Two Examples of "Shine Eye Gal" ("Shine Eye Girl") with lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - October 16, 2019

This post showcases two Reggae versions of the Jamaican folk song "Shine Eye Gal" ("Shine Eye Girl"). The lyrics to the versions by Barrington Levy & by Black Uhuru are also included in this post. In addition, I've included my American English "translation" of the Jamaican patois lyrics that are found in the Black Uhuru version of this song.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "SHINE EYE GAL" ("SHINE EYE GIRL")
"Shine Eye Gal" ("Shine Eye Girl" is a Jamaican folk song. Another way of saying "shine eye gal (girl) is a girl with shiny eyes. In this song, the man laments that his shiny eyed woman is demanding and hard to please.

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FEATURED VIDEOS & LYRICS
(These videos are presented in chronological order based on the date of their YouTube posting, with the oldest dated videos posted first.)

Example #1 Barrington Levy - Shine eye girl



BonJamTelevisionUploaded on May 25, 2008
-snip-

LYRICS - SHINE EYE GAL
(As sung by Barrington Levy)

a shine eye girl,a shine eye girl
a shine eye girl,a shine eye girl
a shine eye girl,a shine eye girl
a shine eye girl,a shine eye girl

Shine eye girl is a trouble to a man
she want uptown, she want downtown
she want fancy car, she want superstar
an'a tell me whey you really want
I say to tell me, I say to tell me,
tell me whey you want

you want uptown, you want downtown
you want fancy car, you want super star
you want black silk, you want wedding gown
now whey you really want?
a for me real whey you want, you still want more
you want husband, you want boyfriend
you want security guard, you want whole yard
you want soldier man, you want badman
now whey you really want?
tell me whey you really want, now
tell me whey you really want, oh yeah

I say to tell me, I say to tell me,
tell me whey you want
a for you want Jah Thomas, you want ???
you want Dominic, you want Barrington
now whey you really want?
tell me whey you really want, gal
tell me whey you really want, oh yeah

Source: http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858756665/

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Example #2: Black Uhuru - Shine Eye Gal Live Essen 1981



gmizafac, Published on Oct 26, 2009
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LYRICS - SHINE EYE GIRL
(As sung by Black Uhuru)

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

I arise early looking some tea, rise early
Looking for the daughter but she noh on ya
I take a walk down the street
De gal deh pan corner weh push mouth lorna??
And her bed no spread

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

The next day she want I to take a route
Take her to the beach party
Feeling everything would be irie
Wrinkles on her face
Like the things Ive done she dont appreciate

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

She wants wants have noh when she really really getty
Rastafari Know she cant take it
She said natty turn off your light
Give me dreadlock whe you give me first night
So I say

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdcR0tdAnDE
Shine Eye Gal 12" Mix - Black Uhuru [posted by VanillaFresh76]

This source is no longer available. Here's a video of the Black Uhuru- Shine Eye Gal

Black Uhuru - Shine Eye Gal [12''Version]



RastaChaka, Oct 30, 2009
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Here's my interpretation of the verses of Black Uhuru's version of "Shine Eye Gal" into Standard American English:
Verse #1:
I arise early looking some tea, rise early
[I get up early and looked for some tea]
Looking for the daughter but she noh on ya
[I looked for that woman but she wasn't here]
I take a walk down the street
De gal deh pan corner weh push mouth lorna??
[I asked a woman on the corner where is pouty mouth Lorna]
And her bed no spread
[And her bed isn't even made]

Verse #2:
The next day she want I to take a route
[The next day she wants me to take her on a trip]
Take her to the beach party
Feeling everything would be irie
[I thought that everything would be really great]
Wrinkles on her face
[But she spent the time frowning]
Like the things Ive done she dont appreciate
[Like she doesn't appreciate all the things I've done for her]

Verse #3:
She wants wants have noh when she really really getty
[She's never satisfied with what I give her; She continually wants more even though she gets alot (from me)]
Rastafari Know she cant take it
[God knows she can't take it with her (when she dies)]
She said natty turn off your light
[She said "You fine looking (handsome) man", turn off the light (in the room)]
Give me dreadlock whe you give me first night
["Dreadlock, give me what you gave me the first night we first met]
-snip-
"Interpretation" by Azizi Powell. Additions & corrections are welcome.

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RELATED LINKS
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Beu1kbo2oK8for an example of "Shine Eye Girl" by Shabba Ranks with Mykal Rose.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Barrington Levy & thanks to Black Uhuru for their musical legacies. Thanks to the publishers of this sound file and video and thanks also to the transcribers of these songs.

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