[Chorus]
Long, long time ago
Natty dread did a-warn ya
Natty warn the nation
Long time ago (Long time ago)

It was a long, long, long, long time
The dread did a-tell them
Natty tell all the people
To live and grow (Long time ago)

[Verse 1]
I've been telling you from the start
You better put some love in your hearts
As time goes by, you're getting weaker
But what Jah build up, no man tear apart

[Chorus]
It was a long, long time ago
Natty dread did a-warn ya
Natty warn the nation
Long time ago (Long time ago)

Was a long, long, long, long time
The dread did a-tell them
Natty tell all the people
To live and grow (Long time ago)
[Verse 2]
Everyone got to live and live free, yeah
Vision the truth behind this reality
Though bad minded people (Why, why, why?)
Try to keep me down, Lord (Why, why, why, why?)
I thank Jah, respect was taught to me, yeah
(Why, why, why? Why, why, why, why?)

[Chorus]
It was a long, long time ago
Natty dread did a-warn ya
Natty warn the nation
Long time ago (Long time ago)

It was a long, long, long, long time
The dread did a-tell them
Natty tell all the people
To live and grow (Long time ago)

[Bridge]
Rasta come to teach, Rasta come to learn
Rasta come to tell them about Jah word
About Jah word I say!
Rasta come to teach, Rasta come to learn
Rasta come to tell dem about Jah word
(Why, why, why?
Why, why, why, why?
Why, why, why? Why, why, why, why?)

[Verse 3]
Oh, you live and learn
Everybody work together for the blessings that we earn
Your time is reached, so you better watch out
One day the fire gonna burn
Burn, burn!

[Chorus]
It was a long, long time ago
Natty dread did a-warn ya
Natty warn the nation
Long time ago (Long time ago)

It was a long, long, long, long time
The dread did a-tell them
Natty tell all the people
To live and grow (Long time ago)

It was a long, long time ago
Natty dread did a-warn ya
Natty warn the nation
Long time ago (Long time ago)
It was a long, long, long, long time
The dread did a-tell them
Natty tell all the people
To live and grow (Long time ago)

Long, long time ago
Natty dread did a-warn ya
Natty warn the nation
Long time ago (Long time ago)

Hey!

[Outro]
(Why, why, why?
Why, why, why, why?
Why, why, why? Why, why, why, why?)

You should listen to, what I'm telling you
Take a look at life and you see it through
What you find can never be spoken
It has been revealed to you
By the eyes of Jah, Rastafari!

Long, long time ago
Natty dread did a-warn ya
Natty warn the nation
Long time ago, long time ago