As naturalised children of immigrants from the Caribbean, part of the aftermath of World War II, the children were moved to London. They attended a local high school near Ladbroke Grove, and various junior schools as Tan Tan children of immigrants from the Caribbean around West London in 1975. Vocalist Brinsley Forde had a brief career on television on the British children's television series "Here Come the Double Deckers" in 1970-71.
The original members of Aswad were Brinsley Forde, George Oban, Drummie Zeb, and Donald Griffiths. Courtney Hemmings was a frequent contributor in the 1970s, including as part of the backing band on Burning Spear's 1979 Live album, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
They became one the U.K.'s top reggae bands with songs, typical of the time, about the oppression of black youth, such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish", and the powerful jazz-influenced instrumental "Warrior Charge".
The band gained a wider audience with the New Chapter album (1981). "Fire", the opening track gained wide recognition when it was used as the backing rhythm for Dennis Brown's "Promised Land."
Among Aswad's catalogue of hits is "Don't Turn Around", a pop hit in 1988. This track was originally a B-side to Tina Turner's hit "Typical Male", which was later covered by Ace of Base; and a reggae flavoured rendition of "Best of My Love", first popularised and written by The Eagles. Their next hit, Shine, was released in 1994. Another track was the upbeat 1998 remake of The Police's "Invisible Sun", performed with Sting.
The band also hold the distinction of having played with each one of the ex-Wailers.
Band members
* Martin Augustine aka "Tatta" - Lead guitar
* Brinsley Forde aka "Dan" (born 16 October 1952, Guyana) - Vocals, Rhythm guitar
* Drummie Zeb aka Angus Gaye (born 1959, London, United Kingdom) - Vocals, Drums
* Donald Griffiths (born 1954, Jamaica)
* Jimmy Haynes aka "Senyah" - Lead guitar, Acoustic guitar
* Clifton Morrison aka "Bigga" - Vocals, Keyboards, Melodica
* George Oban - Left in 1980 - Bass guitar
* Tony Gad - real name Dennis Anthony Robinson, born 11 November 1957, London. Joined in 1980 - Vocals, Bass guitar
Discography
* 1976: Aswad - Mango Records
* 1978: Hulet - Mango Records
* 1981: New Chapter - Columbia Records
* 1981: Showcase - Mango Records
* 1982: A New Chapter of Dub - Mango Records
* 1982: Not Satisfied - Columbia Records
* 1983: Live and Direct - Mango Records
* 1984: Rebel Souls - Mango Records
* 1986: To the Top - Simba
* 1988: Jah Shaka Meets Aswad in Addis Ababa Studio - Jah Shaka
* 1988: Distant Thunder - Mango Records
* 1988: Renaissance - 20 Crucial Tracks - Stylus
* 1989: Aswad: Crucial Tracks
* 1990: Next to You - Alex
* 1990: Too Wicked - Mango Records
* 1993: Firesticks - Alex
* 1994: Rise and Shine - Rhino Entertainment
* 1995: Rise and Shine Again! - Mesa
* 1995: Dub: The Next Frontier - Mesa
* 1997: Big Up - Atlantic Records
* 1999: Roots Revival - Ark 21
* 2002: Cool Summer Reggae
Woman
Aswad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woman, This isn't just a bedtime story
Words of love in all its glory
Just for tonight , no no no
Woman, this isn't just a chance occasion
Silken words of sweet persuasion
Other men have hurt you
I can see it in your eyes
You're inclined to think my words are lies
If I say I love you
Then it's not to ease your mind
Try to erase all the past
And you will find
Woman, This isn't just a bedtime story
Won't you make an effort for me
And try to believe
Can't you trust me
Woman
You still doubt my motivation
This is more than a conversation
I've fallen in love
Woman
This isn't just a bedtime story
Words of love in all its glory
Just for tonight,
Woman
If we spend this night together
We can make it last forever
Not for one night
The song "Woman" by Aswad is a romantic ballad that speaks of a man's sincere desire to love and connect with the woman he is singing to. The lyrics emphasize that this is not just a one-night stand or casual encounter. Instead, the singer wants to prove himself worthy of the woman's love and help her move past any past pain or hurt she may have experienced. The singer acknowledges that other men may have hurt her, but he insists that his feelings are genuine and he wants to build a lasting relationship with her.
The song begins with an acknowledgement that the singer's words may sound like a typical bedtime story, full of flowery words, but he insists that his words come from a place of love and sincerity. He pleads with the woman to give him a chance, to trust him and believe in what he is saying. He understands that she may be hesitant to believe in his words because of past hurt, but he persists in expressing his feelings, insisting that what he feels is real and not just a passing fancy.
The chorus of the song repeats the opening verse, reminding the woman that this isn't just a casual fling or a one-night stand. Instead, the singer believes that their connection can last longer than that, and he wants to build something meaningful and lasting with her. He wants her to trust him and take a chance on love, despite any past hurt or mistrust.
Overall, "Woman" is a song about the power of love and the desire to create something lasting and meaningful with someone you care about. The lyrics offer a heartfelt plea for the woman to trust the singer and to believe in the power of their connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman, This isn't just a bedtime story
I'm serious about what I'm going to say next, so don't think it's made up
Words of love in all its glory
I'm going to express my love for you in a very beautiful way
Just for tonight, no no no
I don't want you to think that this is just a one night stand
Woman, this isn't just a chance occasion
This isn't just a coincidence that we met, it's fate
Silken words of sweet persuasion
I will use my best words to convince you that my love for you is real
This feeling is real
I'm not playing games, my love for you is genuine
Other men have hurt you
I know that you've been hurt before by other men
I can see it in your eyes
I can tell that you're wary of me because of your past experiences
You're inclined to think my words are lies
You don't want to believe me because you've been lied to before
If I say I love you
I'm going to tell you that I love you
Then it's not to ease your mind
I'm not saying it just to make you feel better or to get something from you
Try to erase all the past
I want you to forget about your past relationships and give me a chance
And you will find
If you do that, you'll see that my love for you is real
Won't you make an effort for me
I want you to try to believe in my love for you
And try to believe
Believe in the possibility of love and that it could happen to us
Can't you trust me
I want you to trust me and my feelings for you
You still doubt my motivation
You're still not convinced that my intentions are genuine
This is more than a conversation
This is not just a talk, it's about our emotions and our love for each other
I've fallen in love
I have fallen in love with you and I want you to know that
If we spend this night together
If we spend time together tonight
We can make it last forever
We can make this love last forever, not just one night
Not for one night
I don't want this to be just for tonight, I want it to be forever
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, ALLO MUSIC EDITIONS
Written by: BRINSLEY ALLAN FORDE, ANGUS GAYE, TONY ROBINSON, LESLIE FORDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mohamed A. Turay
on Old Fire Stick
WICKED TRUTH! JUST FOR YOU!