During 1970 and 1971, Wailer, Marley and Tosh worked with renowned reggae producers Leslie Kong and Lee "Scratch" Perry.
They released four albums before signing to Island Records in 1972. Two more albums were created before Tosh and Wailer left the band in 1974, citing grievances over label treatment and ideological differences. Marley carried on with a new line-up, including the I-Threes that put out seven more more albums. Marley died in 1981.
The Wailers were a groundbreaking ska and reggae group, noted for songs such as "Simmer Down", "Trenchtown Rock", "Nice Time", "War", "Stir It Up" and "Get Up, Stand Up".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley_and_the_Wailers
Studio albums
The Wailing Wailers (1965)
The Best of the Wailers (1970; released 1971)
Soul Rebels (1970)
Soul Revolution Part II (1971)
Catch a Fire (1973)
Burnin' (1973)
Natty Dread (1974)
Rastaman Vibration (1976)
Exodus (1977)
Kaya (1978)
Survival (1979)
Uprising (1980)
Confrontation (1983)
Mr. Brown
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(It's Mr Brown) Mr Brown is a clown who rides to town in a coffin
(Well, here he comes) In the top is
Three rows on top and two inside there
Oh, what a confusion! Ooh, yeah, yeah!
What a botheration! Ooh, now, now!
Who is Mr Brown? I want to know now!
From Mandeville to slide-a-ville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
From Mandeville to slide-a-ville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
I want to know who (is Mr Brown)?
Is Mr Brown controlled by remote?
O-o-oh, calling duppy conqueror,
I'm the ghost-catcher!
This is your chance, oh big, big Bill bull-bucka,
Take your chance! Prove yourself! Oh, yeah!
Down in parade
People runnin like a masquerade
The police make a raid,
But the people - oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
They think it fade
What a thing in town
Crows chauffeur-driven around,
Skankin' as if they had never known
The man they call "Mr Brown"
I can tell you where he's from now
From Mandeville to slide-a-ville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
From Mandeville to slide-a-ville
, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
"Mr. Brown" is a song about a mysterious and mischievous character named Mr. Brown, who rides to town in a coffin causing confusion and botheration to the people around him. The chorus of the song implores someone to reveal who Mr. Brown really is, where he comes from, and whether he is controlled by remote. The lyrics describe the chaos that ensues whenever Mr. Brown shows up in town, with people running around like a masquerade and the police trying to make a raid.
The song is sung from the perspective of someone who seems to have some power over spirits, as they call upon the "duppy conqueror" to help catch Mr. Brown. The lyrics also mention "big, big Bill bull-bucka", who is encouraged to take his chance and prove himself. The song ends with a description of crows chauffeur-driven around, skankin' as if they had never known the man they call "Mr. Brown".
Overall, the lyrics of "Mr. Brown" are open to interpretation, and the song has been described as a surreal and mystical tribute to the power of Jamaican folklore and music.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ooh - ooh - ooh - ooh)
Introducing the song with melodic sounds
(It's Mr Brown) Mr Brown is a clown who rides to town in a coffin
The subject of the song is Mr Brown, a clown who rides in a coffin for some unknown reason
(Well, here he comes) In the top is
Three rows on top and two inside there
Oh, what a confusion! Ooh, yeah, yeah!
What a botheration! Ooh, now, now!
The coffin that Mr Brown rides in has three rows of people on top and two rows inside, causing confusion and trouble
Who is Mr Brown? I want to know now!
He is nowhere to be found
The artist expresses a desire to know more about Mr Brown but admits that they cannot be found
From Mandeville to slide-a-ville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
Mr Brown's presence in town causes chaos and confusion at various locations, and people are looking for him
I want to know who (is Mr Brown)?
Is Mr Brown controlled by remote?
The singer is still curious about Mr Brown's identity and wonders if he's being controlled by someone else
O-o-oh, calling duppy conqueror,
I'm the ghost-catcher!
This is your chance, oh big, big Bill bull-bucka,
Take your chance! Prove yourself! Oh, yeah!
The singer calls upon someone called the 'duppy conqueror' and refers to themselves as a 'ghost-catcher', urging a 'big Bill bull-bucka' to take their chance and prove themselves
Down in parade
People runnin like a masquerade
The police make a raid,
But the people - oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
They think it fade
During a parade, people flee like a masquerade, and the authorities intervene, but the people believe it will soon pass and be forgotten
What a thing in town
Crows chauffeur-driven around,
Skankin' as if they had never known
The man they call "Mr Brown"
Strange things are happening in town, such as crows being driven around in cars, dancing as if they do not know Mr Brown
I can tell you where he's from now
From Mandeville to slide-a-ville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
From Mandeville to slide-a-ville
Despite not knowing who Mr Brown is, the artist knows that he travels between Mandeville and slide-a-ville in his coffin, causing chaos wherever he goes
Lyrics © TAMMI MUSIC LTD.
Written by: GREGORY ISAACS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manxpuss
Always loved this track and the spooky story of Mr Brown. Peter and Bunnys backing vocals are sublime
@mikehopes3102
Yea definitely one reggae classic
@marcosperez1168
Hey what's the spooky story behind Mr. Brown?
@manxpuss
@@marcosperez1168 look up online John Crow Mr Brown 1970. A ghostly coffin on wheels with a crow asking for a Mr Brown terrorised parts of Jamaica in 1970. Myth or not it's a strange tale!
@marcosperez1168
@@manxpuss wow thanks brother gonna look into that
@Randall-fb9ql
Mr.brown mad electrician part family
@valeriedenton9274
Bob Marley, The GOAT!! The Greatest Musical Genius Ever!! You're Eternal Bob!! When I need that source of Motivation and Upliftment,I turn to your music. You're my Forever Therapist!! We Love you always!! Long Live The Gong!!!!
@marcwanner5623
And this tune owes much of its fabulousness to the late Scratch Perry. RIP
@ryanmelnick8793
Lee was a true Master.
@backtoeden3635
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