She was de voice of de downtrodden
Champion of de working class
Comforter of de forgotten
Now she gone to sleep at last
Her singing made our spirits soar
Always concerned bout de living
She asked for whom de bells did toll yeah yeah yeah
Bringing healing to our soul
Farewell chantwell mother farewell
Your time on earth you spent it well
Against all odds you did excel
Farewell chantwell griot farewell
Your music left us in a spell
For you mother we ring de bell
For you mother we ring de bell
Praises ancestors ase ase
For you mother we ring de bell
She told de men she was no basher
But when she unleash equalizer
They started squirming naturally
Just to keep dem on their toes
Sexual harassment she expose
Forever focused on our children
She kept warning them not to fail yeah yeah yeah
She loved to sing for dem in jail
For you mother we ring de bell
Praises ancestors ase ase
For you mother we ring the bell
For you came Mother Mother
Lit a flame Mother Mother
Thanks for all yuh advice
How yuh talk Mother Mother
Straight road yuh walk Mother Mother
Yuh made it easy easy for all ah we
Always had to have a message
Your songs were never trivial
You felt you had to give us leverage
To rise above de bacchanal
De veil of oppression and fear
To see ah land and hand more fair
Always concerned bout de Nation
Wanted red white and black to fly fly
De Ghetto no longer must cry
Farewell chantwell mother Farewell
Your time on earth you spent it well
With every song you did excel
Farewell chantwell griot farewell
Against de norm you did rebel
For you mother we ring de bell
For you mother we ring de bell
Praises Ancestors ase ase
For you mother we ring de bell