Desmond Dekker & The Aces - "Israelites" (Official YouTube Audio for this 1968 hit Jamaican Song) Part II- YouTube Comments

Trojan Records Official,   May 9, 2014  #RockSteady #Reggae #Israelites

Official audio for Desmond Dekker & The Aces - "Israelites", released in 1968 on Trojan Records.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on Jamaican singer/composer Desmond Dekker's 1968 hit song* "Israelites".

This post showcases the YouTube official audio video of Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker's 1968 hit record "Israelites". This pancocojams post also presents some comments from the discussion thread for that video.   .     

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/desmond-dekker-aces-israelites-part-i.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a 2011 YouTube video of Desmond Dekker performing "Israelites".

That pancocojams post also presents information about Desmond Dekker as well as information about his hit song "Israelites".

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to Desmond Dekker for his musical legacy. Thanks to The Aces for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those who were associated with this song. Thanks to hare quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
*There continues to be considerable debate about whether Desmond Dekker's song "Israelites" is Ska, Reggae, or Rock Steady. Some of the commenters below state their position on this subject. There are also comments about this subject in Part I of this pancocojams series. 

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THE YOUTUBE EXAMPLE THAT IS GIVEN ABOVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxtfdH3-TQ4

These comments are given in relative chronological order except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. 

2018

1. DEZMO NYC
"da BOMB!!!"

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2019

2. Donald Morrow
"When I first heard this song on the radio, I thought I was hearing a very good foreign language record and lumped it together in my musical understanding with "Sukiyaki" and "Volare."  Boy was I wrong when further listening revealed English with a very heavy Jamaican accent.  I bought it when it first came out in the states and played it alone in my room a lot.  Little did I know, I was buying a record that would make history even now in light of the success of Bob Marley and the Wailers.  Little did I know that I would be playing it today as if I just bought it new way back then.  Little did I know that I would trace my love of Reggae music not to Bob Marley, but to Desmond Dekker and this masterpiece.  Tomorrow, I will play this again, unlock more of its secrets and enjoy every minute of it."

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Reply
3. David Smith, 2020
"+Donald Morrow  This was the first Reggae song I ever heard, when it came out. I did not realize it was from an entire genre of music. Years later, I saw Toots and the Maytals, the same week Bob's Rastaman Vibration came out. I was in Love, like I had not been since James Brown played in my 4th grade pre Integration all white elementary school auditorium, in Augusta Ga. Love at first hearing."

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4. Seb King, 2020
"+Donald Morrow I don't want to sound rude, but I have no idea how you didn't recognize that this was English straight away."

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5. Donald Morrow, 2020
"+Seb King Quite simply, I was twelve years old at the time and knew very few Jamaicans."

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6. Seb King, 2020
"@Donald Morrow Fair enough then. Again, sorry if it came off as rude."

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7. alkh3myst, 2020
"+Donald Morrow This was also the first reggae song I ever heard. My aunts and uncles were holding out on me. I heard this record on WABC-AM in New York, and almost had a meltdown."

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8. Jorge Salazar
"Amazing song! Dekker introduced the ska and reggae music to UK, even before that Bob Marley."

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9. pat quecke
"It was perfect when they played this song at the end of the movie drugstore cowboy."

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10. Loobyloo
"So many memories of living in London! I was 13 when this came out and they would blast it at the fairgrounds in Clapton. Nostalgic as I age."

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2020

11, Jd Ck
"I loved this song when it came out. I was 10, living next to the sea and this tune seemed to be everywhere.......the tourists always had radios with them on the beach in those days (UK)"

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12, dmarcus1260
"I loved watching the cheerleaders practice their drill to the beat of this song in high school.  It was so cool!!"

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13. WedgePee
"The 269th UK #1.

Before Bob Marley was widely known in the UK, this number became the first reggae song to reach the chart summit. Goodness-knows-how-many years later, it's still better than the imitation "music" that dominates today's charts, and a lasting classic."

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14. Steve Armstrong
"Actually, "Israelites" is in the ska genre, which was a precursor to reggae."

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15. Casey Cahill
"It really is brilliant.  I heard it for the first time during a movie "Drugstore Cowboy."  It's so unique, and stays in your head!  Great, great song from extraordinary people - Jamaicans."

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16. Edwin kiarie
"The flash Season 2 Episode 19 brought me here!  :P"

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17. Dan Renwick
"Totally Righteous.

The original eh.

Huge hit here in Toronto, way back in the day. Not until the 70's did we get more."

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18. Alan Fox
"I heard it on an episode of the flash right at the beginning tonight"

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19. william Cooper
"Anyone else come here from the book 'Skinheads'?"

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2021

20, Jatsi
"Such a wonderful song!

My first contact with ska was the Specials' "Ghost Town" and after hearing that, I was hooked. :)

I think this song is both ska and reggae and it works very well.

Thank you, mr. Dekker! :)"

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21. Baflar
"Unfortunately, this is NOT the sound of the original single that famously reached No.1 in the UK charts.  The original was on the Pyramid label [PYR 6058 A]: the version here appears to be the original take but with an added echo, which spoils the 'close' intensity of Desmond Dekker's voice.  It seems that rights to the song were acquired by Trojan at some point."

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22. Mikey BBB
"Possibly one of the best intros to a song ever, pleasingly the rest of it is ace. The best tune to wake up to"

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23. phil giles
"1st real reggae song on the UK main stream radio. still magic"

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2022

24. PetertheChanter
"Thinking about the great Windrush generation."

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25. Chris Hind
"Big tuune!"

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26. skiny81
"A skins anthems ! D. Dekkers is "the rude boy ska" ✊"

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27. Dan Bernstein
"This song perfectly illustrates the transformation of ska into reggae. And still fresh after 49! years"

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28. chuckemeade, 2024
"This is actually a Rocksteady tune Reggae came after Rocksteady.  The backing band is Lyn Taitt and The Jets."

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29. And Rob
"It was so cool for the time, there was nothing on the airways like it at the time. Super cool then, and now! 😍"

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2023

30. Millie Lillyton
"Hello fellow Jamaicans"

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31. Kyle Butler
"Marc (TV series) brought me here!"

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32. smart451cab
"This was one of the first 45s I bought.  Might have been THE first, can't say for certain though.  I'd have been 14-years old and was buying my first music with my own money.  I don't remember what 45s cost back then, but I made my spending money mainly from collecting & selling deposit soda bottles.  Back then, in my town, about the only place to buy records was at Sears.

Lyrics and interpretation can be found here:

https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858619305/ "

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33. john e Lawler
"arguably the song that put reggae on the international map"

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34. TOM WAGNER
"Heard this song as a 6 year old  in the late 60s and it stuck in my mind and then heard it again on a BBC news cast about the history of Trojan record company...glad I found it!"

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2024

35. JOHN ODEH
"Lovely song; it took me right back to the days of my childhood when my mom and her brothers used to play sweet reggae records with songs like Israelites. I practically grew up on these kind of songs! Love em to pieces I did back then, and still do."

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36. Innoje Anas
"Conscious vibe. Jah bless the artiste"

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37. Herb Burnswell
"Loved this song for years. Jumped straight out of my seat when it started bumping on episode 3 of Watchmen!"

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38. John Desalvo
"This is SKA..in the transitional phase to Rocksteady. While Mento was a "main ingredient" mixed in with American Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and a touch of early rock and Roll. Mento in its PURE Calypso form was considered passe at this point...Tourist area bars exceptions."

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39. Marsh Duncanson
"I would like to see the official correct lyrics. I have seen various inconsistent versions."

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40. Marsh Duncanson
"I'd also like to know what the devil they mean!"

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41. Annmarie busu
"Marsh Duncanson it’s posted in various comments pretty correctly. He wakes up every morning working hard to feed himself, woman and kids. The stress of the poor Israelite ie black people. He talks about not wanting to end up like Bonnie and Clyde ( I think he wants a honest living and not hunted down and killed) and how poor he is and his relationship struggles. 😄"

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42. Claudia Allen
"Watchmen thanks for using my country song 🇯🇲🥰"

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43. Joao LEAL JR
"Also from Watchmen, but thia song remembers me the black jews rescue from Uganda by israeli special forces"

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44. ana paula Cameron
"I heard this melody in a UK margarine ad in the 90s and was immediately hooked, ( Oh, oh, oh, Vitalite) but it took me ages to find out the name of the song so I could go to Tower Records and get a copy."

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45. gil.gosseyn
"The first reggae song I ever heard, and STILL one of the best.  I first heard it when I was 16, in late '68 or early '69, on Atlanta's first Progressive radio station, WPLO-FM."

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46. Harry S. Anchan
"1969 all over again! I LOVE it! Released on June 3, 1969 reaching #9 on June 28."

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47. @colingehrman7078
"Still listening at 66 danced to this when a was 11 😊 great days  😅😅"

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48, @ru9204
"Oooh ohhh my ears are alight! What a great song 👌"

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49. @nakisharogers4555
"Look how some of our WOKE people was giving us clues before we were Born!!!"

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50. @philipdennis-rh7uj
"The struggle is real"

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51. @christine899
"I remember this song was used in an advert for a sunflower margarin, way back , always loved this song so cheerful and made you want to dance."

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52. @irwinashby-im9ft
"Ya all remember this.  London town. Watch dem white girls n boys dance. Lawwdd  joyous me tell ya. Memories by the score."

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53. @SotR59
"I've loved this song since it came out when I was a little kid. Never had any idea what he was saying and "Israelites" never even crossed my mind. I'm sure I thought something over the years but it's been a long time since I heard it till just now and as soon as I saw the title whatever I might have thought went out of my memory."

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54. @algiemcneal2014
"I like this song, the music is so catchy 😊"

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55. @markdurrant4174
"A fantastic song,reminds me of the days of working in Brixton when you heard old school ska,and this was a absolute classic 👌"

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56. @sandragriffiths9692
"This reminds me f all night dancing at The E Partido in Lewisham London in the mid 60's. What a time to alive!"

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57. @2tone753
"German from Berlin, 62 Years old, non-racist Skinhead since 1979. This is our music, not the plagiarism."

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58. @danilaird
"Spirit of 69 SKinheads! This is our music!!! Skins unite worldwide! Rudeboys and Skins!! Oi! Rocksteady, 2 Tone, Oi! music"

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59. @paulkenneally789
"Desmond Dekker did more improve race relations in Britain than anyone at the time or any of today’s shabby politicians."

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60. @lesleycarney8868
"I can't drive anywhere without my Trojan discs playing here in Southern Spain. The best thing about being a teenager in the 70's in the UK was the music."

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61.@delroyday8925
"I find this song to be as fascinating as when it was released in 1968. I was ten years old then, and I'm still listening to it, to this day. October 2, 2023.❤"

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62. @JohnWatson-ey4bh
"This song was played a great deal out of an AM station out of Charleston SC. I would get excited when my parents would drive south towards the signal. Knew I would hear this."

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63. @delroyday8925
"I am still listening to this classic song ❤"

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64. @jonathanvernot762
"Ska-lite

Is a de-lite"

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65.@TheSleightDoctor

2 months ago

This song had a profound effect on me as a teenager. It's message still stands today.

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66.@lindacarroll-so6sr

2 months ago

2024 here! First ska song I ever heard at age five! Fast forward to the English Beat, The Selector,  Madness, The Specials! That beat never gets old. 😀🎵

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67. @patriciasmith1128

2 months ago

Me too, 2024. Ska was an experience of a naive little white girl in Toronto, Canada, part of the British Commonwealth. in the 1960s. More Ska! More Reggae! More Rock Steady!

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68.@lindacarroll-so6sr
"@patriciasmith1128  Ska was great for another little white girl (me!) growing up in a small town in northeast USA. When the DJ started playing all the ska songs, you couldn't get my friends or me off the dance floor. Sometimes lasted for an hour! Great times and memories. Glad you had fun,too! Rankin full stop goes on!"

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69.@joancayenne9293
"I had loved it, but didn't  understand what it was all about, when it was banned I wondered why until between 2017/2018 I learnt that the negroes were the Israelites.   They didn't want us to know."

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70. @stephenhess9680
"Fun song from my 13th year. Used to sing it with my boyhood buds. Of course we got most of the words wrong 😂"

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71.@ameliyaholiviyah6189
"😮Just realised this day what this song is about. They made it an advert for a drink. un-learn and re-learn. ❤"

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72.@rudymartinez6242
"The first time I heard this was on Bob McCallister’s WONDERAMA show. My older cousins called LA radio stations to play it and were told, “Oh, thats an old song, it never charted”, but I guess a lot more Wonderama fans called in because within a month, it was a big hit, a few years after it was released. I’m going to have the DJ play this on our 45th Wedding Anniversary. Great song!!!!"

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73.@lawrencenjawe9875
"This all-time Reggae Classic gave me the shivers everytime I spun the record on my turntable back in the days...No doubt one of the defining tracks in the development of Jamaican music as much as the Wailers' Get up Stand Up and the Abyssinians' Satta Massagana.."

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74.@scottburton9701
"The first reggae song to crack the U.S.charts-Reached the top 10 in the spring of 1969."

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75. @jesavino1255
"Always loved this song."

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76. @RasJabal
"Thank you for the education family"

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77. @JohnGreen-y3w
"Yes!  Reached #9 on the Billboard Top 40 and was the first reggae song to get lots of airplay on mainstream pop radio here in the States"

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78. @erisdiscordia5429
"This isn't reggae though.  This is ska.  This is good ska.  This is reggae's daddy."

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79.@stevengrundy4720
"2024 and eternal  RASTAFERI❤"

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80. @derekstynes9631
"Beloved Anthem of the Rude Boys and Real Skinheads everywhere !"

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This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Desmond Dekker & The Aces - "Israelites" (Part I - 1968 hit Jamaican Record: Video, Information, & lyrics)

shenery, February 21, 2011

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on Jamaican singer/composer Desmond Dekker's 1968 hit song* "Israelites".

This post showcases a 2011 YouTube video of Desmond Dekker performing "Israelites".

This pancocojams post also presents information about Desmond Dekker as well as information about his hit song "Israelites".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/11/desmond-dekker-aces-israelites-official.html for Part II of this pancocojam series. That post showcases the YouTube official audio video of Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker's 1968 hit record "Israelites". That post also presents some comments from the discussion thread for that video.    

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to Desmond Dekker for his musical legacy. Thanks to The Aces for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those who were associated with this song. Thanks to hare quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
*There continues to be considerable debate about whether Desmond Dekker's song "Israelites" is Ska, Reggae, or Rock Steady. Read "Information About Desmond Dekker's Israelite Song" below for some comments about that subject. Additional comments are found in Part II of this pancocojams series.

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INFORMATION ABOUT DESMOND DEKKER
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Dekker
"Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 – 25 May 2006)[1] was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing group the Aces (consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the earliest international reggae hits with "Israelites" (1968). Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), "It Mek" (1969) and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (1970).

Early life

Desmond Adolphus Dacres was born in Saint Andrew Parish (Greater Kingston), Jamaica, on 16 July 1941. Dekker spent his formative years in Kingston. From a young age he regularly attended the local church with his grandmother and aunt. This early religious upbringing, as well as Dekker's enjoyment of singing hymns, led to a lifelong religious commitment. Following his mother's death, he moved to the parish of St. Mary and later to St. Thomas.[2] While at St. Thomas, Dekker embarked on an apprenticeship as a tailor before returning to Kingston, where he became a welder. His workplace singing had drawn the attention of his co-workers, who encouraged him to pursue a career in music.[3]

In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle), though neither audition was successful. The unsigned vocalist then auditioned for Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and was awarded his first recording contract.[3]

Career

Despite achieving a record deal, it was two years before Dekker saw his first record released. Meanwhile, Dekker spotted the talent of Bob Marley, a fellow welder, and brought the youth to Kong's attention. In 1962 "Judge Not" and "One Cup Of Coffee" became the first recorded efforts of Marley, who retained gratitude, respect and admiration for Dekker for the rest of his life. Eventually in 1963 Kong chose "Honour Your Mother and Father" (written by Dekker and the song that Dekker had sung in his Kong audition two years earlier), which became a Jamaican hit and established Dekker's musical career. This was followed by the release of the tracks "Sinners, Prepare"[4] and "Labour for Learning". It was during this period that Desmond Dacres adopted the stage-name of Desmond Dekker. His fourth hit, "King of Ska" (backing vocals by The Cherrypies, also known as the Maytals), made him into one of the island's biggest stars. Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry Howard, as his permanent backing vocalists to perform with him under the name Desmond Dekker and the Aces.[3]

The new group recorded a number of Jamaican hits, including "Parents", "Get Up Edina", "This Woman" and "Mount Zion". The themes of Dekker's songs during the first four years of his career dealt with the moral, cultural and social issues of mainstream Jamaican culture: respect for one's parents ("Honour Your Mother and Father"), religious morality ("Sinners, Prepare") and education ("Labour for Learning"). In 1967 he appeared on Derrick Morgan's "Tougher Than Tough", which helped begin a trend of popular songs commenting on the rude boy subculture which was rooted in Jamaican ghetto life where opportunities for advancement were limited and life was economically difficult. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular rude boy songs, which reflected the violence and social problems associated with ghetto life, though he did introduce lyrics that resonated with the rude boys, starting with one of his best-known songs, "007 (Shanty Town)". The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon in Jamaica and also became a favourite dance track for the young working-class men and women of the United Kingdom's mod scene.[5] "007 (Shanty Town)" was a top 15 hit in the UK and his UK concerts were attended by a large following of mods wherever he played.[3]

Dekker continued to release rude boy songs such as "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul", as well as mainstream cultural songs like "It's a Shame", "Wise Man", "Hey Grandma", "Unity", "If It Pays", "Mother's Young Girl", "Sabotage" and "Pretty Africa".[6] Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).[3]

In 1968 Dekker's "Israelites" was released, eventually topping the UK Singles Chart in April 1969 and peaking in the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 1969. Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have a hit record in the US with Jamaican-style music. Ironically although he went to worldwide fame his former welding colleague Marley never had a UK number one. That same year saw the release of "Beautiful and Dangerous", "Writing on the Wall", "Music Like Dirt (Intensified '68)" (which won the 1968 Jamaica Independence Festival Song Contest), "Bongo Girl" and "Shing a Ling".[3] 1969 saw the release of "It Mek", which became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK.[7] Dekker also released "Problems" and "Pickney Gal", both of which were popular in Jamaica, although only "Pickney Gal" managed to chart in the UK top 50.[3]

1970s

In 1970 Dekker released "You Can Get It If You Really Want", written by Jimmy Cliff, which reached No. 2 in the UK charts. Dekker was initially reluctant to record the track but was eventually persuaded to do so by Leslie Kong.[3] Dekker's version uses the same backing track as Cliff's original. Kong, whose music production skills had been a crucial part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971, affecting the careers of both artists for a short period of time.[3] In 1972 the rude boy film The Harder They Come was released and Dekker's "007 (Shanty Town)" was featured on the soundtrack along with Cliff's version of "You Can Get It If You Really Want", as well as other Jamaican artists' hits, giving reggae more international exposure and preparing the way for Bob Marley.

In 1975 "Israelites" was re-released and became a UK top 10 hit for a second time. Dekker had also begun working on new material with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. In 1975 this collaboration resulted in the release of "Sing a Little Song", which charted in the UK top twenty; this was to be his last UK hit.[7]"...

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INFORMATION ABOUT DESMOND DEKKER'S SONG "ISRAELITES"

Online Source #1
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites_(song)
" "Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & the Aces,[2] reaching the top of the charts in numerous countries in 1969. Sung in Jamaican Patois, some of the song's lyrics were not readily understood by many British and American listeners at the time of its release.[3] Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at #9).[4] It combined the Rastafarian religion with rude boy concerns,[5] to make what has been described by Allmusic as a "timeless masterpiece that knew no boundaries".[6]

Song Origin and lyrics

Originally issued in Jamaica as "Poor Me Israelites",[7] it remains the best known Jamaican reggae hit to reach the United States Hot 100's top 10,[5] and was written almost two years after Dekker first made his mark with the rude boy song "007 (Shanty Town)".[2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. I heard a couple arguing about money. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' By the time I got home, it was complete."[8] The title has been the source of speculation,[9] but most settle on the Rastafarian Movement's association with the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In the 1960s, Jamaican Rastafarians were largely marginalized as "cultish" and ostracized from the larger society, including by the more conservative Christian church in Kingston. Destitute ("slaving for bread") and unkempt ("Shirt dem a-tear up, trousers a-gone"), some Rastafarians were tempted to a life of crime ("I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde"). The song is a lament of this condition.

Musical structure

The vocal melody is syncopated and centred on the tone of B flat. The chords of the guitar accompaniment are played on the offbeat and move through the tonic chord [B flat], the subdominant [E flat], the dominant [F], and the occasional [D flat],[5] viz, [B flat] - [E flat] - [F] - [B flat] - [D flat]. It was one of the first reggae songs to become an international hit, despite Dekker's strong Jamaican accent which made his lyrics difficult for many listeners to understand outside of Jamaica.[10]

Impact

Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its copyright as 1969.[11] In June 1969, the record reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Israelites" hit #1 in the United Kingdom,[12] the Netherlands, Jamaica and West Germany.

[...]

Appearance in other media

The song has appeared in numerous movies and television programs,[14] including the soundtracks of the 1989 American film Drugstore Cowboy and the 2010 British film Made in Dagenham.

On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at #2.[15]

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Online Source #2
From https://genius.com/Desmond-dekker-israelites-lyrics
"Actually performed by Desmond Decker and the Aces, it was the first Reggae No. 1 in the UK and the second to make the top 10 in the US.

Musically, “Israelites” is all about Jamacian syncopation. A guitar and organ provide opening chords and counterpoints, but it’s the Jamaican reggae rhythm expressed by that jittery drummer, combined with those terrific vocals that defines the song.

The song is rooted in the ideas of the Rastafarian religion, which borrows the idea of the twelve Tribes from Judaism: the “Israelites”. Rastafarians see Ethipoia as the home of the Falasha or Beta Israel; the home of the “Lost Tribes” of Israel, and they see themselves as their descendants. This loosely organized religion became popular in the 1960s among poor Jamaicans."

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Online Source #3
From Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Israelites (Official Lyrics Video), published by Trojan Records Official, May 7, 2019
"Between 1967 and 1975, Desmond Dekker, Jamaica’s first recording superstar, graced the UK pop charts on no less than 7 occasions.

His ground-breaking hit, ‘Israelites’, was the first Jamaican-produced song to top the UK chart in April 1969.

Its popularity led to a reggae explosion that took the genre into the mainstream and opened the way for the likes of Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Toots & The Maytals to follow.

Consequently, despite his tragic death over decade ago this year, he remains one of a handful of reggae artists who are readily identified with the genre.

And now, over half a century since 'Israelites' forever changed the sound of popular music, it is celebrated once more with a brand new lyrics video."...

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Online Source #4
From https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/oe4gr2/desmond_dekker_the_aces_israelites_classic_reggae/ "Desmond Dekker & The Aces "Israelites (Classic Reggae)

[Numbers added for referencing purposes only.]

1. wifespissed, 2021
"And the debate continues. Is this reggae, or is this ska?"

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2. SavageHenry592, 2021
“Rocksteady”

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3. [deleted], 2021
“Ska I think, it's not about tempo, a drummer friend told me ska is a straight beat and reggae has a swing to it”

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 4. radio reddit, 2021
"I’d say this defo swings."

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5. [deleted], 2021
"I listened again and I agree, it does"

**
6. eggsssssssss, 2021
"I usually see this song referred to as reggae. The band made music variously labeled ska, rocksteady, and reggae, and there’s a TON of overlap between genres in 20th century Jamaican pop music. So it’s not really all that important.

For that matter, when I see “Trojan Records” the first genre I think of is actually dub. Seriously, so many great strains of music came out of jamaica in the 1960s & ‘70s."

**
7. superfleh, 2021
"This isn't raggae it is 1st wave ska"

****
LYRICS - ISRAELITES

(Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong)

[Verse 1]

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir

So that every mouth can be fed

Poor, poor me, Israelites (Ah-ah)

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir

So that every mouth can be fed

Poor, poor me, Israelites, sir

 

[Verse 2]

My wife and my kids, they pack up and a-leave me

Darling, she said, "I was yours to receive"

Poor, poor me, Israelites, hey

Shirt, them a-tear up, trousers are gone

I don't want to end up like Bonnie and—

(Poor) Bonnie and Clyde, poor me, Israelites, hey

 

[Verse 3]

After a storm, there must be a calm

They catch me in the farm

You sound your alarm

Poor, poor me, Israelites, hey

Source: https://genius.com/Desmond-dekker-israelites-lyrics

****
This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Reggie Stepper- "Kimbo King" What Are The Lyrics For This 1990 Jamaican Dancehall Song?

ladydontekno, Feb 22, 2009

Another dancehall classic!

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - February 24, 2026 

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube sound file of the 1990 Jamaican Dancehall record "Kimbo King" by Reggie Stepper. That title is also written as "Kim-Bo King".

This post also includes my attempt to transcribe the words for Reggie Stepper's song "Kimbo King". Please add your additions and corrections to this draft transcription.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Reggie Stepper for his musical legacy. Thanks to the publisher of this sound file. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. 

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE: Updated Feb.24, 2026
I woke up this morning with this song in my head. I thought the title was "Original King And Queen", but thanks to Google Search, I found this song's actual title.

Although there are several sound files of "Kimbo King" on YouTube and YouTube showcases some other songs by Reggie Stepper, the only YouTube videos (not sound files) that I found of of Reggie Stepper singing "Kimbo King" or any other examples of his songs are two 2025 YouTube video shorts
- https://youtube.com/shorts/YsKHZxBAqY0?si=I90cjbx7VvU3rfz  

  https://youtube.com/shorts/ojpv9C7OX0Y?si=nERuGarNye3KTcsy 

and a 2025 YouTube video of Reggie Stepper singing a number of his songs, including "Kimbo King"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch9Rp6Ehila "Reggie Stepper | Episode | Yardstyle Live Presents ‪@MusicPhillreggaeshow"., published by YardstyleLiveshow, Premiered Jul 9, 2025 (7:00 – 8:49 of that video.) 

****
As of Feb. 24, 2026 I still haven't found any online  lyrics for Reggie Stepper's "Kimbo King" besides my partial attempted transcription. 

The only other lyrics that I found online for Reggie Stepper's song "Kimbo King" are WRONG. 

Although attributed to Reggie Stepper, the lyrics and song summary that are found on https://sonichits.com/video/Reggie_Stepper/Kimbo_King and on at least one other website are in a non-English language and "explores the theme of yearning for a lost love. The song is filled with emotions of longing and regret as the protagonist ruminates over the relationship that has slipped away.". That is definitely NOT the lyrics to and a summary for Reggie Stepper's "Kimbo King" dancehall classic.

The original 2023 version of this pancocojams post presented my speculation that Reggie Stepper's "Kimbo King" is about men and women who spend their time hanging out in the "hood", watching the sights, hustling, enjoying themselves, and instigating trouble. I think that may still be correct.

But my guess was that "kimbo king" and "kimbo queen" have the same meaning as "rude boys" or maybe "kimbo kings"/"kimbo queens" are what rude boys and rude girls are called when they are no longer teenagers. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rude_boy for a definition of the Jamaican term "rude boy."

I believe that my guess about that is WRONG.

Instead, if I had listened to the song more closely-regardless to how difficult that is for my ears that aren't familiar to Jamaican pronunciation of English, I would have realized that Reggie Stepper uses the terms "kimbo king" and "kimbo queens" as referents for lazy people (unproductive people) who hang around the streets doing nothing and contributing nothing positive to their community.

A number of comments in the discussion thread for the video that is embedded above mention that this song is about lazy people.

Also, thanks to Anonymous August 21, 2024 at 9:52 AM for his comment added to this post's discussion thread:
"No he’s telling a story about lazy people.

He said it in the intro…"
-end of quote-

****
"Original" in the lyrics "Original kimbo king" means "authentic" (i.e. real), not "first".
-snip-

I should also mention that I retained my comments about the meanings of 'akimbo" that I shared based on my trying to suss out the meaning of the word "kimbo" in this Jamaican dancehall song. I still think that the word "akimbo" is the source of the term "kimbo" in this dancehall song, mostly because the two words are spelled and sound so much alike. But also I'm leaning toward the idea that these two words are connected in this song because of two main online examples:

-the way the host of the 2025 YouTube video showcasing Reggie Stepper singing some of his hits- including "Kimbo King"- kept putting his hands on his hips in an akimbo stance while he was dancing when Reggie Stepper was singing "Kimbo King". Reggie also put one hand on his hip at one point while he was singing this song.  [That link and that time stamp are given above).

and

-the fact that Reggie Stepper (or some other Black man) is shown with one hand on his hip in the record cover that is used for the Stepper's song "Kimbo King" [1992 release in France- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1VZflraXUU 

I wonder if doing the akimbo (both hands on the hips with the elbows pointed outward) was a regular element of the dance that was done for the "Kimbo King" song.

If so, what did that akimbo stance mean? Did it just reflect the singer's annoyance with the lazy people who were hanging around the street, or did the use of "kimbo" describes how the lazy men and lazy women are seated.

**** 

This is the end of this Feb. 24, 2026  update for this post. This post now returns to the original Pancocojams Editor's Note.

Several YouTube discussion threads about Reggie Stepper's "Kimbo King" include comments which describe that song as a dancehall classic. I definitely agree. As such, the real, complete lyrics for this song and a verified accurate description of that song deserve to be online.

Please share your additions and corrections of my attempted transcription of this song and my definition of "kimbo king"/"kimbo queen".

****
LYRICS - KIMBO KING (draft transcription)* 
(by Reggie Stepper)

 […]

I wanna get this song out to all the people around the world
I fire this one to all the people around the world

Boom!
Original kimbo king uuuuhhhhhh
 Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
Original kimbo king uuuuhhhhhh
Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
They wanna laze around sittin uuhhhh
they want to do nothing uuuhhh
they’re fond of money making uuuhhh
And fond of kimbo watchin uuuhhh
and they pon de corner ah pure posing. uuuhhh.
And in the mix of every ting uuuhhh
 Nuff people business watching  uuuhhh

[…]

They live in Brooklyn
And they make they’re livin
We call dem Kimbo King!!!

[…]

 Kimbo Kimbo what fon a kimbo
Tell you what work and I tell you who I am

[…]

They full of passion
One time gone we call em lazy man
One time gone we call em lazy woman
But now days we have a different passion
Original kimbo king uuuuhhh
Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
Original kimbo king uuuuhhhhhh,
Kimbo queen and a king uuuuhhhh
He went to work last Saturday
I let him know that this is Thursday

[...]
-snip-
*This is my draft transcription of this song.

Thanks in advance to all those who help document the lyrics for this dancehall classic by adding those words to this pancocojams comment section below and/or to the YouTube discussion threads for this song.
   
****
SELECTED DISCUSSION THREAD COMMENTS 
I listened to sound files of this song multiple times to arrive at my attempted partial transcription of Reggie Stepper's 1990 Dancehall classic "Kimbo King". However, since I'm not Jamaican and don't know any Jamaicans or anyone familiar with Jamaican Patois, I admit that I probably will never get all the words to this song without some help. 

Here are some comments from the  YouTube discussion thread for the sound file that is embedded in this pancocojams post. These comments are either lines from that song or explanations about what that song is about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zeiki-obkvM 

1.@evertzinho, 2013
"Pon de corner ah pure posing.. ... Nuff people business watching... always in ah mix-up an' ting.  We call dem Kimbo King!!!"

**
2.  @miriamstuart7343, 2014
"Original Kimbo King, Kimbo Queen and a king wow"

**
3. @tyestbarnhart2115, 2016
"Dem bout sum damn lazy ting!! lmfao"

**
4.  @TheV6MaSTer, 2017
"original kimbo king uuuuhhhhhh, drum pan sound uuuuhhhhh"
-snip-
"Drum Pan" is another song by Reggie Stepper that has this same Stalag riddim and includes that "uuuuhhh" refrain.

**
5. @sircedricgardner7757, 2017
"One time gone that a lazy mon"

**
6. @sircedricgardner7757, 2018
"Eye hustle and beg for money and don’t want to grow or add to society"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Cover Of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" Song In The Official Teaser For The "Black Panther-Wakanda Forever" Movie

Marvel Entertainment, July 23, 2022
-snip-
total # of views as of July 28, 2022 at 5:54 PM ET= 29,195,872
**** Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of the official teaser for the American movie Black Panther- Wakanda Forever that includes a mashup* of Nigerian Afrobeats singer Tems singing Bob Marley's now iconic 1974 Reggae song "No Woman No Cry" and a clip of African American Hip Hop artist Kendrick Lamar's 2015 song "Alright". This pancocojams post also showcases a YouTube sound file of Tems' cover of "No Woman No Cry" . In addition, some complimentary comments and some critical YouTube discussion thread comments about that sound file and that official Black Panther- Wakanda Forever teaser's mashup of "No Woman No Cry" are also included in this pancocojams post. Brief biographical information about Bob Marley, Tems, and Kendrick Lamar are included in this post. Links to a YouTube video of Bob Marley singing "No Woman No Cry" and a YouTube video of Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" are also included in this post. The content of this post is presented for cultural and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to Bob Marley, Kendrick Lamar, Tems, and all those who are associated with these songs and the Black Panther- Wakanda Forever movie. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Rest in power Bob Marley and Chadwick Boseman. -snip-

* https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mash-up
"Definition of mash-up

: something created by combining elements from two or more sources: such as

a: a piece of music created by digitally overlaying an instrumental track with a vocal track from a different recording"...
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Tems - No Woman No Cry (From "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Prologue")

MarvelMusicVEVO, Jul 25, 2022  Wakanda Forever Prologue 
-snip-
total # of views as of July 28, 2022 at 5:56 PM ET= 1,008,925

****
INFORMATION ABOUT BOB MARLEY & LINK TO A  YOUTUBE VIDEO OF BOB MARLEY PEFORMING "NO WOMAN NO CRY"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley
"Robert Nesta Marley OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style."...
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ6VezKMoRY for the YouTube video entitled  Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry (Live At The Rainbow 4th June 1977)

****
INFORMATION ABOUT TEMS
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tems_(singer)
"Temilade Openiyi (born 11 June 1995), known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer.[1][2] She rose to prominence after she was featured on Wizkid's 2020 single, "Essence", which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 after the release of a remixed version with an additional feature from Justin Bieber, and earned her a Grammy Award nomination.[3]

[…]

Tems covered Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" for the Marvel movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, released in July 2022[5] …

**** INFORMATION ABOUT KENDRICK LAMAR AND LINK TO A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF "ALRIGHT" From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar
"Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is often cited as one of the most influential rappers of his generation. Aside from his solo career, he is also a member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy alongside his former Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) labelmates Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Schoolboy Q. […] His third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), which incorporated elements of funk, soul, jazz, and spoken word, predominantly centred around the Black-American experience.[3] It became his first number-one album on the US Billboard 200 and was an enormous critical success -snip- Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY for Kendrick Lamar - Alright (Official Music Video)
-snip-
WARNING- That video includes profanity and what is commonly known as "the n word".

**** SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT TEMS'S COVRE OF "NO WOMAN NO CRY" MASHUP/SONG IN BLACK PANTHER- WAKANDA FOREVER All of these comments are presented in relative chronological order with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. Excerpt #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E2RNfQQImY This is the YouTube video that is given as Showcase video #1 in this post. All of these comments are from July 23, 2022 to July 28, 2022.

1. TherealActivist TaskMiNahFiPractice "As a Jamaican, I love the song choice... especially therendition of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry.." ** 2. Tadhg Holmes "Excellent song choice! A reminder of how life goes on despite a sorrowful loss. RIP Chadwick Boseman.

** 3. Joseph Springfield "They picked the two best songs to describe the feels of what is going on. Having them merge together makes this one of the best trailers I’ve ever seen. ** 4. Andrea Amorosi "Is that TEMS singing first? Transitioning into Kendrick?" ** Reply 5. Andrea Amorosi "It is. Just checked twitter" ** Reply 6. Kachisicho Gbanite "Tems voice is amazing" ** Reply 7. D. Mitchell "Facts 🔥🔥 the song

selection alone is enough to make this trailer truly stand out"

** 8. Redd X "I love that when Kendrick said ,,and when i wake up” and we see at first moment new Panther when actually in first movie to become Black Panther someone has to wake up. That trailer is so f—kin* good" -snip- *This word is fully spelled out in this comment. ** 9. Moose
"That transition to Alright is ridiculous. That first time Kendrick popped up in the music I was like 'surely not,' then rewinded and heard it again, straight goosebumps."

**
10.  Martin365 "1:50-1:54  “do you hear me do you feel me” every second another beautiful sister. I like how they did that

made me tear up!" ** 11. TXKII "I must have this version of no woman no cry 😭" **

12. BlurayUK "NO WOMAN NO CRY WAKANDA 4EVA....LIT 💯🔥🔥🔥" ** 13. Derrick Daniel "Very emotional😭. Wakanda forever🙅‍♂.

Lovely soundtrack from Tems (Nigeria to the world) and Kendrick Lamar."

** 13. V27 "Thank Bob Marley for this timeless powerful song suited for this emotional Trailer..

RIP MA BROTHER CHADWICK

WAKANDA FORVER 🙅🏿‍♂️" ** 14. M. Worthy "I'd always hoped that Danai Gurira ("Okoye") would have whispered into the ears of Ludwig Göransson and Ryan Coogler to get them to slip several iconic Thomas Mapfumo , Chimurenga, Shona/mbira type sounds into these MCU/Black Panther movie soundscapes 🎶.  Africa is a enormous continent, but what a surprise it would be to hear traditional mbira/Thomas Mapfumo/Chimurenga classic sounds in these movies.

APRIL, 1980 trivia:

"...After Bob Marley’s performance that night, when he shed tears watching the Rhodesian flag come down and Zimbabwe’s go up, the local musician Thomas Mapfumo took the stage. Mapfumo was a leading singer of chimurenga music, the music of struggle." "
-snip-
This is the way this comment was written in that discussion thread.

** 15. Tom Butterworth "That mashing up of No Woman No Cry with Kendrick Lamarr is quite, quite brilliant." ** 16. Jamie L "The music started and I teared up. At the same time though I am so happy to see all those black people in one film! LOL And it's not some made for tv movie. When I was growing up as a GenXer I would have killed to see this representation. We would only get our top black films on VH1 or BET when it was relevant, that is all we had. So this right is her is effing MAGNIFICENT! I can't wait to see it."

** 17. Irvin P

"Not going to lie,was expecting a sorry trailer but with the music they chose and how everything is laid out as a preview this is something I’m definitely going to have to check out in theaters. Can’t wait!"
** 18. Kat G "Whoever did the sound mix for the trailer deserves a raise lol. Amazing trailer can’t wait to see it!"

** 19. Zlatan Sanchez

"As soon as I heard "we gon be alright" I got so hyped" ** 20. Pedro Norman "I'm sorry but I fail to understand what a Jamaican Reggae song has to do with a ficticious African nation - I mean, besides playing on silly African American tropes - Bob Marley was a beloved black man and therefore his music is a reflection of "American blackness"???.

This movie is probably gonna suck." ** 21. Mr. BRYANT "The music sucks.

I wonder why there is NEVER AFRICAN MUSIC in films about AFRICAN CULTURE"

**

22. KidFlash " felt Angela Bassett’s dialogue…in my heart. I spent the first 20 yrs of life, on the move…from place to place. Brother Marley’s words hit home in my Soul.

“ …..good friends we had, good friends we lost….along the way…

Yes, we did. Yes, I have.

My 🙏 go to CHADWICK BOSEMAN, the man and myth…that could and did, unify the world — for a moment in time."

The Black Panther is dead…LONG LIVE!

THE BLACK PANTHER..!!

!!! WAKANDA FOREVER !!!!” ** 23. TJ Blaidd "They need to quit making less beautiful remixes of original songs. That would have his SO MUCH HARDER with Marley's voice! Just pay his family and use the real song instead of a breath heavy remix like every other bad movie.

RIP Chadwick. Let's hope they honor his memory."

** 24. Keshawn Whyte "Tems really put her soul into those words, no disrespect to the late Robert nesta Marley."

****

Excerpt #2 From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H4nU6i7IZM  This is the YouTube sound file given as Showcase Video #2 in this post.  All of these comments are from July 25, 2022 to July 28, 2022

1.Tali Simila
"The Bob Marley’s original version is one of my favorite songs. Tem does absolute justice and a beautiful job on this timeless song."

**
Reply
2. Nicholas Harrison
"I agree apart from the original this is the best cover  I've heard."

**
Reply
3. sipple block STD
"As a Jamaican I stamp this 💯🇯🇲"

**
4. kimball39
"Oh my! The emotion of this song! I agree with those that have stated this will be the most emotional Marvel Movie to date! What a great Actor, and a great human being! Thank you Chadwick Boseman! This Movie will have all the feels!"

**
5. Justin Time
"You can feel the ancestors in her voice"

**
Reply
6. Natasha Clark
"Best comment!!"

**
7. NDR 7652
"With this song I'm one who considers it sacrosanct  that NO ONE should even attempt a remake . That said this version is fantastic"
-snip-
This comment was written in bold font in this discussion thread.

**
8. Mercuzio1988
"Not the same we hear in the trailer. Will you release THAT version?"

**
9. Fábio Nunes
"Guys anyone has the epic version we ear in the trailer? This one is nice but I really loved the drums from the trailer one... kind of an epic version..."

**
Reply
10. DeismAccountant
"I agree. So why can’t we find that version here?"

**
Reply
11. ivstova47
" @DeismAccountant  Yesssss...i m searching the whole internet and i can't find it..... I'll keep looking"

**
Reply
12. Mindspectrum
"@DeismAccountant  I think the mash up is just made for the trailer. It will not be published in this form. But let's hope anyway!"

**
13. Cameryn
"Sighh the amount of people that don't know this is a cover of a Bob Marley song. Don't get me wrong, this cover is INCREDIBLE, but the original is also amazing!"

**
14. Ngige Martin
"One song representing two kings👑.... RIP to bob Marley and Chadwick boseman♥"

**
15. Hextraordinary13
"No Woman No cry has me BAWLING.  So much for the title.  This is breathtaking, heartbreaking, & beautiful."

**
16. Klamy Dia
"Tems has been on an ascend since Wizkid's essence and I'm so happy that she's not stopping.

Didn't recognize her voice in the trailer but can get her tone here.

Of course, the legacy both Bob Marley and Chadwick leave behind is legion.

Thank you Marvel 😭😭😭😭😭"

**
17. AzureSteel
"Will there be a "theatrical" version of this song like the one we heard in the trailer? I prefer the instrumentation in that one because the percussions in that version makes the song more tribal, more grand and overall more suited to being a tribute for T'Challa."

**
18. Equinox
"Hope the Trailer Version also gets released. The one with the ambiental, violin strings, percussion and Kendrick Lamar's Vocals."

**
Reply
19. Bonzo
"That version always gives me goosebumps"

**
Reply
20. Th Zene
"Agreed but keep in mind the trailer mixed this with Kendrick's actual song "Alright". So there may not be a "full" version of the trailer with that as it's a whole song on its own."

**
Reply
21. Yggdrasil
"There are gonna be some legal issues with that"

**
Reply
22. Equinox
"@Yggdrasil  There just needs to be a settlement between the Music Record Labels & The Artists. Given how they already have permission to use in the trailers I don't think it would be much of an issue."

**
23. LionessOrder
"Love tems. But they could've gotten a Jamaican singer to do it. Lila Iké, sevana, noami cowan...tons of talent. Good for tems tho

**
Reply
24. 7th Orisha
"Several Jamaicans have done their own versions over the years. Marley's wanted a different and African version and Tems so happened to be a biggest female artist  in Africa at the moment. So, it's just right to do it that way. The Album itself was a tribute by Bob Marley to Africa."

**
Reply
25. JON QUEEN INFO
"Why does is f—ken* matter who cares so far as the person is of afro descent dont think there is a problem and u do know this is a movie showcasing sub saharan African culture so it makes sense that the album should have an african artiste"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
26. ReEvølutiøn Games
"So use Bob Marley's song covered, and instead of just asking to use the actual song, and the fact that I don't know, uh, hmm, you're profiting and killing off a character that just got thrown into the MCU."

**
27. Krysii Rowe
"Is Bob Marley credited for this song? Also it’s “No Woman, no cry”. As in “No woman,don’t cry “. As a Jamaican without the comma it changes the whole sentence lol. Now to me it’s sounds like “women don’t cry” or “no women cried” = In patois “no woman neva cry( no woman cried) or “woman nuh fi cry(women don’t cry )”.  It’s suppose to be conciliatory.

But that’s just me thinking into it. It’s still similar."

**
Reply
28. JON QUEEN INFO
"Does it really matter tho most people who have heard this song a thousand times and listened to the lyrics well enough gets the message , and obviously bob was credited"

**
Reply
29. Krysii Rowe
"@JON QUEEN INFO  seeing as it’s a Jamaican song and I’m a Jamaican who was raised on said song I would say it matters to me. If it does not to you that’s fine. But I’m giving my opinion on MY culture. So it matters to me.

Glad to know Bob Marley was credited because I haven’t seen anything crediting him in the film or in the video of tems singing. The title didn’t say anything about a cover. And some people on TikTok seem to think it’s an original song. If you look in the description of this video you’ll see that the only artist mentioned is Tems as well as Marvel. There is no mention of Bob Marley"

**
Reply
30. Krysii Rowe
"@JON QUEEN INFO  I’m sure if it was another native language and the native of that country commented on the grammar used you wouldn’t ask if it matters. It’s common sense. And if you payed attention you’d see I’m not bashing the producers nor the artist. What I’m doing is speaking more about my native tongue and giving a bit of insight to non-Caribbean’s. I don’t see what’s wrong with that."

**
31. no shirt official
"It would be better if bob marley original song was used"

**
32. M. Dillinger
"Love this cover. They need to make a video of this as well. So powerful."

**
33. Keziah Ridgeway
"Love this buttttttttt……can we get the mash up with “We Gon Be Alright” please???"

**
34. Melody Tracy
"Hearing this at the start of the trailer and as it continues on just brought me to tears. Thank you, Tems, for creating such an amazing, heartfelt cover"

**
35. Coach Ryan
"The way she sings it! Lord Have Mercy...... you feel the emotions, pain, strength and power"

**
36. Paschal Madubata
"Tems "No Woman, No Cry" cover for BLACK PANTHER soundtrack. I love her cover. Sounds like sadness & healing at the same time. What a spiritual dirge her voice turned it to 😭.. This is a Hymn"

**
37. Elizabeth Anne
"The transition between Marley’s lyrics “everything is gonna be alright” to Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” = flawless. Kudos to the sound mixing team!"

**
38. Rodrigo Lourenco Miranda
"what a beautiful song, it skips the heart and goes straight to the soul"

**
39. Eye2much E
"#tems to the world. Nigeria on the map 🇳🇬😘🙌🏿 This song is winning an Oscar for best soundtrack, Grammy, and BET"

**
40. Ethereal
"Reading through the comments here  and I'm in awe the amount of praise Tems is getting is blowing me away her talent is being recognized international worldwide and im beyond happy for her"

**
41. Naamy19X9
"I hope they will later upload the Bob Marley’s "no woman no cry" and  Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” remix. Its pure fire. Makes me excited for the overall soundtrack of the movie!"

****
Excerpt #3

These comments are from this link to the YouTube official video of Kendrick Lamar's Song "Alright" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY

All of these comments are from July 24, 2022 -July 28, 2022. 

1. OhMyPulse
"Black Panther bringing this classic back"

**
Gabriel Yulaw
"Black Panther Wakanda forever transition this song from Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry". Breathtaking combination!"

**
Leonardo Talavera
"I didn't realize this song was playing during the Black Panther II trailer until it cut to Kendrick's voice and then I damn near started sobbing."

**
Reply
Oraki
"😢"

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[redacted] published on July 24, 2022
"This song had 150 million views before the trailer even dropped."
-snip-
The total # of views as of July 28, 2022 at 5:58 PM ET= 156,892,478.  

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Reply
GoofyRj
"💪🏾WORDD"
-snip-
"Word" is a 1980s African American Vernacular English expressions which means "That's right"/ "I agree with what you just said."  "Word" was originally given as "Word to the mother" and/or "Word Up".  All of these expressions are seldom used since sometimes around the late 1990s. 

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DFGVerdell
"We all here after the black panther trailer but I been on this masterpiece every since it dropped I’m so ready for the movie I’m getting goosebumps thinking about it💙 #RIPCHADWICK Wakanda Forever🖤"

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(Jamaican Reggae/Dancehall Singer) Tenor Saw - "Ring the Alarm" (video, information, lyrics, & comments)

VP Records, Feb. 5, 2010

Classic Hit

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about Jamaican Reggae singer Tenor Saw and showcases a YouTube video of Tenor Saw's 1985 classic song "Ring The Alarm". An article excerpt about "Ring The Alarm" is also included in this post along with a few comments from the discussion thread for that video.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Tenor Saw for his cultural legacy and thanks to all those who are associated with this embedded video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT TENOR SAW 
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenor_Saw#:~:text=Clive%20Bright%20(2%20December%201966,on%20the%20%22Stalag%22%20riddim.
"Clive Bright (2 December 1966 – August 1988),[1] better known as Tenor Saw, was a Jamaican dancehall singjay in the 1980s, considered one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era. His best-known song was the 1985 hit "Ring the Alarm" on the "Stalag" riddim."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT TENOR SAW'S CLASSIC SONG "RING THE ALARM"
From  https://www.dancehallmag.com/2021/04/29/features/how-tenor-saws-ring-the-alarm-brought-soundclash-to-the-masses.html How Tenor Saw’s ‘Ring The Alarm’ Brought Soundclash To The Masses, by Sasha Lee, April 29, 2021
"For a vibrant display of the Jamaican trifecta — cunning, creativity, competitiveness — look no further than the island’s rich sound system heritage. These modes of performance and entertainment started in Kingston in the 1950s, providing a platform for an array of talent — selectors, toasters, engineers  —  while playing to crowds that could easily grow into the thousands.

Sound systems (essentially mobile discotheques) rose to prominence in the ’60s through famous sound system owners such as Arthur ‘Duke’ Reid (the Trojan Sound System and Treasure Isle Label) and Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd (Downbeat Sound System and Studio One Recording Studio) who dominated Kingston’s nightscape with accompanying acts like Daddy U-Roy and King Stitt respectively.

Of all the acts who’ve injected flair into the art form, it was Clive Bright aka Tenor Saw who officially brought the concept of soundclash to the masses when he debuted the crucial anthem, Ring The Alarm, in 1985. The deejay was only 19 years old when he freestyled his way into the future – i.e. Dancehall – slinging rhymes while levelling the rival sounds.

The first time the late hitmaker performed the lethal classic is also hailed as another of Dancehall’s integral moments: the first soundclash. Held at Cinema II in New Kingston, the faceoff saw the island’s four biggest sound systems, Youth Promotion Soundstation (Tenor Saw’s stomping grounds owned by Sugar Minott), Black Scorpio, King Jammy’s Hi Fi, and Arrows International all vying for glory.

His deadly delivery of history as it unfolded swept the crowd and stole the crown: “Four big sounds inna one big lawn/ The Don sound a play, the other three keep calm/ Four big sounds inna one big lawn/ The boom sound a play, the other three keep calm/ Ring the alarm, another sound is dying, Whoa, Hey..” Two years later, he was killed in 1988, reportedly in a hit-and-run accident in Houston, Texas.”…

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LYRICS- "RING THE ALARM"
(Tenor Saw)

[ Intro]
Rrrrrr Ring!
Rrrrrr Ring!
Hey!
Ring the alarm
Hey!
Wooow...

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!
Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!

[Verse 1]

Some sound's sound like a big drum pan
Listen the sound, it a champion
Ram the dance inna any session
Rock up the woman, an rock up the man

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!
Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!

[Verse 2]

Tee-tah-toe, we beat them all in a row
Donkey waan water, but you hol’ him Joe
Tee-tah-toe, we beat them all in a row
Jackass waan water, but hol’ him Joe

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!
Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!

[Verse 3]

Four big sound's inna one big lawn
The Don sound a play, the other three keep calm
Four big sound's inna one big lawn
The boom sound a play, the other three keep calm

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!

[Verse 4]

Remember this sound, it a talk of the town
Talk of the country
Hey!
Oh rock, Mr. Charlie
Rock Miss Munchie
Talk of the country
So

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
I know, I know
Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!

[Verse 5]

Watch the soundman a tremble
Watch the soundman a 'fraid
Watch the soundman a tremble
Watch the soundman a 'fraid

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
I know, I know
Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!

[Verse 6]

Little of this and little of that
Rock sister Carmen, rock sister Pat
Rock the white, and rap up the black
Sweet reggae music gone pon the attack
Yes, pon the attack, it gone pon the attack
Sweet reggae music gone straight, non-stop

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!
Ring the alarm, another sound is suffering
Woow
Hey!

[Verse 1]

Some sound's sound like a big drum pan
Listen the sound, it a champion
Ram the dance inna any session
Rock up the woman, an rock up the man

[Hook]

Ring the alarm, another sound is suffering
Woow
Hey!
Ring the alarm, another sound is dying
Woow
Hey!

[Outro]

Beat them here and beat them there
We beat them all over this atmosphere
Champion sound, we just don’t care

Online source -  https://genius.com/Tenor-saw-ring-the-alarm-lyrics

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpjLLw-cVzU

1. Kamille Richards, 2010
"Oh man, I remember from I was 7 my daddy use to play this in the car all the time. I'd be singing this and not have a clue what I'm singing about. This brings back good memories for reaal!"

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2. Duartt Bright, 2016
"Old school and so good!"

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3. Marseille Reggae Radio, 2016
"TUNE"

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4. RA, 2016
"THIS SONG EFFECTIVELY PUTS YOU BACK INTO TOUR GROOVE!"

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5. Katie-Jo, 2017
"Rest in peace Clive bright what a talented man love him"

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6. WUTANGNYC, 2017
"Gone Too Soon!. RIP THE GREAT TENOR SAW!!!!!!!"

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7. lingertooth, 2017
"Watch the soundman a tremble, watch the soundman afraid."

Crushing tune!"

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8. YAADZONE INC., 2017
"One of the best Dancehall songs ever recorded. Magnum Opus."

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9. Miłosz B., 2021
"It's more dancehall, or more reggae?"

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10. Milkb4 Cereal,2022
"@Miłosz B.  definitely reggae"

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11. Malik Wright, 2022
"@Milkb4 Cereal  lol what? This a dancehall clash song. “Another sound(sound boy/dj) is dying” is literally context that it’s a dancehall sound used to clash also"

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12. Bobby Mobay, 2017
"Love the song but hate the video....smh. Have Jamaica looking like some bogwater country."

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13. With love, Stephanie Denise, 2018
"Bobby Mobay  no funds...they would have been better off with a video of a club scene...but there are parts of Jamaica that is very poor."

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14. Brandon N, 2018
"With love, Stephanie Denise I would have to say most of that sweet island is very poor"

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15. solwesfe, 2018
"Brandon Nevarez much of the island is far removed from the scenes in this video. Explain "very poor"? The island has been upgraded to a middle income country. However, there is no longer a Jamaican middle class but I think this is also the case for many other countries. Many nations are home to people who are becoming poorer."

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16. nanah p, 2020
"The video makes no sense."

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17. emobsta10, 2017
"Who remembers the first time they heard this gem. It picks you up and drops you into the heart of Jamaica  while dumplings stew in a pot, playing a game of dominoes and drinking a red stripe. excellent sound."

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18. Norrin Radd, 2019
"Or playing Lodi with pepper stew in the pot, rain drops on the tin roof. And a nice Guiness to wash it down 😁same vibe"

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19. selassie sun(TSTV🇯🇲), 2021
"Takes me back to granny yard real talk funny you mention dumpling stew dat a wanami favorite Sunday's bless up family 🇯🇲🇯🇲"

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20. Syzmik TV News, 2021
"I man was in #Montserrat a little Caribbean island known as the "Emerald Isle" ...Anyway it was a Friday night in #CorkHill village & it blaze through BIG GUNN SOUND SYSTEM"

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21. emobsta10, 2021
"@Syzmik TV News Yes brother, Monserrat was home to a famous recording studio used by some of the greats of music and entertainment. Never been myself but hear its a paradise"

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22. Gilb Errr?, 2021
"I heard this tune back in the 1990s at Notting Hill Carnival. Classic!"

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23. Emmanuel Mosoti, 2022
"Never had dumpling stew nor do I know what a red stripe is but yea.."

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24. Danilo Fonseca official, 2022
"This is the life, hear good music, drinking Red stripe, dumplings and dominoes"

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25. Jai B, 2022
"Reminds me when I was a kid in the late 80s my neighbours blasting this one summer...was hooked! Over 30 year's later, its still a staple for me!! ♥"️

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26. Abby Dollars, 2022
"dumpling stew in a pot lol"

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27. Sue black, 2022
"You took me there jus now bredda. Big up."

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28. BigBennKlingon, 2019
"The lyrics.. This is such a battle-rap song. You can really see how reggae like this influenced hip hop."

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29. A T, 2019
"This takes me back to my youth in the 1980s and 1990s in Toronto! Jammed enough times to this in high school and university. Those were legendary times."

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30. mister joe, 2020
"This tune reminds me of my youth in NYC.NYC was apocalyptic in the 80's you had the crack epidemic,killings were way up,the subway was a waste land full of graffiti.The most beautiful thing of that time was this gem of a tune that would fit perfectly in the NYC of that era.I remember blasting this tune on my mini boom box on 5 train from brooklyn to the bronx.Use to visit my familia in Morris Park in the Bronx from Flatbush Brooklyn blasting this gem."

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31. C S, 2021
"Same here growing up in Boston for me.  Or really anywhere on the East Coast in the 80's. Boston was becoming the wild west as well at that time.  Used jam this when we went and bought beef patties at this spot on Geneva Ave in Boston. Good memories.💯"

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32. Delmar 🧡🌺, 2022
"Philadelphia too around that time Jamaican people were moving in my neighborhood especially rastafarians it was a crazy time"

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33. Sean Rock, 2020
"BIG CHUNE!"

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34. Empress Jade Simeon Ellis, 2020
"Chuh When Dance was Irie Jah Knows. Boom!"

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35. nakia X, 2020
"This song send a lot of sound boys to their grave ........ Best Dancehall funeral sendoff song ever"

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36. rich Mck, 2021
"If you live in Jamaica, then the best send-off you can have is hearing this at a SETUP.

Went to one last year, man, I tell you...All night till funeral time people did not stop!

This is the way to celebrate fi real!!!"

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37. Star Burst, 2020
"One of Jamaica's great legends that gone too soon. His song will live on."

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38. Sonia Allen, 2020
"Do they still have sound clash  and car stereo clash anymore?"

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39. Nik Ashford, 2021
"Bad as it gets! The word "anthem" gets banded around nowadays,  then a tune like this steps all over them. Unbeatable. A real unreachable bench mark."

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40. Dog Black, 2021
"This will 4ever B a classic in The Dance Hall , Clubs & Block Party's voice crazy like how the kids do it now with the Auto-Tune Hmmmm makes u think ?"

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41. T B, 2021
"Large Up the whole ah Caribbean"

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42. Akil Bhawansingh, 2021
"this sound give me goose bumps everytime I hear this sound I remember sound clash reel killing tune"

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43. Delmar 🧡🌺, 2021
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 chune forever"

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44. Miles Crawford, 2021
"Rest In Peace ✌🏾 respect ! S/o from bedstuy Bklyn"

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45. Shane Lee, 2022
"He made this song while in the middle of a sound clash what a legend gone to soon I never comment but dis ere man deserve it for  real 📲🔊"

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46. Sue black, 2022 
"Pull dis uppp sehlektah!!"

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