During 1974 and 1975 Big Youth continued to record for other producers, as Glen Brown, The Abyssinians ('I Pay Thee', 'Dreader Than Dread'), Yabby You ('Yabby Youth' – later known as 'Lightning Flash (Weak Heart Drop)'), Bunny Wailer ('Bide'/'Black on Black') and Joe Gibbs ('Medecine Doctor'). His LP, Dread Locks Dread, was released 1975 and produced by Prince Tony Robinson.
However, Big Youth had also started releasing his own self-produced recordings on the "Negusa Nagast" and "Augustus Buchanan" labels in Jamaica. His first self-produced LP was Reggae Phenomemnon in 1974. His self-productions continued with the 1976 albums Natty Cultural Dread and Hit The Road Jack, using his own musicians, usually the Soul Syndicate band. Now Big Youth changed his deejay style to be more of a singjay than a toaster; even if his vocal range was never the greatest, his singing sides continued to improve in musical quality, and began to become as common as his DJ tunes. He signed to Virgin Records' Frontline label in 1977, and his first release on the label was the Isaiah First Prophet of Old album, and he also appeared in the feature movie Rockers. Together with U-Roy, I-Roy, Dennis Alcapone, Prince FarI, and Dillinger, Big Youth is one of the immortal early Jamaican reggae toasters which have inspired generations of following Jamaican dancehall deejays and American rappers.
The name of the band Sonic Youth is in part a tribute to Big Youth.
"Yes, me come inna de music as Rasta, me a de original rastaman who enter it." Big Youth, Italy, 2001
"Deejays were closest to the people because there wasn't any kind of establishment control on the sound systems". Big Youth in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music
Discography
* Chi Chi Run - Fab 1972 (including just three Big Youth songs)
* Screaming Target - Trojan 1973
* Reggae Phenomenon - Augustus Buchanen 1975
* Dreadlocks Dread - Klick 1975
* Natty Cultural Dread - Trojan 1976
* Hit the Road Jack - Trojan 1976
* Isiah First Prohphet of Old - Nicola Delita, Caroline 1978
* Progress - Nocola Delita 1979
* Rock Holy - Negusa Negast 1980
* Some Great Big Youth - Heartbeat 1981
* Chanting Dread Inna Fine Style - Heartbeat 1982
* Live at Reggae Sunsplash - Genes 1984
* A Luta Continua (The Struggle Continue) - Heartbeat 1986
* Manifestation - Heartbeat 1988
* Jamming in the House of Dread - Danceteria 1990
* Higher Grounds - JR, VP Records 1995
* Save the children - Declic 1995
* Reggae Gi Dem Dub - Nicola Delita
* Natty Universal Dread 1973–1979 - a 3-CD-Box-set with Big Youth's major works during the 70's, released in 2001.
African Daughter
Big Youth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness.
Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time.
From the perfect start to the finish line.
And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones.
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs.
Setting fire to our insides for fun
The lovers that went wrong.
We are the reckless,
We are the wild youth
Chasing visions of our futures
One day we'll reveal the truth
That one will die before he gets there.
And if you're still bleeding, you're the lucky ones.
'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone.
We're setting fire to our insides for fun.
Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home,
It was a flood that wrecked this home.
And you caused it,
And you caused it,
And you caused it
Well I've lost it all, I'm just a silhouette,
I'm a lifeless face that you'll soon forget,
And my eyes are damp from the words you left,
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.
And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one,
'Cause most of us are bitter over someone.
Setting fire to our insides for fun,
To distract our hearts from ever missing them.
But I'm forever missing him.
And you caused it,
And you caused it,
And you caused it
The first stanza paints a vivid picture of a place where someone has left and the emptiness that they've left behind. The shadows have settled on the space, symbolising the darkness that has befallen the people left behind. The lyrics go on to suggest that obsessing over the middle is a waste of time, referencing the fact that a lot of people tend to focus too much on what's in front of them, and that always doesn't bring them to their destination.
In the second stanza, the lyrics point towards the youth being reckless and wild, chasing visions of their futures. It suggests that most of them would die before reaching their destinations, hinting at the fact that their lifestyles are too unhealthy and dangerous for them to reach the end. Most of them breathe through corrupted lungs, and setting fire to their insides is just a pastime to them. The lyrics also suggest that most of their feelings are dead and gone, and they seek distractions to not miss their loved ones.
In the final stanza, the lyrics suggest that the person singing has lost everything after being left behind by a lover. The lyrics describe the singer as a silhouette, a lifeless face, which the person who left would soon forget. The person is forever missing their lover, but they seek distractions to hide that fact. The final lines are poignant, as the lyrics suggest that the person who left caused the emptiness, despair and destruction that the singer is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Shadows settle on the place, that you left.
The singer is overcome with the feeling of emptiness after someone has left.
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness.
The singer is preoccupied by the feeling of emptiness after someone has left.
Destroy the middle, it's a waste of time.
The middle of what is in question, but is possibly a reference to a relationship that is seen as pointless.
From the perfect start to the finish line.
Alluding to a failed or unsuccessful endeavor, despite the best of intentions.
And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones.
Surviving a difficult situation or emotions is a fortunate circumstance.
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs.
The majority of us are struggling to breathe due to adverse circumstances or negative emotions.
Setting fire to our insides for fun
Taking an unnecessary risk or engaging in destructive behavior, possibly for the adrenaline rush.
Collecting names of the lovers that went wrong
Remembering failed relationships as a form of validation, rather than learning from past mistakes.
The lovers that went wrong.
Recalling past relationships that ended poorly.
We are the reckless,
Making poor choices without concern for the consequences, often seen in young people.
We are the wild youth
The singer is reminiscing about their past as a free-spirited, risk-taking person in their youth.
Chasing visions of our futures
Dreaming and striving for a better future, despite what is expected or feasible.
One day we'll reveal the truth
The singer is anticipating future enlightenment which will provide clarity and understanding.
That one will die before he gets there.
Alluding to the inevitability of death and the unknown that comes with it, despite striving for a better future.
And if you're still bleeding, you're the lucky ones.
Surviving a painful situation or experience is a fortunate circumstance.
'Cause most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone.
Emotions can overwhelm and exhaust people, leaving them feeling empty and numb.
We're setting fire to our insides for fun.
Continuing to engage in potentially harmful situations or self-destructive behavior for excitement or stimulation.
Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home,
The singer is referencing a devastating event, possibly a natural disaster or emotional trauma.
It was a flood that wrecked this home.
Referencing the aforementioned devastating event that left the singer and their home in ruins.
And you caused it,
Blaming someone for the disaster or emotional turmoil that the artist is experiencing.
Well I've lost it all, I'm just a silhouette,
The artist feels like they have lost everything and are a shadow of their former self.
I'm a lifeless face that you'll soon forget,
The artist feels like they have lost the essence of their being, possibly due to feeling neglected or unimportant.
And my eyes are damp from the words you left,
The singer is affected by someone's previous words or actions, causing tears or sadness.
Ringing in my head, when you broke my chest.
The artist is haunted by memories of heartbreak or betrayal, causing them immense emotional pain.
And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one,
Being in a loving relationship or feeling love in general is considered fortunate and rare.
'Cause most of us are bitter over someone.
People often carry resentment or grudges from past relationships which can affect their ability to find new love or to move forward.
To distract our hearts from ever missing them.
The singer is referencing the aforementioned bitterness or resentment that people can feel after a relationship ends, in order to avoid missing their former partner.
But I'm forever missing him.
Despite the previous line, the artist is still mourning and feeling the loss of their former partner or love.
And you caused it,
Continued blame towards someone who has caused the artist pain or anguish.
And you caused it,
Continued blame towards someone who has caused the singer pain or anguish.
And you caused it
Continued blame towards someone who has caused the singer pain or anguish.
Writer(s): MANLEY BUCHANAN
Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.