Small Axe
Bob Marley · Marley (Original Soundtrack) [2012]
Why boasteth thyself, oh evil men
playing smart and being clever, oh no
I say, you're working inequity
to achieve vanity, yeah, if I sow I sow
but the goodness of Jah, Jah
I'doreth for Iver
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down (we shall)
ready to cut you down, oh yeah
These are the words of my Master
keep on telling me
no weak heart shall prosper
oh no, they can't, eh
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down
ready to cut you down
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, fall in it, eh
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are the big tree,
We have a small axe
ready to cut you down (we shall)
sharpened to cut you down
playing smart and being clever, oh no
I say, you're working inequity
to achieve vanity, yeah, if I sow I sow
but the goodness of Jah, Jah
I'doreth for Iver
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down (we shall)
ready to cut you down, oh yeah
These are the words of my Master
keep on telling me
no weak heart shall prosper
oh no, they can't, eh
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, shall fall in it
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are a big tree,
We are the small axe
sharpened to cut you down
ready to cut you down
And whosoever diggeth a pit
shall fall in it, fall in it, eh
Whosoever diggeth a pit
shall bury in it, shall bury in it
If you are the big tree,
We have a small axe
ready to cut you down (we shall)
sharpened to cut you down
Small Axe
Bob Marley's 'Small Axe' appears on the 2012 Marley Original Soundtrack, a compilation celebrating the legacy of this Jamaican icon. As a staple of reggae and roots music, the track embodies the genre's characteristic rhythms and Marley's signature vocal delivery. The song reflects themes often explored in his discography, including social justice and the struggles of the working class, delivered with the warmth and authority that defined his career. While specific lyrical content varies by version, the recording stands as a testament to his enduring influence on global music culture and his ability to articulate universal human experiences through sound.