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Horace Andy is a legendary roots reggae singer, notable for such tracks as Government Land, You Are My Angel and Skylarking.
Born Horace Hinds on 19 February 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica, he made his earliest recordings in the late 1960s. Known for his distinctive falsetto vocal style, he sung on many classic production for reggae producers, including Phil Pratt, King Tubby and Prince Jammy. He is a devout Rastafari and, like many reggae singers, much of his material deals with themes of religion and social justice.
Andy found a new generation of fans in the 1990s, thanks to his work with trip hop pioneers Massive Attack. He continues to record new music, with an album called Living in the Flood released in 1999 on Massive Attack's Melankolic record label.
Skylarking
Horace Andy Lyrics
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Yeah
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Skylarking, skylarking
That is what youths do today
Skylarking, skylarking
Before they stand up, firm on their feet
Get a little work, a little work
And earn their bread honestly
Beggin' you a five cent, sir
Beggin' you a ten cent, sir
Cannot help, no, cannot help
So if you all keep on doing
What you all are doing
You will end up, up, up in chains
Skylarking, skylarking
That is what youths do today
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Beggin' you a five cent, sir
Beggin' you a ten cent, sir
Cannot help, no, cannot help
So if you all keep on doing
What you all are doing
You will end up, up, up in chains
So if you all keep on doing
What you all are doing
You will end up, up, up in chains
Skylarking, skylarking
That's what youths do today
Skylarking, skylarking
Before they stand up, firm on their feet
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Oh, ohh-oh
Tell him, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, oh yeah
Oh, rasta telling you, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Ohh, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, ah, whoa
The song "Skylarking" by Horace Andy is a poignant and reflective piece about the struggles of youths in Jamaica. The term "skylarking" refers to the playful and carefree behavior of teenagers, who do not yet have to bear the responsibilities and burdens of adulthood. The lyrics suggest that such behavior is a temporary luxury for young people, and serves as a coping mechanism for the harsh conditions in which they live. The constant pleas for spare change indicates the poverty and desperation that is common among young people in Jamaica, and the inability to attain meaningful work or financial stability. Andy's warning that this kind of behavior can lead to "chains", is a stark reminder that if society continues to neglect the youth, they will inevitably become victims of the cycle of poverty and crime.
The repetition of the phrase "yeah, yeah, yeah" and "oh, oh" adds to the song's solemn tone, underscoring the gravity of the subject matter. Andy's delivery is calm and measured, but his passion and sincerity are palpable. Through his words, he implores listeners to take action to improve the lives of the youths in Jamaica, rather than simply ignoring the issue.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
Introducing the song, setting up the scene and tone
Yeah
Expressing the artist's own positive emotion, probably excitement or agreement with something
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Reinforcing the artist's feeling with an enthusiastic repetition
Oh
Reintroducing the song after the repetition
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Bringing back the enthusiastic emotion from before
Skylarking, skylarking
Talking about the act of being idle or wasting time
That is what youths do today
Describing what the youth culture is like in the present time
Before they stand up, firm on their feet
The youths are still immature and not yet ready to face the realities of life
Get a little work, a little work
Encouraging the youths to get a job or find something to do
And earn their bread honestly
Making an honest living instead of begging for money
Beggin' you a five cent, sir
Depicting a situation where one is begging for money to survive
Beggin' you a ten cent, sir
Showing how insignificant the amount is, yet desperate people still beg for it
Cannot help, no, cannot help
Rejecting the plea and showing how no one can help anyone in every situation
So if you all keep on doing
Warning the youth about the consequences of being idle
What you all are doing
Referencing the act of skylarking
You will end up, up, up in chains
Becoming enslaved to poverty, drugs or a life that offers no progress and freedom
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Reinforcing the message or the warning against being idle
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Keeping up with the rhythm and flow
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating the message again with a stronger emphasis
Oh yeah, yeah
Going back to the opening lines but with less enthusiasm
Beggin' you a five cent, sir
Repeating the previous line but with a different tone this time
Beggin' you a ten cent sir
Still emphasizing the act of begging and the desperation it brings
Cannot help, no, cannot help
Repeating that no one can help, leaving the desperate person to deal with the consequences
So if you all keep on doing
Repeating the warning of staying idle
What you all are doing
Referring to the act of skylarking again
You will end up, up, up in chains
Showing the consequences of staying idle and not making progress in life
Skylarking, skylarking
Repeating the beginning of the song
That's what youths do today
Restating the youth culture described at the beginning of the song
Oh, ohh-oh
A response to the ongoing theme of skylarking
Tell him, yeah, yeah, yeah
Urging someone to understand the message being conveyed
Yeah, oh yeah
Backing up the previous line and agreeing once more
Oh, rasta telling you, yeah
A reference to Rastafarian religion and culture, and how important it is to take action instead of wasting time
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating the warning against idleness
Ohh, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating the chorus once more
Yeah, ah, whoa
A final show of agreement and warning against wasting time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Horace Keith Hinds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind