The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent(s). For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W. Bush was the incumbent, because he was the president in the current term while the election sought to determine the president for the following term. A race without an incumbent is referred to as an open seat.
The word "incumbent" is derived from the Latin verb incumbere, literally meaning "to lean or lay upon" with the present participle stem incumbent-, "leaning a variant of encumber, while encumber is derived from the root cumber, most appropriately defined: "4. To occupy obstructively or inconveniently; to block fill up with what hinders freedom of motion or action; to burden, load."
In general, incumbents have structural advantages over challengers during elections. The timing of elections may be determined by the incumbent instead of a set schedule. For most political offices, the incumbent often has more name recognition due to their previous work in the office. Incumbents also have easier access to campaign finance, as well as government resources (such as the franking privilege) that can be indirectly used to boost a campaign. An election (especially for a legislature) in which no incumbent is running is often called an open seat; because of the lack of incumbency advantage, these are often amongst the most hotly-contested races in any election.
What life has taught me
I would like to share with
Those who want to learn...
Until the philosophy which hold one race
Superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
Everywhere is war, me say war
That until there are no longer first class
And second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war
That until the basic human rights are equally
Guaranteed to all, without regard to race
Dis a war
That until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion
To be persued, but never attained
Now everywhere is war, war
And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique,
South Africa sub-human bondage
Have been toppled, utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war, me say war
War in the east, war in the west
War up north, war down south
War, war, rumours of war
And until that day, the African continent
Will not know peace, we Africans will fight
We find it necessary and we know we shall win
As we are confident in the victory
Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air;
If you listen carefully now you will hear.
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last:
Many more will have to suffer,
Many more will have to die - don't ask me why.
Things are not the way they used to be,
I won't tell no lie;
One and all have to face reality now.
'Though I've tried to find the answer to all the questions they ask.
'Though I know it's impossible to go livin' through the past -
Don't tell no lie.
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air -
Can't keep them down -
If you listen carefully now you will hear.
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air.
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last:
Many more will have to suffer,
Many more will have to die - don't ask me why.
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air -
I won't tell no lie;
If you listen carefully now you will hear:
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air.
Such a natural mystic blowing through the air;
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air;
Such a natural mystic blowing through the air;
Such a natural mystic blowing through the air;
We're jamming
I wanna jam it with you,
We're jamming, jamming
And I hope you like jamming too
Ain't no rules, ain't no vow, we can do it anyhow
I and I will see you through,
'Cos every day we pay the price with a little sacrifice
Jamming till the jam is through.
We're jamming
To think that jamming was a thing of the past,
We're jamming, jamming
And I hope this jam is gonna last
No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor will we bow
Neither can be bought or sold.
We all defend the right, JAH JAH children must unite
Your life is worth much more than gold.
We're jamming, jamming
We're jamming in the name of the Lord
We're jamming, jamming
We're jamming right straight from JAH
Holy mount Zion
Holy mount Zion
JAH sitteth in Mount Zion
And rules all Creation
Yeah, we're jamming, jamming
I wanna jam it with you
We're jamming, jamming
I'm jammed, I hope you're jamming too
Jam's about my pride and truth I cannot hide
Too Keep you satisfied.
True love that now exist is the love I can't resist
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy
Oh, no, oh
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy
Ooh, ooh, ooh Yeah
All around in my hometown
They're tryin' to track me down, yeah
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of a deputy, for the life of a deputy
But I say, oh, now, now...
Oh, I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self defense
Ooh, ooh, ooh
I said, I shot the sheriff, Oh Lord
And they say it is a capital offense
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Hear this
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
For what I don't know
Ev'ry time I plant a seed
He said, "Kill it before it grows."
He said, "Kill them before they grow."
And so, oh, now, now,
Read it in the news
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self defense
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Where was the deputy?
I said I shot the sheriff but I swear it was in self defense
Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah!
All of a sudden I saw Sheriff John Brown
Aiming to shoot me down
So I shot, I shot, I shot him down
And I say, if I am guilty I will pay
I shot the sheriff, but I say, but I didn't shoot no deputy
Ooh, no, oh
I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot no deputy
Ooo, ooo, ooh
Reflexes had the better of me
And what is to be must be
Ev'ry day the bucket a-go-a well
One day the bottom a-go drop out
One day the bottom a-go drop out
I say, I, I,...
I, I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy, no
Easy skanking (skankin' it easy);
Easy skanking (skankin' it slow);
Easy skanking (skankin' it easy);
Easy skanking (skankin' it slow).
Excuse me while I light my spliff; (spliff)
Good God, I gotta take a lift: (lift)
From reality I just can't drift; (drift)
That's why I am staying with this riff. (riff)
Take it easy (easy skankin');
Lord, I take it easy! (easy skankin');
Take it easy (easy skankin');
Got to take it easy (easy skankin').
See: we're takin' it easy (ooh-wah-da da-da)
We taking it slow, (ooh-wah-da da-da)
Takin' it easy (easy);
Got to take it slow (slow-slow)
So take it easy (easy skankin' - da-da-da-da-da-da)
Wo-oh, take it easy (easy skankin')
Take it easy (easy skankin' - da-da-da-da-da-da)
Take it easy. (easy skankin')
Excuse me while I light my spliff; (spliff)
Oh, God, I gotta take a lift: (lift)
From reality I just can't drift; (drift)
That's why I am staying with this riff. (riff)
Take it easy (takin' it easy);
Got to take it easy (takin' it slow);
Take it easy (takin' it easy);
Skanky, take it easy (takin' it slow).
Tell you what:
herb for my wine; (ooh-wa-da-da-da)
Honey for my strong drink; (ooh-wa-da-da-da)
Herb for my wine; (ooh-wa-da-da-da)
Honey for my strong drink.
I shake it easy (takin' it easy);
Skanky, take it easy (skankin' it slow);
Take it (takin' it easy) easy;
Take it (skankin' it slow) easy;
Take it easy (takin' it easy);
Oh-oh-ooh! (skankin' it slow);
Little bit easier (takin' it easy);
Skanky, take it easy (skankin' it slow).
Them crazy, them crazy
We gonna chase those crazy
Baldheads out of town
Chase those crazy baldheads
Out of town
I and I build a cabin
I and I plant the corn
Didn't my people before me
Slave for this country
Now you look me with a scorn
Then you eat up all my corn
We gonna chase those crazy baldheads
Chase them crazy
Chase those crazy baldheads out of town
Build your penitentiary, we build your schools
Brainwash education to make us the fools
Hate is your reward for our love
Telling us of your God above
We gonna chase those crazy
Chase those crazy bunkheads
Chase those crazy baldheads out of town
Here comes the conman
Coming with his con plan
We won't take no bribe, we got stay alive
We gonna chase those crazy
Chase those crazy baldheads
Could you be loved and be loved?
Could you be loved and be loved?
Don't let them fool ya,
Or even try to school ya! Oh, no!
We've got a mind of our own,
So go to hell if what you're thinking is not right!
Love would never leave us alone,
A-yin the darkness there must come out to light.
Could you be loved and be loved?
Could you be loved, wo now! - and be loved?
(The road of life is rocky and you may stumble too,
So while you point your fingers someone else is judging you)
Love your brotherman!
(Could you be - could you be - could you be loved?
Could you be - could you be loved?
Could you be - could you be - could you be loved?
Could you be - could you be loved?)
Don't let them change ya, oh! -
Or even rearrange ya! Oh, no!
We've got a life to live.
They say: only - only -
only the fittest of the fittest shall survive -
Stay alive! Eh!
Could you be loved and be loved?
Could you be loved, wo now! - and be loved?
(You ain't gonna miss your water until your well runs dry;
No matter how you treat him, the man will never be satisfied.)
Say something! (Could you be - could you be - could you be loved?
Could you be - could you be loved?)
Say something! Say something!
(Could you be - could you be - could you be loved?)
Say something! (Could you be - could you be loved?)
Say something! Say something! (Say something!)
Say something! Say something! (Could you be loved?)
Say something! Say something! Reggae, reggae!
Say something! Rockers, rockers!
Say something! Reggae, reggae!
Say something! Rockers, rockers!
Say something! (Could you be loved?)
Say something! Uh!
Say something! Come on!
Say something! (Could you be - could you be - could you be loved?)
Say something! (Could you be - could you be loved?)
Say something! (Could you be - could you be - could you be loved?)
This morning I woke up in a curfew;
O God, I was a prisoner, too - yeah!
Could not recognize the faces standing over me;
They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality. Eh!
How many rivers do we have to cross,
Before we can talk to the boss? Eh!
All that we got, it seems we have lost;
We must have really paid the cost.
(That's why we gonna be)
Burnin' and a-lootin' tonight;
(Say we gonna burn and loot)
Burnin' and a-lootin' tonight;
(One more thing)
Burnin' all pollution tonight;
(Oh, yeah, yeah)
Burnin' all illusion tonight.
Oh, stop them!
Give me the food and let me grow;
Let the Roots Man take a blow.
All them drugs gonna make you slow now;
It's not the music of the ghetto. Eh!
Weepin' and a-wailin' tonight;
(Ooh, can't stop the tears!)
Weepin' and a-wailin' tonight;
(We've been suffering these long, long-a years)
Weepin' and a-wailin' tonight
(Will you say cheer?)
Weepin' and a-wailin' tonight
(...)
Give me the food and let me grow;
Let the roots man take a blow.
All them drugs gonna make you slow;
It's not the music of the ghetto.
We gonna be burnin' and a-lootin' tonight;
(To survive, yeah!)
Burnin' and a-lootin' tonight;
(Save your babies' lives)
Burning all pollution tonight;
(Pollution...)
Burning all illusion tonight
(Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord!)
Burning and a-looting tonight;
Burning and a-looting tonight;
Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta:
There was a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America,
Stolen from Africa, brought to America,
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.
I mean it, when I analyze the stench -
To me it makes a lot of sense:
How the Dreadlock Rasta was the Buffalo Soldier,
And he was taken from Africa, brought to America,
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta -
Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America.
If you know your history,
Then you would know where you coming from,
Then you wouldn't have to ask me,
Who the 'eck do I think I am.
I'm just a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America,
Stolen from Africa, brought to America,
Said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival;
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier win the war for America.
Dreadie, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Buffalo Soldier troddin' through the land, wo-ho-ooh!
Said he wanna ran, then you wanna hand,
Troddin' through the land, yea-hea, yea-ea.
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier win the war for America;
Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta,
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival;
Driven from the mainland to the heart of the Caribbean.
Singing, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Troddin' through San Juan in the arms of America;
Troddin' through Jamaica, a Buffalo Soldier# -
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival:
Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta.
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,
Ziya-po ya-ya, pa-pa-ya-pa!
Ti-da-lee, na po-po pu-du-loo!
Ste-na-peh na-na po po-ro po!
Africa unite:
'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon,
And we're going to our Father's land, yea-ea.
How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man, yea-eah! -
To see the unification of all Africans, yeah! -
As it's been said a'ready, let it be done, yeah!
We are the children of the Rastaman;
We are the children of the Iyaman.
So-o, Africa unite:
'Cause the children (Africa unite) wanna come home.
Africa unite:
'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon, yea,
And we're grooving to our Father's land, yea-ea.
How good and how pleasant it would be before God and man
To see the unification of all Rastaman, yeah.
As it's been said a'ready, let it be done!
I tell you who we are under the sun:
We are the children of the Rastaman;
We are the children of the Iyaman.
So-o: Africa unite,
Afri - Africa unite, yeah!
Unite for the benefit (Africa unite) for the benefit of your people!
Unite for it's later (Africa unite) than you think!
Unite for the benefit (Africa unite) of my children!
Unite for it's later (Africa uniting) than you think!
Africa awaits (Africa unite) its creators!
Africa awaiting (Africa uniting) its Creator!
Africa, you're my (Africa unite) forefather cornerstone!
Unite for the Africans (Africa uniting) abroad!
Madingwa le sourire des enfants dans la rue
Madingwa les coutumes et les bouts de tissus
Madingwa le soleil, les églises et les churs
Madingwa les femmes et les ventilateurs
Yaoundè Wa Ding
Yaoudé Wa Woo
Yaoundé Wa Wooe
Yaoundé Wa Yone
Yaoundé Wa Yia
Yaoundé Wa Dzem
Madingwa je te dis
Je suis un de tes fils
Africa les désirs et l'envie de la vie
Africa tu sais dire ce qui n'est pas écrit
Africa la transe, de l'amour à la danse
Africa la sagesse mais aussi la démence
Madingwa Africa
Madwinga Africa
Yaoundè Wa Ding
Yaoudé Wa Woo
Yaoundé Wa Wooe
Yaoundé Wa Yone
Yaoundé Wa Yia
Yaoundé Wa Dzem
Madingwa je te dis
Le ciment dans les plaines
Coule jusqu'aux montagnes
Poison dans les fontaines,
Dans nos campagnes
De cyclones en rafales
Notre histoire prend l'eau
Reste notre idéal
"Faire les beaux"
S'acheter de l'air en barre
Remplir la balance:
Quelques pétrodollars
Contre l'existence
De l'équateur aux pôles,
Ce poids sur nos épaules
De squatters éphémères...
Maintenant c'est plus drôle
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose
Un monde pour demain!
Aux arbres citoyens
Quelques baffes à prendre
La veille est pour demain
Des baffes à rendre
Faire tenir debout
Une armée de roseaux
Plus personne à genoux
Fait passer le mot
C'est vrai la terre est ronde
Mais qui viendra nous dire
Qu'elle l'est pour tout le monde...
Et les autres à venir...
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose
Un monde pour demain!
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on s'oppose
Un monde pour demain!
Plus le temps de savoir à qui la faute
De compter sur la chance ou les autres
Maintenant on se bat
Avec toi, moi j'y crois
Puisqu'il faut changer les choses
Aux arbres citoyens!
Il est grand temps qu'on propose