Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part series of posts about the different slang meanings of "Don't test me" and "Don't test" as found in two Dancehall records.
Part I showcases the 1988 record "Don't Test Me" by Shabba Ranks and Deborahe Glasgow.
Part II showcases Junior Tucker's 1990 record "Don't Test".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Shabba Ranks & Deborahe Glasgow for their performance of this song. Thanks also to the transcriber of these lyrics and thanks to the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.
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THE MEANING OF "DON'T TEST" IN THIS SONG
"Don't test me" in the Shabba Ranks & Deborahe Glasgow song means "Don't give me any tests (to evaluate whether I'm worthy of being with you)".
In contrast, "Don't test" in Junior Tucker's 1990 song is the warning "Don't try to challenge me (because if you do, you will face consequences.)
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SHOWCASE SOUND FILE: Shabba Ranks & Debroah Glasgow "DON'T TEST ME"
ultimatechorus Uploaded on Apr 21, 2008
-snip-
"Don't Test Me" is included in Shabba Ranks first album, "Rappin' With the Ladies".
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rappin'_with_the_Ladies
""Rappin' With The Ladies" is the first album by dancehall artist and DJ Shabba Ranks, released in 1988. The album contains collaborations with J.C. Lodge and Deborahe Glasgow.
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LYRICS: DON'T TEST ME
(as sung by Shabba Ranks & Deborahe Glasgow)
Intro: Shabba Ranks
Top list!!! Every woman a pass through a test
Like test mi pick up har plane pon runway
Don't try get away woman!!!
Chorus: Deborahe Glasgow
I can be as good as the best of them, and as bad as the worst
So don't test me, don't try and push me over, yeah
I can be as good as the best of them, and as bad as the worst
So don't test me, you better move over, yeah
Verse 1: Shabba Ranks
I will put yuh through a test but yuh betta pass it (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test mi nah go disrespect (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test it's not di worst among di best (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test girl yuh love a di greatest
I'm not lookin for di good I'm lookin for di best
Feelin I'm di best but a yuh mi request
It's yuh I request to until deatth
I couldn't never try to disrespect
Like, puff unda yuh eye and to tear off di chest
Beat yuh inna di east or beat yuh inna di west
Chorus: Deborahe Glasgow
I can be as good as the best of them, and as bad as the worst
So don't test me, don't try and push me over, yeah
I can be as good as the best of them, and as bad as the worst
So don't test me, you better move over, yeah
Verse 2: Shabba Ranks
(Oooh yeah!) It's not di best cho! yuh not di worst
(Oooh yeah!) I am di patient come you'll be di nurse
(Oooh yeah!) Just like di water come quench mi love thirst
And nuh matta what yuh do yuh could a neva get hurt
If a guy touch yuh, him haffi in di dirt
Mi just stomp out him back and him head top first
If mi put yuh to a test woman yuh betta pass it
If yuh put mi to a test yuh know mi muss pass it
Mi nah gi yuh water fi carry inna basket
Mi nah hang mi hat a weh mi caan reach it
How yuh love is so much it's not ova di limit
And nuh matta how mi get becau mi still waan it
Verse 3: Deborahe Glasgow (Shabba Ranks)
(See yah!) Not because I don't run off my mouth (See yah!)
And brag and show off (See yah!)
Because you don't see me about (See yah!) yuh check seh mi soft
Verse 4: Shabba Ranks
I will put yuh through a test but yuh betta pass it (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test mi nah go disrespect (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test it's not di worst among di best (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test girl yuh love a di greatest
Yuh a mi lover yuh a mi lover, see yah
Yuh love a Shabba likkle bit to talla wah, see yah!!
Yuh a mi lover yuh a mi lover
Cau mi nuh tek yuh easy, so like run ova
Mi nuh tek yuh like how until yuh drink water
Nah go love yuh like a bandstand and a preacher
Till di two a we go love up each odda
We just, stick togetha like a bird and featha
We just, stick togetha like a stamp to a letta
We nuh, matta di time nor di weatha
It could a di summa, or even winta
Chorus: Deborahe Glasgow
I can be as good as the best of them, and as bad as the worst
So don't test me, don't try and push me over, yeah
I can be as good as the best of them, and as bad as the worst
So don't test me, you better move over, yeah
Verse 5: Shabba Ranks
I will put yuh through a test but yuh betta pass it (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test mi nah go disrespect (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test it's not di worst among di best (Oooh yeah!)
Put yuh to a test girl yuh love a di greatest
Love mi as a man mi love yuh, as a woman
And if yuh, love Shabba Rankin then di love is so strong
Di reason why it's strong it's not a brand new second hand
Go and tell di world yuh is a true champion
Yuh is di champion for Shabba Ranks
Yuh could a be di worst or di best
Di Rankin him a go put yuh to di test
But mi a one man nah go put yuh to di test
Mi nah go black up yuh eye becau mi know seh dat is totally wrong....
From http://www.nitrolyrics.com/shabba-ranks_dont-test-me-lyrics.html
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EXPLANATORY NOTES
"So don't test me, don't try and push me over, yeah [don’t try to come up with excuses to get rid of me]"
"you better move over" = You better keep on steppin’ (keep going, leave_
"yuh like a bandstand and a preacher" =like a preacher loves a podium
Love mi as a man mi love yuh, as a woman ="Love me as your man and I’ll love you as my woman."
muss- must
tek=take
odda= other
Cho-darn, dammit, [annoyance or frustration]
nah = no, not
di = the
Dat = that
yuh =your
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