As a youngster, Buju would often watch his favourite artists perform at outdoor shows and local dancehalls. At the tender age of 13 he picked up the microphone for himself and began toasting under the monicker of "Gargamel". His first single, "The Ruler" was released not long afterwards in 1987 under the production of Robert French at Penthouse Studios.
In 1991, Buju joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse Label and began a fruitful partnership with producer Dave Kelly. Buju is one of the most popular musicians in Jamaican history, having burst onto the charts there suddenly in 1992, with "Bogle" and "Love Me Browning/Love Black Woman", both massive hits in Jamaica. Controversy erupted over Love Me Browning which spoke of Banton's preference for light-skinned women: "Mi love mi car mi love mi house mi love mi money and ting, but most of all mi love mi browning." Some accused Banton of promoting a colonialist attitude and denigrating the beauty of black women. In response, he released "Black Woman" which spoke of his love for dark-skinned beauties: "Stop cry, fi all black woman, respect all the gyals with dark complexion." 1992 was an explosive year for Buju as he broke the great Bob Marley's record for the greatest number of number one singles in a year. Beginning with "Man fi Dead", Buju's gruff voice dominated the Jamaican airwaves for the duration of the year. Banton's debut album, Mr. Mention, includes his greatest hits from that year.
1992 was also the year in which the controversy over Buju's homophobic "Boom Bye Bye" exploded. The media in Great Britain picked up on Buju's less than admirable promotion of violence against homosexuals. Myrie, who had recently signed with Mercury records, refused to back down from his stance against homosexuals, claiming his religious beliefs prevented him from accepting homosexuality. Banton downplayed the violent content of his song, claiming that it was metaphorical. Gay Rights groups campaigned against Buju as well as Shabba Ranks who, when asked about the controversy on the British show The Word, stated, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." Shabba later apologized, but Buju refused to back down which drew the ire of various homosexual advocacy groups who continue to campaign against him.
Banton released the hard-hitting Voice of Jamaica in 1993. The album included a number of conscious tracks. These tracks included "Deportees" a song which criticized those Jamaicans who went abroad but never sent money home, a remix of Little Roy's "Tribal War", a sharp condemnation of political violence, and "Willy, Don't Be Silly" which promoted condom use. The conscious spin of this disc did little to stop the attacks of gay rights groups who felt that his continued performance of "Boom Bye Bye" was a slap in their faces. Some dancehall fans felt that Banton could have exploded onto the American scene if his homophobic song hadn't held him back. Nevertheless, Buju was adopted by many new fans who appreciated his gravelly vocals and cared little about his homophobia.
Til Shiloh (1995) was a very influential album, using a studio band instead of synthesized music, and marking a slight shift away from dancehall towards roots reggae for Banton. Buju turned Rasta and his new album reflected his new beliefs. Til Shiloh is one of the greatest dancehall albums of all time and successfully blended conscious lyrics with a hard-hitting dancehall vibe. The album included a single called "Murderer" which condemned the violence in Jamaican dancehall music, inspired by the murders of dancehall musicians Panhead and Dirtsman. The song inspired several clubs to stop playing songs with excessively violent subject matter. This conscious album had a large impact on dancehall music and showed the hunger the dancehall massive had for conscious lyrics. Dancehall music did not move away from slack and violent lyrics, but the album did pave the way for a greater spirituality within the music.
Inna Heights (1997) substantially increased Banton's international audience as Buju explored his singing ability and recorded a number of roots-tinged tracks. Banton covered The Silvertones' "Destiny" and recorded songs with such artists as Beres Hammond and the legendary Toots Hibbert. The album was well-received but had distribution problems. Also, some fans were disappointed, having hoped for another ground-breaking album like "Til Shiloh." Still, Buju's experimentation and soaring vocals impressed many fans and this album remains a highly regarded work.
In 1998, Buju met the punk band Rancid and recorded two tracks with them: "Misty Days" and "Life Won't Wait." The latter became the title track of Rancid's 1999 album, Life Won't Wait. Subsequently, Buju signed with Rancid's eclectic Anti, a subsidiary of Epitaph and released Unchained Spirit in 2000.
In March 2003 he released Friends for Life, which featured more sharply political songs, including "Mr. Nine", an anti-gun song that further verified his status as one of reggae's most anti-confrontational artists.
Banton's 2006 album Too Bad got him nominated for a second Grammy but despite the album's brilliance and artistic excellence "Too Bad" did not garner the award. "Too Bad" brings us back to the Buju of the nineties with his rough phenomenal voice backed by hypnotic beats and conscious lyrics that seem to stay on repeat in your head. "Too Bad" is a complete listen from start to finish and is an extra success because the Gargamel executive produced the album on his own label.
On April 21, 2009, Buju released the often delayed album Rasta Got Soul. This is Banton's ninth album and features the hit single Magic City. This release sees Buju returning to roots and culture reggae. The album received a Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category.
As of December 2009, Buju allegedly attempted to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Miami and faces up to life in prison if convicted. The trial of Banton began on September 20, 2010 in Tampa, Florida.
Better Days Coming
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yuh done know seh the war ting fi done zeen?
Everyman a big man
A one life
Doe mistake cuz we cya place it*
Right now mi a slide, yeah we lowe di thing doe*
Tek weh wi self*
Running from di law.
I'm really not a villain, di reason I am living
Is because I was quick on di draw
Toss up wid some bwoy,
Ah neva me and di law.
Wah punk me out, mi mek dem know seh dem cya.
Yo, ah barrage a shot fire, dem go page all mi bredda
And you dun know this means war.
Hear dem bad, and ho much iron dem a chaw.
How much man dem make affi suck through straw?
Yo, a noise dem a mek and all a pressure dem jaw,
Mi ago show dem who ah di real outlaw.
So mi guh suh raddaf* an slide through mi chopy*
Ketch dem off guard inna war a move sloppy
Wah fi happen, happen
An wi done bad already.
Who fi run weh, run weh
And who fi bury, bury.
Better days coming, man tiyad of running,
Running from di law.
I'm really not a villain, di reason I am living
Was because I am quick on di draw.
And mi seh,
Better days coming, man tiyad of running,
Running from di law.
I'm really not a villain, di reason I am living
Was because I was quick on di draw.
Inna time when di heart of man get so cold,
Di babe, and di suckling, di young and di ole.
Gun bwoy nah nuh pity, nuh self control.
An a peer long rifle deh out deh ah probe.
Sarge ah swear! How you gone dealid him soul?
Him switch, start play ah informa role
Try sell me out like di reward is gold.
Ah me alone step, mi seh a me alone prowl.
So deep is di concept, a lot of fools drown,
Anuh di guns weh yuh fire, anuh di amounta rounds
Hear Buju Banton, cah da one yah it proud
Switch up pon di riddim, tell some fool doe close*
Better days coming, man tiyad of running,
Running from di law.
I'm really not a villain, di reason I am living
Is because I was quick on di draw
In Buju Banton's song "Better Days Coming," the Jamaican artist speaks to the urgency of ending violence in his community. The opening lines set the tone, with Buju declaring that "the war ting fi done," emphasizing that the time has come for the fighting to stop. He goes on to talk about how everyone is important and that everybody must be careful not to make a mistake that could lead to a loss of life. In the remainder of the song, Buju speaks about how he is not a bad person, but the reason he is still alive is that he will act quickly to protect himself. He tells a story of a run-in with some boys who try to take advantage of him, but he quickly creates an advantage and warns them that they do not want to start a war with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo,
Yuh done know seh the war ting fi done zeen?
Hey, do you already know that the war needs to stop?
Everyman a big man
A one life
Every person has one life and so they are all equally valuable.
Doe mistake cuz we cya place it*
Can't afford to make mistakes because we can't handle the consequences.
Right now mi a slide, yeah we lowe di thing doe*
Tek weh wi self*
Right now we are avoiding being involved in any negative situations and just focusing on ourselves.
Better days coming, man tiyad of running,
Running from di law.
The future will be better as people are tired of fearing and running from the law.
I'm really not a villain, di reason I am living
Is because I was quick on di draw
I'm not a bad person, but my ability to act quickly when needed has allowed me to survive and live.
Toss up wid some bwoy,
Ah neva me and di law.
Getting into it with someone, never with the law enforcement on their side.
Wah punk me out, mi mek dem know seh dem cya.
If someone wants to challenge me, I let them know they can't win.
Yo, ah barrage a shot fire, dem go page all mi bredda
And you dun know this means war.
When a lot of shots are fired, it alerts all of my comrades and signifies the start of a war.
Hear dem bad, and ho much iron dem a chaw.
How much man dem make affi suck through straw?
I hear them talking big about their gun power and how many people they've injured or killed.
Yo, a noise dem a mek and all a pressure dem jaw,
Mi ago show dem who ah di real outlaw.
They are making a lot of noise and acting tough, but I will prove that I am the true outlaw.
So mi guh suh raddaf* an slide through mi chopy*
Ketch dem off guard inna war a move sloppy
Wah fi happen, happen
An wi done bad already.
I move quickly and quietly, catching my enemies off guard as they make mistakes.
Who fi run weh, run weh
And who fi bury, bury.
Those who need to run away should and those who need to be buried will be.
Inna time when di heart of man get so cold,
Di babe, and di suckling, di young and di ole.
In these times people are so cold-hearted and even babies, young people, and the elderly are affected by the violence.
Gun bwoy nah nuh pity, nuh self control.
An a peer long rifle deh out deh ah probe.
Gunmen have no compassion and lack self-control as they aim their long rifles at anything in their way.
Sarge ah swear! How you gone dealid him soul?
Him switch, start play ah informa role
Try sell me out like di reward is gold.
Sergeant, how could you take his life like that? He switched sides and became an informant for the reward money.
Ah me alone step, mi seh a me alone prowl.
I am stepping forward and prowling on my own, without anyone else on my side.
So deep is di concept, a lot of fools drown,
Anuh di guns weh yuh fire, anuh di amounta rounds
Hear Buju Banton, cah da one yah it proud
Switch up pon di riddim, tell some fool doe close*
The concept is so deep that many ignorant people can't understand it. It's not about the amount of guns or ammunition used. Buju Banton is proud to speak up and change the perspective of those who don't understand the issue at hand.
I'm really not a villain, di reason I am living
Was because I am quick on di draw.
I'm not a bad person, it's just that my quick reaction time has allowed me to survive and live.
Writer(s): Mclean Troy Barrington, Thompson Errol Felton, Joel Gibson, Mark Myrie
Contributed by Allison T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@animeboy9385
I BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR YEARS😁🎄🎉
@bigmouthentertainment3095
affi know de name ah yuh artiste song dem😊nuff respect
@912Kingofkings
one of my all time favorite buju!!!
@taylortaylor1431
Buju fi days
@yonnickgazacraiggaza3859
Better days coming so buju banton sing.
@looplelou
onna my all time fav dancehall tracks. too tuff too haard. boom. buju can't be touched. him a locked up but we can still feel him inna er'y city er'y town worldwide. caaant lock up genius
@bigmouthentertainment3095
he free now
@kenardoheslop2833
A barrage a shot fyah dem guh paige all mi bredda suh u dun know dis means war.... Gargamel u nuh naamal a swear
@demonking8056
A barrage of shots fyah
@hotskull6108
Who still 2023