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)
Sistren
Black Uhuru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
come from country town
Home training and manners
She never know
Grandfather say oh mammy
say forward gal a mountain side
Mek she go wash tuh
Mek she go wash tub
Don't mek she go to waste
Don't mek she go to waste
Don't let she stand and wait oh
Don't mek she face disgrace
Don't let she go to waste
Don't let she go to waste
If you have a sistren and she
come from woodland home
Irie spirit she has when she greets
you
It shows grandfather say
Oh mammy say forward gal a
mountain side dub her up a ital fall
Dub her up a ital fall
Chorus
In a earth I would like the blessing
to be on all the chlldren of Israel
For the fear of Jah is the
beginning of wisdom
The sistren qone natty dread
All a wear tall frok instead
Chorus
Cultural vibes are her saying
A piece of silver don't strike her eye
She say reality is so nice
So take care women
African ruby I mean that truly
Come mek we forward down
a river to go beat old clothes
The lyrics of Black Uhuru's song "Sistren" are focused on the importance of valuing and respecting women, especially those who come from rural areas. The song talks about how a "sistren" (a sister) who comes from the country or the woodland doesn't necessarily have the same level of education or social skills as those from the city, but they still have important values and qualities that shouldn't be overlooked. The lyrics also speak of the importance of recognizing the Jamaican cultural values and traditions, such as rastafarian philosophy.
The first verse talks about a woman who comes from a rural area and doesn't know much about etiquette or manners. However, she is hardworking and is willing to do things like wash clothes. The chorus repeats "don't let she go to waste" several times, emphasizing the value of this woman and how she should not be neglected. The second verse refers to a woman from a woodland area who has a positive attitude and embraces the rastafarian philosophy. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing that all women should be respected and not go to waste.
The final verse seems to shift focus from the specific women mentioned in the previous verses to all women in general. The lyrics express the desire for all children of Israel (which is a reference to the Jamaican culture) to be blessed with the fear of god as it leads to wisdom. The final line of the song encourages women to take care of themselves and their appearance, while also embracing their cultural identity.
Line by Line Meaning
If you have a sistren an she come from country town
If you have a female friend and she comes from a rural area
Home training and manners She never know
She wasn't raised with proper etiquette
Grandfather say oh mammy say forward gal a mountain side
Grandfather and grandmother used to say to go forward and climb the mountainside
Mek she go wash tuh Mek she go wash tub
Make her go wash her clothes in the tub
Don't mek she go to waste Don't mek she go to waste Don't let she stand and wait oh Don't mek she face disgrace Don't let she go to waste Don't let she go to waste
Don't waste her potential, don't let her stand around, and don't let her be ashamed
If you have a sistren and she come from woodland home
If you have a female friend from the forest
Irie spirit she has when she greets you
She has an energetic and positive attitude when greeting people
It shows grandfather say Oh mammy say forward gal a mountain side dub her up a ital fall Dub her up a ital fall
This exemplifies the teachings of the grandparents to climb the mountains further and to embrace the Rastafarian culture
In a earth I would like the blessing to be on all the chlldren of Israel For the fear of Jah is the beginning of wisdom The sistren qone natty dread All a wear tall frok instead
Peace and blessings to all children of Israel, as they start on the right path. The female friend has embraced Rastafarian beliefs and wears long dresses.
Cultural vibes are her saying A piece of silver don't strike her eye She say reality is so nice So take care women African ruby I mean that truly Come mek we forward down a river to go beat old clothes
Her beliefs and values revolve around appreciating experiences over material things. She invites others to join her and wash their clothes together by the river.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DERRICK SIMPSON, MICHAEL (GB 1) ROSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fyah Killy Ma
If you have a sistren an she
come from country town
Home training and manners
She never know
Grandfather say oh mammy
say forward gal a mountain side
Mek she go wash tuh
Mek she go wash tub
Don't mek she go to waste
Don't mek she go to waste
Don't let she stand and wait oh
Don't mek she face disgrace
Don't let she go to waste
Don't let she go to waste
If you have a sistren and she
come from woodland home
Irie spirit she has when she greets
you
It shows grandfather say
Oh mammy say forward gal a
mountain side dub her up a ital fall
Dub her up a ital fall
In a earth I would like the blessing
to be on all the chlldren of Israel
For the fear of Jah is the
beginning of wisdom
The sistren qone natty dread
All a wear tall frok instead
In a earth I would like the blessing
to be on all the chlldren of Israel
For the fear of Jah is the
beginning of wisdom
The sistren qone natty dread
All a wear tall frok instead
Cultural vibes are her saying
A piece of silver don't strike her eye
She say reality is so nice
So take care women
African ruby I mean that truly
Come mek we forward down
a river to go beat old clothes
tftka dawidalle
One of Robbie Shakespeare's greatest basslines !!!! Respect to Robbie Lyn on piano.
carlo Druiff
@Hypnos Hypnos in
Hypnos Hypnos
I love the way that it has both the base bass line but also that slap bass line over that 👌
Michelle Redden
i love me some Black Uhuru!!!!!! ❤
MARTIN NDERITU
Great group. Great, actually phenomenal instrumentation and voice. RIP Puma. I've stuck with these guys since 1984 when i debuted college.Hooked on even NOW, this very minute. Sistren got to be. Much love on May Day from Nairobi, Kenya.
Bounty125th
Puma went to high school with my big cuzzo in Brooklyn... He like seventy sumthin bout now
Smooth Operator
Saw them live in Phila. in 2019, put on amazing show. Sly Dunbar tore it up for over 2 hours- the man is GREAT.
Hardy Tall
These guys were great back in a day
Mr3684MUSIC
J'AIME J'AIME J'AIME !!!!!!! MERCI :)
iagmule
thank you for posting this song