The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. The group has undergone several lineup changes: Carlos left, replaced by Michael Rose; then Dennis left to play with The Wailing Souls, and was replaced by Errol Nelson. During this early period, the band's most famous recording is the album entitled Love Crisis, later rereleased as Black Sounds Of Freedom. In 1979 the group was joined by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from North Carolina, USA. Under this lineup, (Rose, Simpson and Jones), with Sly & Robbie as producers (and also permanently employed on drum and bass), they released the band's most popular albums: Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out, and the Grammy-winning Anthem¹, as well as others. During this period, Black Uhuru became one of the most popular reggae groups in the world, regularly touring with the likes of The Police and The Rolling Stones. Live 1984 (a concert at the Rockpalast in Germany, but was actually recorded on October 18, 1981) captures the band at the height of its powers.
After Rose went solo in 1985, Junior Reid joined for a few records and also left; Puma Jones left in 1987 (and died of cancer three years later, in 1990). In 1990, Simpson reunited with Dennis and Carlos in the original line-up of the group. They recorded several albums and toured extensively. By the end of the 90's, Dennis and Carlos left the band and fought a legal battle against Simpson over the name Black Uhuru. Simpson won the lawsuit and formed yet another incarnation of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees as lead singer. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees left the group.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had re-united under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars" and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album has been reported to be in progress.
== Discography ==
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson'
*1977 - 'Love Crisis'
*1981 - 'Black Sounds of Freedom' ("Love Crisis" reedition)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1979 - 'Showcase'
*1980 - 'Black Uhuru'
*1980 - 'Sinsemilia'
*1981 - 'Red'
*1982 - 'Chill Out'
*1983 - 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' ("Black Uhuru" reedition)
*1983 - 'Anthem'
'Group: Derrick Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1986 - 'Brutal'
*1987 - 'Positive' (Puma Jones replaced Olafunke)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos'
*1990 - 'Now'
*1991 - 'Iron Storm'
*1993 - 'Mystical truth'
*1994 - 'Strongg'
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees'
*1998 - 'Unification'
*2001 - 'Dynasty'
'Live / Dub albums:'
*1982 - 'Uhuru in Dub'
*1982 - 'Tear It Up - Live' (album and video)
*1983 - 'The Dub Factor'
*1986 - 'Brutal Dub'
*1987 - 'The Positive Dub'
*1988 - 'Live'
*1988 - 'Live In New York City'
*1990 - 'Now Dub'
*1990 - 'Love Dub' ("Uhuru In Dub" reedition)
*1992 - 'Iron Storm Dub'
*1993 - 'Mystical Truth Dub'
*1994 - 'Strongg Dubb'
*2000 - 'Live 1984'
*2001 - 'In Dub'
*2001 – 'Dubbin'It Live' (summer 2001, at Paléo Festival)
Abortion
Black Uhuru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make you real glad and so dutiful
Some things in life are so beautiful
Make you go back again and again
Make you go right back till the end
Dressed in white, looks just right
All in brown, let's get down
Black on black, a tasty snack
It's amazing it works
Black rubber
Tight black rubber
Tight black rubber
I ain't no chippyin' man
A tight black rubber
I ain't no chippyin' man
A tight black rubber
I ain't no chippyin' man
Tight black rubber
Tight black rubber
My baby's so bad, I nearly killed her
She bit me so hard when I just filled her
Another gig and another gilder
I'm all killer and no filler
Mary had a little lamb
The shit was pure as snow
Everywhere that Mary went
And everywhere that Mary went
Black rubber
Tight black rubber
Tight black rubber
I ain't no chippyin' man
A tight black rubber
I ain't no chippyin' man
A tight black rubber
I ain't no chippyin' man
Tight black rubber
Tight black rubber
The lyrics of Black Uhuru's Abortion are quite enigmatic and have led to many interpretations. On one level, it can be read as being about the beauty and pleasure of sexual intercourse. The opening lines suggest that some experiences in life are so pleasurable that they make you feel fulfilled and satisfied. The lines "Make you go back again and again" imply that the pleasure is addictive and habit-forming.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more explicit, using suggestive language to describe the act of sex. The lines "Dressed in white, looks just right" and "All in brown, let's get down" refer to the clothing of the participants, while "Black on black, a tasty snack" is a metaphor for the skin tones involved. The repeated refrain "Black rubber, tight black rubber" is an obvious reference to a condom, which the singer asserts "ain't no chipping man" and puts on before engaging in sex.
The final lines of the song, "My baby's so bad, I nearly killed her / She bit me so hard when I just filled her / Another gig and another gilder / I'm all killer and no filler", suggest that the singer sees himself as a skilled lover who is consistently able to provide pleasure to his partner. The use of the metaphor "gig" implies that this is a commercial transaction, with the singer being paid for his services.
Overall, the song can be seen as celebrating the beauty and pleasure of sex while also emphasizing the importance of protection and responsible behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Some things in life are so beautiful
There are beautiful and wonderful aspects to life.
Make you real glad and so dutiful
These things can bring joy and a sense of responsibility or commitment.
Make you go back again and again
They have a strong pull or attraction that makes you want to experience them repeatedly.
Make you go right back till the end
This attraction can be so strong that you keep coming back to it even after it has ended.
Dressed in white, looks just right
This line is not clear in its meaning and may just be a description of someone who looks good in white.
All in brown, let's get down
This line suggests a desire to engage in sexual activity.
Black on black, a tasty snack
This line may be referring to the appeal of dark or forbidden things, using the metaphor of food as a way to describe the pleasure that comes from them.
It's amazing it works
This line is not clear in its meaning and may refer to the effectiveness of contraception or other sexual practices.
Black rubber
This line refers to the use of condoms.
Tight black rubber
This line emphasizes the importance of a snugly fitting condom for safety and effectiveness.
I ain't no chippyin' man
This line suggests that the singer is responsible when it comes to contraception and does not engage in risky behavior.
My baby's so bad, I nearly killed her
This line is not clear in its meaning and may refer to a difficult or dangerous sexual experience.
She bit me so hard when I just filled her
This line may refer to a painful or unpleasant sexual experience.
Another gig and another gilder
This line may refer to a string of sexual encounters with different partners.
I'm all killer and no filler
This line suggests that the singer is a skilled lover and does not engage in empty or meaningless sexual encounters.
Mary had a little lamb
This line is not clear in its meaning and may simply be a non-sequitur or non-sequitur reference to a nursery rhyme.
The shit was pure as snow
This line may refer to the purity or cleanliness of a sexual partner or encounter.
Everywhere that Mary went
This line is a repetition of a previous line and does not provide any additional meaning.
Contributed by Alex V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elizabethhann4028
[26 November 2022] I'm sorry for your loss.
You're a good poet and writer - you write like a poet, I think - and your comment reminded me (in a good way) of an old poem by a Franco-English poet of the early Twentieth Century, Hillaire Belloc. The poem is called "Tarantella" and it's about memory and a lost Miranda. It reads in full:
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda ?
Do you remember an Inn ?
And the tedding and the spreading of the straw
For a bedding
And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees
And the wine that tasted of tar
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers
Under the vine of the dark veranda ?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda ?
Do you remember an Inn ?
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers
Who hadn't got a penny
And who weren't paying any
And the hammer at the doors and the din
And the Hip! Hop! Hap
Of the clap
Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl
Of the girl gone chancing
Glancing
Dancing
Backing and advancing
Snapping of the clapper to the spin
Out and in
And the Ting! Tong! Tang! of the guitar ?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda ?
Do you remember an Inn ?
Never more
Miranda
Never more
Only the high peaks hoar
And Aragon a torrent at the door
No sound
In the walls of the Halls where falls
The tread
Of the feet of the dead to the ground
No sound
But the boom
Of the far Waterfall like Doom ...
I don't know if reading that would make you feel better or not, but I hope it does make you feel better. One Love.
@jahwarriorfrmsd
I will always remember those nights we were together, Miranda. Praying and sharing Jah's love with one another... it was truly beautiful to me. Those nights I won't forget Lord knows I get sad. But I guess the wiles of this world seduced you and you left my side. I forgive you, for I hold no resentment towards you only prayers so the Lord may guide you and give you peace of mind. Bless...
@elizabethhann4028
[26 November 2022] I'm sorry for your loss.
You're a good poet and writer - you write like a poet, I think - and your comment reminded me (in a good way) of an old poem by a Franco-English poet of the early Twentieth Century, Hillaire Belloc. The poem is called "Tarantella" and it's about memory and a lost Miranda. It reads in full:
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda ?
Do you remember an Inn ?
And the tedding and the spreading of the straw
For a bedding
And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees
And the wine that tasted of tar
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers
Under the vine of the dark veranda ?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda ?
Do you remember an Inn ?
And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers
Who hadn't got a penny
And who weren't paying any
And the hammer at the doors and the din
And the Hip! Hop! Hap
Of the clap
Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl
Of the girl gone chancing
Glancing
Dancing
Backing and advancing
Snapping of the clapper to the spin
Out and in
And the Ting! Tong! Tang! of the guitar ?
Do you remember an Inn, Miranda ?
Do you remember an Inn ?
Never more
Miranda
Never more
Only the high peaks hoar
And Aragon a torrent at the door
No sound
In the walls of the Halls where falls
The tread
Of the feet of the dead to the ground
No sound
But the boom
Of the far Waterfall like Doom ...
I don't know if reading that would make you feel better or not, but I hope it does make you feel better. One Love.
@sixxxtythree
RIP Puma, whatever Mykal Rose does these days, there can never be Black Uhuru again without her harmonies and attitude.
@lawrencenjawe1935
Mykal Rose, Sly & Robbie were the real kingpins of black uhuru's success.
@nolakazi
@@lawrencenjawe1935 without puma, that magic wouldn't have been there fully. everything about this era was put TOGETHER so well. probably the best thing in reggae history
@lawrencenjawe9875
@@nolakazi Not True.. Their first 2 LPs are widely considered to be among the foundation of their massive sucesss. love crisis 1977 and Showcase re released in the 80s
@alexandrevieux8560
Ce reggae légendaire, je ne m'en lasse pas.
@septemberquest6393
no group can match this icon reggae group in their genre and style.. powerful..at the extreme.🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻
@lawrencenjawe1935
The original wailers of Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh will forever be the living epitome of Reggae music. Respect
@jamessimumba6871
No group can match Black Uhuru, I agree with you in this genre. Especially in dub style!