album cover
Don’t Kill the Root
Reggae
Don’t Kill the Root was released on October 10, 2025 by Tesmiss as a part of the album Careless
album cover
Release DateOctober 10, 2025
LabelTesmiss
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM76

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Tesmiss
Tesmiss
Background Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Serge Monpoeho
Serge Monpoeho
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Tesmiss
Tesmiss
Producer

Lyrics

Mmm… yeah…
Fire bun ignorance, seen?
While di world still laugh, we mash up we own ting...
But love nah burn, love rebuild, y’know?
Jah light still shine — even through smoke.
Dem say “burn it down!” — but who buildin’ it back?
We cancel we brother fi one small crack.
TikTok teach war, not overstandin’,
We fightin’ we self while Babylon smilin’.
Braids too tight? Then the whole crew clash,
But big brand mock we — and we still spend cash.
We quick fi fight small shop, slow fi fight system,
We drown we roots while the fruit still missin’.
Don’t kill the root ‘cause the fruit ain’t ripe,
We bleed the tree, then cry for light.
Buildin’ walls in a house on fire —
Tell me now, who gain when we spark that wire?
(Ayy… unity higher…)
We split pon stew, accent, or hue,
“Jollof or Soul Food” — who that please, true?
Africans “don’t get we”? Who teach that lie?
Colonial tongue still runnin’ we mind dry.
Granny wore kente, now you call it strange,
But your playlist full of the same exchange.
We call it justice — but we fire wrong way,
Pullin’ down kin when we should uplift, pray.
When you cancel your kin, you feed their script,
Mirror crack, less light get lift.
Division cheap, but unity rich,
So we rise, we rise — we no stay in ditch.
This nuh critique, this a love speech,
Eviction without heart can’t bring peace.
If di village burn, there’s no rebirth,
So reason, my people — remember your worth.
Empower, don’t devour — keep code clean,
Lift each other, build di dream.
From Lagos breeze to Kingston shore,
It’s one black heart — one love, one roar.
Don’t kill the root ‘cause the fruit ain’t ripe, (Nah…)
We bleed the tree, then cry for light. (Light!)
Buildin’ walls in a house on fire, (Yeah…)
Who profits when we spark that wire? (Nobody!)
Unity higher, higher… (Higher, higher…)
We loud… but unheard.
We proud… but unsure.
We post pain, but nah heal inside.
We throw shade, but still seek the sun.
Jah say — plant love where hate did run.
‘Cause we can’t light freedom…
With matchsticks of division.
[Background singers]: hum
Mmm… don’t kill the root…
Keep di fire truth…
Mmm… one love still a proof…
[Fades with soft riddim echo]
Love still a grow… grow… grow…
Written by: Serge Monpoeho
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