Released in 1977, the song comprises the girls ad-libbing to deejay track "Three Piece Suit" by Trinity. The song was initially recorded as a joke. The record was played by accident by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, resulting in numerous requests for additional plays. With early championing by Peel and a performance on Top of the Pops, it soon became a surprise hit, reaching number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1978.
Uptown Top Ranking
Althea & Donna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dem check sey we hip and ting
True them no know and ting
We have them going and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
See me pon the road I hear you call out to me
See mi in a 'alter back
Sey mi gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking
See mi in mi Benz and ting
Drivin' through Constant Spring
Them check sey me come from cosmo spring
But a true dem no know and ting
Dem no know sey we top ranking
Uptown Top Ranking
Shoulda see me and the ranking dread
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Watch how we chuck it and ting
Inna we khaki suit and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Love inna you heart dis a bawl out fe me
When you see me inna pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking
See mi pon the road and hear you call out to me
True you see me in me pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
You shoulda see me and the ranking dread,
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
"Uptown Top Ranking" is a song by Jamaican female singers Althea Forrest and Donna Reid, known as Althea & Donna. The song was released in 1977 and became an instant hit in Jamaica and the UK. The lyrics are about the two women confidently flaunting their style and beauty in uptown Kingston, Jamaica. They proudly declare that they are "strictly roots," meaning they are authentically Jamaican and are not influenced by Western culture.
The first verse begins with the women wearing heels and being checked out by people who admire their style. However, they proclaim that people don't really know them and their roots. The women then talk about being called by someone on the road, and he sees them in pants and an alter back outfit, which makes him have a heart attack. They tell the bass to be given to them, so they can dance and flaunt their bodies with their waists moving in a sensual motion. The chorus repeats the title phrase, "Uptown Top Ranking," which refers to their success and their high status in the social scene.
The second verse talks about the women driving through Constant Spring, and people assume they come from Cosmo Spring. However, the people don't really know that they are top-ranking and authentic. The women are joined by a "ranking dread," who is a Rastafarian with long dreadlocks. They dance together, and the women declare that they are strictly roots. The song ends with repeating the same lines and the bass playing in the background, emphasizing the Jamaican rhythm.
Line by Line Meaning
See me in me heels and ting
When you see me in my high heels and whatnot
Dem check sey we hip and ting
They assume that we're cool and fashionable
True them no know and ting
But they don't really know the truth about us
We have them going and ting
But they're still impressed and intrigued by us
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
We don't chase after fashion trends, we stick to our cultural roots
See me pon the road I hear you call out to me
When you see me walking down the street, you shout out to me
True you see mi inna pants and ting
Because you see me wearing (tight) pants or such
See mi in a 'alter back
And you're surprised to see me in an 'alter back' (a type of dress)
Sey mi gi' you heart attack
You feel like your heart skipped a beat when you saw me
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Turn up the bass, so I can move my waist to the rhythm
Uptown Top Ranking
We're at the top of our game and the center of attention
See mi in mi Benz and ting
When you see me driving my Benz or such
Drivin' through Constant Spring
Driving through the Constant Spring area of Kingston, Jamaica
Them check sey me come from cosmo spring
They assume I come from the posh Cosmo Spring neighborhood
But a true dem no know and ting
But they actually don't know the true origin of my success and style
Dem no know sey we top ranking
They don't know that we're the best and most popular
Shoulda see me and the ranking dread
You should see me with the Ranking Dread (a popular Jamaican reggae artist)
Check how we jamming and ting
We're having a great time together, dancing and partying
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
I may wear khaki suits and such, but all I bring is love and positivity
Watch how we chuck it and ting
Watch us as we're having a great time and moving in style
Inna we khaki suit and ting
Even though we're dressed in khaki suits and such
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
We may not dress flashy, but our message and energy is full of love
Love inna you heart dis a bawl out fe me
When you hear our music and message, you cry out in joy and appreciation
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Play some heavy bass so I can shake and move my waist
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALTHEA FORREST, DONNA MARIE REID, Errol Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrissmith7259
See me in me heels and ting
Dem check sey we hip and ting
True them no know and ting
We have them going and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
See me pon the road I hear you call out to me
True you see mi inna pants and ting
See mi in a 'alter back
Sey mi gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking
See mi in mi Benz and ting
Drivin' through Constant Spring
Them check sey me come from cosmo spring
But a true dem no know and ting
Dem no know sey we top ranking
Uptown Top Ranking
Shoulda see me and the ranking dread
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Watch how we chuck it and ting
Inna we khaki suit and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Love inna you heart dis a bawl out fe me
When you see me inna pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking
See mi pon the road and hear you call out to me
True you see me in me pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
You shoulda see me and the ranking dread,
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
@RapBox
ROOTS!!!
@beatrizfones4785
Rap Box 👿😡👿👿
@alimantado373
Yep Alton & Hortense Ellis sample before Hip Hop :)
@mataatlantica11
<3
@luisneri6865
Estás rolas y una chela!
@herbetaraujo8180
Lança o teu!!!
@rexterrocks
This song was 'discovered' by accident by John Peel. It was on a B side of a Jamaican import of 'Calico suit' by The Mighty Two and he played the wrong side on air by accident. He played it again several times and it got released and the rest is history.
@Joy-qw3wm
Wow i never knew that! I just remember this being played on Top of the Pops when i was a kid.Memories:)
@matthewadams1874
I thought the original was by a dance hall artist they basically ripped it off
@rexterrocks
@@matthewadams1874 You're absolutely right. The music is a DJ dub track called 'Three piece suit' by Trinity which is based on 'I'm still in love' by Alton Ellis. The same music has been used on a few songs over the years.