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 ↴
Mr Brown is a clown who rides through town in a coffin
(Where he be found?)
In the coffin where there is
Three crows on top and two is laughing
Oh, what a confusion! Ooh, yeah, yeah!
What a botheration! Ooh, now, now!
He is nowhere to be found
From Mandeville to Slygoville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
From Mandeville to Slygoville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
I wanna 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 - oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The thing get 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't tell you where he's from now
From Mandeville to Slygoville, coffin runnin' around,
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
Asking for Mr Brown
From Mandeville to Slygoville
"Mr Brown" by Bob Marley & The Wailers is an ambiguous and enigmatic song that is open to multiple interpretations. The song is essentially a riddle about a mysterious character named Mr Brown, who rides through town in a coffin with three crows on top of it. The song creates an atmosphere of confusion and chaos as people try to hunt down Mr Brown, but he remains elusive and cannot be found.
The song has been interpreted in many ways, with some suggesting that Mr Brown is a metaphor for death or a symbol of Jamaica's colonial history. Others see Mr Brown as a trickster figure or a mischievous spirit who is always one step ahead of his pursuers. The song's references to "duppy conqueror" and "ghost-catcher" suggest that Mr Brown may have supernatural powers or be connected to the world of spirits and ghosts.
The song's lyrics also contain references to Jamaican folklore, such as the crows who are chauffeur-driven around the town, which is reminiscent of the traditional Jamaican folk tale "Anansi and the Three Crows". The song also makes reference to the Jamaican towns of Mandeville and Slygoville, which suggests that it may be a commentary on Jamaican politics or social issues.
Overall, "Mr Brown" is a complex and multi-layered song that defies easy interpretation. It is a testament to Bob Marley's enigmatic and poetic songwriting, which continues to captivate and intrigue listeners to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
(Who-oo-oo-oo is Mr Brown?)
Who is Mr. Brown?
Mr Brown is a clown who rides through town in a coffin
Mr. Brown is a clown who rides in a coffin throughout the town
(Where he be found?)
Where can he be found?
In the coffin where there is
He can be found in the coffin
Three crows on top and two is laughing
There are three crows on top and two of them are laughing
Oh, what a confusion! Ooh, yeah, yeah!
It's such a confusion!
What a botheration! Ooh, now, now!
It's such a botheration!
From Mandeville to Slygoville, coffin runnin' around,
The coffin is running around from Mandeville to Slygoville
Upsetting, upsetting, upsetting the town,
It's causing a disturbance in the town
Asking for Mr Brown
People are asking for Mr. Brown
I wanna know who (is Mr Brown)?
I want to know who Mr. Brown is
Is Mr Brown controlled by remote?
Is Mr. Brown being controlled by remote?
O-o-oh, calling duppy conqueror,
Calling all ghost catchers
I'm the ghost-catcher!
I'm the one who catches ghosts
This is your chance, oh big, big Bill bull-bucka,
This is your chance to prove yourself, big Bill bull-bucka
Take your chance! Prove yourself! Oh, yeah!
Take this opportunity to prove yourself
Down in parade
During the parade
People runnin like a masquerade
People are running as if it were a masquerade
The police make a raid,
The police are conducting a raid
But the - oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
But something unexpected happens
The thing get fade
The situation becomes unclear
What a thing in town
What a situation in town
Crows chauffeur-driven around,
Crows being driven around by a chauffeur
Skankin' as if they had never known
Dancing as if they never knew
The man they call "Mr Brown"
The man named Mr. Brown
I can't tell you where he's from now
I can't tell you where he's from
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY, GLENN ADAMS
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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