ooh ooh
What's gone wrong with the human chain
Oh nah nah nah nah
Oh nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah
Something's wrong with the human chain
[trumpet solo]
Whoa
No more can we neglect
Now is the time to reflect
On what's going down
What's going down, oh
No more can we neglect
Now is the time to reflect
On what's gone wrong
What's gone wrong, with the human chain
Grudge and jealousy,
Greed and poverty
Weaken the chain
Weaken the chain, oh
Grudge and jealousy,
Greed and poverty
Weaken the chain
Weaken the chain, the human chain
Oh nah nah nah nah nah nah nah
Ooh ooh
What's gone wrong with the human chain
Oh nah nah nah nah nah nah
Ooh ooh
Something's wrong with the human chain
supported by 7 fans who also own “The Human Chain (feat. Clinton Fearon)”
Edit: I'm blown away by this release. Amazing concept - global female vocal reggae album with contributions in Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, Yoruba, Arabic, Tigrinya etc. And then there's the music. Superb production as you'd imagine from Adrian Sherwood, plus songs and emotions and vibrations of the highest energy and deepest feeling. I'm especially struck by Rita Morar's "Meri Awaaz Sumo" (funky!), Kerieva's "Chavale" (violin!), and JaGodDa's "Krysztalowy Aniol" (soulful!). But it's all great... mcdan77
New from the excellent Jamaican label Equiknoxx is this hard-hitting slice-of-life LP from unkle G full of understated dancehall. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 7, 2023
supported by 5 fans who also own “The Human Chain (feat. Clinton Fearon)”
Just purchased having heard the track City of God played on 6 music by Cerys Matthew. Thank you for the re-press. Looking forward to receiving the vinyl. 🎼❤️🎼 Leonardo Sullivan