Treat The Youths Right

Jimmy Cliff · We Are All One: The Best Of [2007]

Treat the youths right

Instead of putting up a fight

Treat the youths right

Or you'll been playin' with dynamite



Treat the youths right

Instead of putting us a fight

Treat the youths right

Or you'll been playin' with dynamite



When you go and look for a job

There is someone givin' you a fight

Light them on, get to go and rob

Then we know that that's not right



Oooh, yeah (Oooh, yeah)

Oooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah



Treat the youths right

Instead of putting up a fight

Now if you treat the youths right

Or you'll been playin' with dynamite



'Cause if you treat the youths right, right, right, right

Instead of giving us a fight

Treat the youths right

Or you'll be playin' with dynamite



All the boys and girls of today

Here's the well-know rumour of tomorrow

Take heed to the words that I say

All your days will be filled with sorrow



Oooh, yeah (Oooh, yeah)

Oooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah



Treat the youths right

Instead of putting up a fight

'Cause if you treat the youths right

You could be sitting on a bomb



I won't go hither from the first resurrection

I want my field in the second resurrection

I won't go hither from the first generation

I won't be real to the fifth generation



Oooh, yeah (Oooh, yeah)

Oooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah



Treat the youths right

Instead of giving us a fight

Treat the youths right

Or you'll been playin' with dynamite



Sucka treat the youths right, right, right, right

Instead of putting up a fight

And if you treat the youths right

Or you'll been playin' with dynamite



I want protect them from the ways and bullets

No, we dream through the ways and solins

I want protect them from the high school students

Now, we dream through the kids and violence



Oooh, yeah (Oooh, yeah)

Oooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah



Treat the youths right

Instead of putting up a fight

Now if you treat the youths right

Or you'll been playin' with dynamite



If you treat the youths right, right, right, right

Treat the youths right



Treat the youths right

Treat the youths right



Treat the youths right

Treat the youths right



Treat them right, treat them right!

Treat the youths right

Treat The Youths Right

Jimmy Cliff's 'Treat The Youths Right' stands as a defining anthem of the 1970s reggae movement, reflecting the social consciousness that characterized his work during this era. Recorded for the compilation 'We Are All One: The Best Of', the track exemplifies Cliff's ability to blend rhythmic depth with poignant social commentary. As a central figure in the development of reggae music, Cliff often addressed themes of justice and community welfare, and this recording captures that spirit with its distinctive basslines and vocal delivery. The song remains a staple in the genre's catalog, illustrating how reggae evolved from its roots into a global sound that continues to resonate with audiences today. Its inclusion in retrospective collections highlights its enduring status as a cultural touchstone within the Jamaican music tradition.