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.
It Ain't
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm near but yet I'm far
I don't believe in civilization
But yet I still drive a car
I'm crippled but I'm walking
I'm freed yet I'm barred
I don't believe in hard work
But still I have a farm
[Chorus]
But look what it all comes down to
Ain't gonna figure it yet
'Till you have one hand full of ashes
And the other hand is putting your soul to rest
I'm broke but I'm still spending
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm a sinner yet I'm an angel
I'm leading but I'm behind
I'm dumb but I'm talking
I'm seeing yet I'm blind
I'm dull but I'm still shinning
I'm alive but I can die
[Chorus]
I ain't hungry but I'm drinking
I hate liquor but I'm drinking wine
I'm puzzled to be crowned king
I'm the law but I do crime
I'm cool but I'm vicious
I'm a fool but I'm wise
I'm a politician but I'm not voting
I guess this is the end of my line
[Chorus]
I'm sad but I'm happy
I'm not gonna loose my mind
It's late but it's so early
And I wonder what's the time
In Beenie Man's song Ain't Gonna Figure It Yet, he presents a paradoxical view of his life. Each line of the lyrics contrasts different aspects of his identity, making it hard for the listener to make sense of his real self. In the first stanza, he says he doesn't believe in civilization, yet he drives a car, which is an invention of civilization. He's crippled, but he's walking, which implies some kind of strength. He doesn't believe in hard work, but he still has a farm, which suggests that he is still working hard.
Similarly, in the second stanza, he sways between being broke and spending money, between being a sinner and an angel, and between being cool and vicious, which showcases the duality of his existence. However, despite all these contradictions, he asserts that he ain't figured it yet. The chorus suggests that one cannot understand life until they have both one hand full of ashes and the other hand putting their soul to rest, which means one cannot understand their life until they are dead.
Overall, the song Ain't Gonna Figure It Yet portrays that we all have contrasting and paradoxical parts of our existence that often make it hard to understand ourselves entirely. Still, we don't need to figure it all out, only to embrace it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm brave but I'm shaking
I'm putting up a brave face even though I'm nervous and scared.
I'm near but yet I'm far
I'm physically near, but emotionally distant.
I don't believe in civilization
I don't believe in societal or cultural norms and values.
But yet I still drive a car
However, I still depend on modern technology and convenience that comes with it.
I'm crippled but I'm walking
I'm overcoming challenges even though I'm physically limited.
I'm freed yet I'm barred
I have personal freedom but external forces restrict me.
I don't believe in hard work
I don't value or prioritize working hard to achieve goals.
But still I have a farm
Despite the lack of value for hard work, I have a source of income through a farm.
But look what it all comes down to
Despite everything, here's the ultimate truth.
Ain't gonna figure it yet
I don't have the answer yet.
Till you have one hand full of ashes
Until the end of life when all that's left is ashes.
And the other hand is putting your soul to rest
Until one can reconcile themselves spiritually.
I'm broke but I'm still spending
Despite having little money, I still spend unwisely.
I'm poor but I'm kind
I may lack wealth, but I still show kindness to others.
I'm a sinner yet I'm an angel
I have made mistakes, but I also have good qualities.
I'm leading but I'm behind
I may be in charge, but I'm still lagging behind in some way.
I'm dumb but I'm talking
I have a lack of intelligence, but I still speak my mind.
I'm seeing yet I'm blind
I have sight, but I'm still ignorant and lack understanding.
I'm dull but I'm still shining
Despite being boring or uninteresting, I still radiate positive energy.
I'm alive but I can die
I'm living, but I know my time will come to an end.
I ain't hungry but I'm drinking
I don't have an appetite, but I still drink.
I hate liquor but I'm drinking wine
I dislike alcohol, but I still drink wine.
I'm puzzled to be crowned king
I'm confused by the attention or status I've received.
I'm the law but I do crime
I have power or authority but I still break rules or laws.
I'm cool but I'm vicious
I may appear calm or collected, but I can still be aggressive or cruel.
I'm a fool but I'm wise
I may seem foolish or naive, but I still possess wisdom.
I'm a politician but I'm not voting
I have political influence, but I choose not to participate in voting.
I guess this is the end of my line
I've come to the end of my thoughts or journey.
I'm sad but I'm happy
I feel conflicting emotions or a mix of sadness and joy.
I'm not gonna lose my mind
I won't let my emotions become overwhelming.
It's late but it's so early
I may feel like time is running out, but it's still early in the grand scheme of things.
And I wonder what's the time
I'm questioning how much time has passed or is left in my life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MOSES DAVIS, MIKE CHAPMAN, TOMMY WHITE, HOOT HESTER, MILTON SLEDGE, KERRY MARX, BOB PATIN, M. MCNICHOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind