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Ting-A-Ling
Shabba Ranks Lyrics


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Ting-a-ting-a-ting-a-l-ting-a-l-ting-a-li-ting-a-li-ting-a-lin-ting-aling-ting-a-ling!
What son tell 'em up? Is a Shabba thing. Suckling scene.(Ting-a-ling-a-ling)
Yard aand foreign kick up, Bruk wil'! (sing)

Ting-a-ling a ling, dancehall it swing, DJ head stuck up when hear boom riddim.
Ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell a ring, knife and fork ah fight fi dumplin.

Booyaka! Booyaka! call for Shabba Rankin
Shabba Ranks jus' appear and tear annadda man chin through.
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key,
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey - yes.
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key,
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey.
Who dey tink dey are yes dey cyaan lure me
I am di general in di DJ army
Who dot all di I and cross all di T
And set all di gyal dem tickle fancy
And anywhere we go gyal gone crazy (listen)

Ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell a ring, knife and fork ah fight fi dumplin.

Booyaka! Booyaka! call for Shabba Rankin'
Shabba Rankin' disappear wid di half ah annada man chin through.
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey.
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key,
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey yuh see...

Reggae dancehall it comprised a winery (yuh see)
Lock up yuh foot, gyal wine yuh body (yuh see)
If yuh can wine yuh hold yuh man aan' him carry (yuh see)
Pop pure style when yuh see yuh matey (yuh see)
Mate a try dress but yuh mate nuh ready (yuh see)
(yuh mate a look like she a bugs bunny)
She a cartoon and she nuh real
Gyal a get di lovin you a get di money (yuh see)
Bumper bump up cos yuh full a quality
Trailer load a girls dem gwaan cra...[crazy]

Ah wid di great body girls dem..
Like Jamaican girls dem..
Aan' di American girls dem..
Aan' di English girls dem...
What about Canadian girls dem...
All di Japanese girls dem...
Di Caribbean girls dem...
Yuh should hear likkle children sing; (weh dem sing?)

Ting-a-ling a ling, dancehall it swing, DJ head stuck up when dem hear boom riddim.
Ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell it ring, knife and fork ah fight fi dumplin.

Booyaka! Booyaka! call fi Shabba Rankin
Shabba Ranks step aside and tear off DJ chin through.
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey (yes)
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey

Yuh cyaan mix quantity wid quality.
A man of quality yes him have ability.
Wid mi strong mind and a dat a carry mi
I get di willpower from God almighty
Many have come but di chosen is me
What is for Ceaser could never be for me
Dey cyaan harm me no dey cyaan lure me
I am di general in di DJ army
Who dot all di I and cross all di T
Cash register ring an dem make nuff money

Ting-a-ling a ling, dancehall it swing, DJ head stand up when dem hear boom riddim.
Ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell ring, knife and fork ah fight fi dumplin.

Booyaka! Booyaka! call for Shabba Rankin'
Shabba Ranks step aside and tear off DJ chin through.
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey (yes)
Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key
Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey (you see)

Reggae dancehall it comprised a winery (you see)
Cock up yuh foot, gyal wine yuh body-ee-ee
Jump up-up-up and shake your body-ee-ee
Muggle pon yuh mate cah yu mate nuh ready-ee-ee.
Mate look skinny like maccaroni-ee-ee
When yuh mate skin yuh juss call her thready-ee-ee
If a gyal ready den a gyal nuh ready-ee-ee
Don't want no gyal wid no ball out belly-ee-ee
Belly haffi flat like a wheely penny.
Hear di likkle children sing wid quality
(dem sing)

Ting-a-ling-a-ling, dancehall dem swing...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shabba Ranks's song Ting-A-Ling are typical of the reggae dancehall genre, with a distinctive Jamaican patois and an infectious rhythm. The song celebrates the dancehall culture, with its emphasis on music, dancing, and partying. The chorus, "Ting-a-ling-a-ling, dancehall it swing, DJ head stuck up when hear boom riddim," captures the excitement and energy of the scene, as people dance and the music booms.


The verses of the song are full of playful, sometimes suggestive lyrics, mixed with braggadocio and a sense of competition. Shabba Ranks boasts about his status as a "don" in the music industry, and his ability to please women with his smooth style. He also takes shots at other DJs, suggesting that they are not as skilled or successful as he is.


The lyrics to the song can be interpreted as a commentary on the Jamaican music scene of the time, which was highly competitive and often marked by rivalries between artists. At the same time, the song also celebrates the community and the culture, with its focus on music, dancing, and good times.


Line by Line Meaning

Ting-a-ting-a-ting-a-l-ting-a-l-ting-a-li-ting-a-li-ting-a-lin-ting-aling-ting-a-ling!
The sound of a bell ringing, representing the beginning of a dancehall music scene with Shabba Ranks as the singer


What son tell 'em up? Is a Shabba thing. Suckling scene. (Ting-a-ling-a-ling)
The artist, Shabba Ranks, is introducing himself and the song to his audience, asserting his dominance in the reggae dancehall music scene


Yard aand foreign kick up, Bruk wil'! (sing)
The dancehall music scene is thriving both locally and internationally, causing excitement among the listeners


Ting-a-ling a ling, dancehall it swing, DJ head stuck up when hear boom riddim.
The beat of the music is so compelling that it forces the DJ to nod their head in unison to the rhythm of the song


Ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell a ring, knife and fork ah fight fi dumplin.
The catchy rhythm of the song can be heard even in the school, where students are playfully fighting over the food they are eating


Booyaka! Booyaka! call for Shabba Rankin
The audience is requesting for Shabba Ranks to perform, indicating his popularity among fans


Shabba Ranks jus' appear and tear annadda man chin through.
Shabba Ranks is so skilled and dominant in the dancehall scene that he can easily defeat any other competitor


Dem a di don, to di biz we av di key,
Shabba Ranks and his crew are the top players in the dancehall music industry


Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey - yes.
Shabba Ranks and his team can easily manipulate their competitors and turn them into fools


Who dey tink dey are yes dey cyaan lure me
Shabba Ranks is confident and cannot be easily influenced or persuaded by anyone


I am di general in di DJ army
Shabba Ranks is the leader of the dancehall music industry


Who dot all di I and cross all di T
Shabba Ranks is very detail-oriented and thorough, leaving no stone unturned


And set all di gyal dem tickle fancy
Shabba Ranks is very charming and can easily impress and seduce women


And anywhere we go gyal gone crazy (listen)
All women become infatuated with Shabba Ranks when they hear his music


Reggae dancehall it comprised a winery (yuh see)
The dancehall music industry is full of talented and famous individuals


Lock up yuh foot, gyal wine yuh body (yuh see)
Women should get ready to dance and sway their hips to Shabba Ranks' music


If yuh can wine yuh hold yuh man aan' him carry (yuh see)
Women can impress and win their partner's affection by dancing in a seductive manner


Pop pure style when yuh see yuh matey (yuh see)
Women should show off their dance moves to make their rivals jealous


Booyaka! Booyaka! call for Shabba Rankin'
The audience is still requesting for Shabba Ranks to perform, indicating his extreme popularity


Put di don to di key and turn him inna donkey yuh see...
Shabba Ranks and his crew are masters of manipulation and can turn anyone into a fool


Cock up yuh foot, gyal wine yuh body-ee-ee
Women should lift their feet and dance in a seductive manner


Jump up-up-up and shake your body-ee-ee
Women should jump and shake their bodies to the beat of the music


Muggle pon yuh mate cah yu mate nuh ready-ee-ee.
Women should ignore their rival if they are not competition


Mate look skinny like maccaroni-ee-ee
The rival is not physically attractive and thin as a noodle


When yuh mate skin yuh juss call her thready-ee-ee
If the rival loses weight, women should taunt them


If a gyal ready den a gyal nuh ready-ee-ee
If a woman is ready for dancing, she should not wait for anyone else


Belly haffi flat like a wheely penny.
Women should have a flat stomach to look attractive while dancing


Hear di likkle children sing wid quality
Even children enjoy dancing to Shabba Ranks' music


(dem sing) Ting-a-ling-a-ling, dancehall dem swing...
The children are singing and dancing to the beat of the music




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cleveland Browne, Grevine Gordon, Rexton Gordon, Wycliffe Johnson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@TheJoujou82

Anyone in 2024???

@GodwingMutengo

Yes

@Malcom-kj2qe

😊​@@GodwingMutengo

@ty-daviscampeau1455

This even a 2020 slap

@CamMcCoy87

BIGGEST FACTS

@dominoeffectzz7670

It sounds just like the rap today BUT IT has meaning

@davidrolon1790

ty campeau yaheardddd💯

@queeny444

Fact😂🔥🎼

@cheezitpolice6324

It’s an even better best when you’re watching it at 2:18 am. But perhaps that’s just sleep-deprivation talking.

29 More Replies...

@drzpapi413

31 years later and this song can play and sound good today.
Timeless.

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