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Bam Bam
Sister Nancy Lyrics


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Ah me seh one thing Nancy cyaan' understand
One thing Nancy cyaan' understand
Wah mek dem ah talk 'bout mi ambition?
Seh, wah mek dem ah talk 'bout mi ambition?
Cah me seh some ah dem ah ask me where me get it from
Seh some ah dem ah ask me where me get it from
Ah true dem nuh know it's from creation
Ah true dem nuh know it's-a from creation

Bam bam, ay, what a bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Ay, what a bam bam
To what a bam bam

This woman never trouble no one
I'm a lady, I'm not a man
MC is my ambition
I come fi nice up Jamaican

So bam bam, to what a bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Ay ah me seh what a bam bam
Tell 'em, tell me seh what a bam bam
Ay, tell 'em, tell 'em

Me born and me grow inna Princeton 6
I Nancy write mi crissest lyrics
When you hear dem it sound like Christie's biscuit
You come inna di place and me seh well well slick

Bam bam, ay seh what a bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Ay seh what a bam bam, ay seh what a bam bam

Ah some ah dem ah seh me one come mash up dem plan
Ah true dem nuh know me ah one business woman
Sister Nancy she ah one inna three million
Sister Nancy she ah one inna three million

So bam bam, seh what a bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam, ay

Seh go, Sister Nancy, beg you go
I tell you seh fi go, Sister Nancy, beg you go
I know it from mi head straight down to my toe
Ah tee-ta-toe, Sister Nancy on di go
Ah some ah dem ah ask, "Ah Sister Nancy mek you bad so?"
Slang-dung-diddly, Sister Nancy mek you bad so?

E bam bam, what a bam bam
E bam bam dilla, bam bam
E bam bam dilla, bam bam
What a bam bam, ay
Tell me seh what a bam bam

This woman, I never trouble no one
I'm a lady, I'm not a man
MC is my ambition
I come fi nice up Jamaican

So bam bam, seh what a bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam
Bam bam dilla, bam bam, ay

Ah me seh one ting Nancy cyaan' understand
Ah one ting Nancy

Overall Meaning

In "Bam Bam," Sister Nancy expresses her frustration with people questioning her ambition and where it came from. She believes it is a natural part of her being, rooted in creation. She asserts that she is not here to cause trouble and that she is a businesswoman with a passion for being a great MC. Sister Nancy's pride for her hometown, Princeton 6, is also evident as she claims that it's where she grew and became an excellent lyricist. She is one in three million, and people should understand that she is not here to destroy their plans but to make her mark on the music and to "nice up" Jamaica.


The chorus "Bam Bam" is a simple, repetitive phrase that repeats throughout the song, as it creates a catchy melody that emphasizes the rhythm of the track. Besides, the phrase "Bam Bam" may be a reference to the rhythm of the same name, commonly used in reggae music, where drums and bass define the heavy sound of the one drop. Sister Nancy is reminding everyone of her roots and how it influences her music.


Furthermore, it's worth noting that Sister Nancy, born Ophlin Russell-Myers, is the first-ever female dancehall DJ in Jamaica. This song, "Bam Bam," became a cult classic track in the reggae and dancehall scene, with Rihanna and Kanye West sampling the beat in their song "Famous." The song was covered by several other artists over the years, such as Yellowman, Chaka Demus & Pliers, and many more. The music video for the song is a live performance clip of Sister Nancy singing in front of a large crowd, emphasizing her ability to perform on stage. "Bam Bam" was produced by Winston Riley and released in 1982 by Techniques Records.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ophlin Russell, Winston Delano Riley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@timothypiontek3139

Kanye West (2016)
Major Lazer (2014)
Chris Brown feat. Wiz Khalifa (2011)
Alicia Keys and Damian Marley (2007)
Lauryn Hill (1998)
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (1992)
Gang Starr (1994)
Too Short (1993)
Main Source (1991)
Yellowman and Fathead (1982)
This song has a hell of a sample legacy



All comments from YouTube:

@NeishaNineStarz

It took Sister Nancy 32 years to receive royalties and recognition for this song. Big her up 🇯🇲

@kendianorman3670

I cant believe they really profitted off her shit for that long

@friedchickenwithextrafried4259

this ain't really her song but yeah

@verajames7966

We love you Sis!!!! No rewards needed to know you heal us out here. Thank you Ma'am.

@jonc9799

@@friedchickenwithextrafried4259 whose song is it?

@friedchickenwithextrafried4259

@@jonc9799 the original song is bam bam from Toots and the maytals (which she sampled)

230 More Replies...

@laabitres

Sister Nancy created one of the most legendary songs of all time.

@WalterDrayton

She covered an old 1966 song by Toots and the Maytals, she did not write it and, outside of concerts, has made little or no money off of it. When it is sampled Toots Hibbert gets paid , It was his original hit song.

@laabitres

@@WalterDrayton That's cool and all but everyone remember the Sister Nancy version...

@WalterDrayton

@@laabitres That is so true.

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