He was booed off stage at a show celebrating the visit of Nelson Mandela. In 1993 at the very popular show Sting he accused fellow deejay Bounty Killer that the elder artist had stolen his catchphrase, "people dead". This triggered a lyrical battle which continued on the air with each artist counteracting the other's songs. Finally, in 1995, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer settled their differences on the air by actually signing a peace treaty and the two recorded an album together, Guns Out. This was followed by a single, "No Mama No Cry", a rehash of the Bob Marley classic "No Woman No Cry", speaking out against violence and inspired by the murder of Pan Head, another popular Deejay.
Partially as a result of prodding from his producers, Sly and Robbie, Beenie Man soon converted to the Rastafari movement.
In 1994, he was signed by Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album Blessed.
In 1995, Beenie Man released a remix of Barrington Levy's "Under Mi Sensi" in the United Kingdom, and collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palma to release Three Against War and Lt. Stitchie on Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man. He took another step up the ladder in 1996, releasing the seminal Maestro, produced by Patrick Roberts and shot him to UK fame. During the period from the mid to late '90s, Beenie Man dominated the Jamaican charts to the extent that he perhaps had a good claim to the crown of "Dancehall King", a title only bestowed previously on Yellowman in the early 1980s.
In 1998, Beenie Man signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was The Doctor (1998). In 2000, Beenie Man teamed up with Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees) to release The Art & Life. During the late 1990s, Beenie Man began his conquest of America with the hits, "Romie", "Who Am I" and "Girls Dem Sugar", which featured American R&B singer, Mya.
In 2002, he had a sizeable hit with a duet with Janet Jackson called "Feel It Boy", but his biggest break in America came in early 2004 with the release of a remix of "Dude", featuring guest vocals by fellow Jamaican Ms. Thing, as well as rhymes by Shawnna.
Girls Way
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who nah na nah na nigh stabba
Da ba nigh, fi di gal dem me cry
Why, woh nah na nah na nigh stabba
Da ba nigh nah na na nigh anyway
[Chorus]
I'm moving on di gal them way (gal dem way)
Ge mi suzan and fay every day, a wan yu hear wa mi say (yea)
Moving on di gal them way (gal them way)
Don't yuh tek man fi gay (man a nuh gay)
Gimme suzan and fay (night or day)
Oonu fi hear weh me say (well)
Gal di way yuh hot yuh have mi body under pressure
Yuh have yuh mi have mi gal , so I nuh really matter
Gal di way yuh under mi skin a juk mi like macka
Gal them want di pressure gal them want washer
Gal them want di man fi give them wuk, cause I'm di doctor
Gal them want di steam fish and di ockra in a dem structure
Way di gal dem love mi want fi be mi baby mother
Gal them want fi hold mi, gal dem all a grab mi
Gal them see mi out a road a call walking beauty
Gal them say mi ease, gal them say mi irie
Why di gal them love mi, mi nuh have nuh itsy bitsy
So, tru yuh see mi beenie, true yuh see mi teenie
Gal want come undress mi, but anyway
[Chorus]
Just di other day mi spend a small hiloday
Down a suzette land and mi go land buff bay
Mi reach a flatbush mi walk di africans way
When mi reach di round a bout them gi mi di right a way
Gal them want di hoter, gal them want di pepper
Gal them want di man fi set them body pon fire
Gal them want a lover, them nuh want nuh nyamer
Dem nuh want nuh man fi come and treat them like nuh buyer
Gal dem want a worker, gal want a driver
Gal them want a man fi work them like a car tyre
Gal them want fi land, gal them want mi hand
Gal them want a man fi mek them spin like a fan
Cho them want di long mawga man, but anyway
[Chorus]
Gal di way yuh tall mi want fi have yuh like mi sword
Upper mixing lab yuh like mi mixing board
Gal mi nuh affi punch yuh, gal mi nuh affi patch yuh
Gal yuh good a ready so mi really nuh affi fix yuh
Gal mi just a rub yuh down a kiss and all caress yuh
Gal mi want fi strip yuh mi wifey nuh affi know yuh
Me ready fi go funish d apartment gi yuh
Gal mi a di bass and yuh a di drum hear di punch line come
[Chorus]
Gal di way yuh hot yuh have mi body under pressure
Yuh have yuh mi have mi gal , so I nuh really matter
Gal di way yuh under mi skin a juk mi like macka
Gal them want di pressure gal them want washer
Gal them want di man fi give them wuk, cause I'm di doctor
Gal them want di steam fish and di ockra in a dem structure
Way di gal dem love mi want fi be mi baby mother
Gal them want fi hold mi, gal dem all a grab mi
Gal them see mi out a road a call walking beauty
Gal them say mi ease, gal them say mi irie
Why di gal them love mi, mi nuh have nuh itsy bitsy
So, tru yuh see mi beenie, true yuh see mi teenie
Gal want come undress mi, but anyway
The song "Girls Way" by Beenie Man is a reggae tune that talks about the artist's attraction to a variety of women. He acknowledges that he has a girlfriend but cannot help being drawn to other women who attract him differently. He describes how different types of women appeal to him, and he responds with his desire to have them in his life. He sings about the pressure some women put him under, and the things they expect from him such as giving them work, a steam fish or even to be their baby mother. Interestingly, the song suggests a sense of freedom to explore and be attracted to whomever comes his way while also emphasizing that he would never cheat on his girlfriend.
The song plays with themes like desire for something one has not got, and the idea of satisfying various wants without really distinguishing if it is their true passion or if it is mere fascination. It also portrays the role of men and the expectations of women, and their expectations from them. The singer recognizes that the women in the song have different attractions, but instead of staying on track with his partner, he is tempted to explore beyond her. Beenie Man successfully captures the tension that arises within individuals who are unable to choose between one partner versus their desire for novelty.
Line by Line Meaning
Who lordy, lordy, lordy, lordy, lordy
Expressing surprise and excitement about the topic to follow.
Who nah na nah na nigh stabba
A catchy phrase to grab attention of the listener.
Da ba nigh, fi di gal dem me cry
Talking about the sweet memories with the girls that make him emotional.
Why, woh nah na nah na nigh stabba
Restating the catchy phrase to grab more attention.
Da ba nigh nah na na nigh anyway
Despite the emotional attachment, he moves on with life anyway.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats itself throughout the song.
I'm moving on di gal them way (gal dem way)
He is going to live life freely and happily with multiple girls.
Don't yuh tek man fi gay (man a nuh gay)
He is straight and not gay, but choosing to explore with multiple girls.
Ge mi suzan and fay every day, a wan yu hear wa mi say (yea)
He wants Suzan and Fay every day, and he wants his message to be heard.
Gal di way yuh hot yuh have mi body under pressure
The girls' hotness is driving him crazy and creating physical pressure.
Yuh have yuh mi have mi gal, so I nuh really matter
Even if he loses one girl, he still has others, so it does not affect him much.
Gal di way yuh under mi skin a juk mi like macka
The girl is irresistible and making him feel like a new man.
Gal them want di pressure gal them want washer
The girls want him to fulfill their sexual desires and treat them like queens.
Gal them want di man fi give them wuk, cause I'm di doctor
Girls want him to pleasure them sexually because he is the expert (like a doctor).
Gal them want di steam fish and di ockra in a dem structure
Girls want him to take them to nice places and cook them delicious Jamaican food.
Way di gal dem love mi want fi be mi baby mother
Girls are in love with him and want to have children with him.
Gal them want fi hold mi, gal dem all a grab mi
Girls want to hold him and touch him when they see him walking around town.
Gal them see mi out a road a call walking beauty
Girls call him a walking beauty (attractive and stylish).
Gal them say mi ease, gal them say mi irie
Girls say he is easy-going and relaxed.
Why di gal them love mi, mi nuh have nuh itsy bitsy
He wonders why the girls love him so much, but he knows it is not because of his physical size (itsy bitsy).
So, tru yuh see mi beenie, true yuh see mi teenie
Although he is not physically big, he is confident and attractive to girls.
Gal want come undress mi, but anyway
Girls want to undress him, but he is focused on living freely and enjoying life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MOSES ANTHONY DAVIS, SLY DUNBAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind