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.
Good Good
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No woman no
I tell you what
I guess you was a good time girl (good time girl)
Good times are over so you left my world (left my world)
Now I'm standing all alone
No one to call my own, whoa
And I would give (i would give)
The very heart I have to make you live (make you live)
But when I needed just a shoulder
You showed me who you were, aye
I never thought that you would be the one
To turn your back when I needed a hand
Caught up in situation, blinded by the confrontation
Your actions I could never understand
I guess you was a good time girl (good time girl)
Good times are over so you left my world (left my world)
Now I'm standing all alone
No one to call my own, whoa
Old friends say (old friends say)
Man if she really love you she would stay (she would stay)
But then again, that just the games girls play
When they're no longer in love, aye
But I never thought that you would be the one, uh uh
To turn your back when I needed a hand
I could not find the reason
Where did I went wrong?
Girl, your actions I could never understand
I guess you was a good time girl (good time girl)
Good times are over so you left my world (left my world)
Now I'm standing all alone
No one to call my own, aye
I guess you was a good time, good time, good time girl
Good time, good time girl
I guess you was a good time, good time
Good time, good time, good time
(I guess she was, I guess she was a good time girl)
(I guess she was, I guess she was a good time girl)
(I guess she was, I guess she was a good time girl)
(I guess she was a good time girl)
I never thought that you would be the one
To turn your back when I needed a hand
Caught up in situation, blinded by the confrontation
Your actions I could never understand
I guess you was a good time girl (good time girl)
Good times are over so you left my world (left my world)
Now I'm standing all alone
No one to call my own
Now I'm standing all alone
No one to call my own
Now I'm standing all alone (ooh ooh)
No one to call my own (ooh ooh)
No one to call my own (ooh ooh)
No one to call my own (ooh ooh)
No one to call my own (ooh ooh)
In Buju Banton's song Good Times, he addresses a woman who was only around for the good times in their relationship, but left when things got tough. He sings about how he would give his heart to make her happy, but when he needed her support, she showed her true colors. The chorus repeats the phrase "I guess you was a good time girl," emphasizing the theme of the woman only being interested in being in the relationship when it was easy and fun. Banton expresses confusion about the woman's actions, questioning what he did wrong and why she turned her back on him in a time of need.
The lyrics of Good Times show how relationships can be one-sided, where one person is only interested in being with the other when it benefits them. Banton's words also convey a sense of hurt, as he is left standing alone and without anyone to call his own. Through his song, Banton encourages people to be honest with their intentions in relationships and to prioritize standing by their partner in both good times and bad.
Line by Line Meaning
I cannot please you
I am unable to satisfy your desires
No woman no
I do not need a woman
I tell you what
I will explain my situation to you
I guess you was a good time girl (good time girl)
I assume you were only interested in having fun with me
Good times are over so you left my world (left my world)
Now that our enjoyable moments are gone, you have abandoned me
Now I'm standing all alone
I am now by myself
No one to call my own, whoa
There is nobody that belongs to me
And I would give (i would give)
I would be willing to sacrifice
The very heart I have to make you live (make you live)
I would do anything to make you happy
But when I needed just a shoulder
When I needed emotional support
You showed me who you were, aye
You revealed your true nature
I never thought that you would be the one
I never expected you to be the person
To turn your back when I needed a hand
To abandon me when I needed help
Caught up in situation, blinded by the confrontation
Overwhelmed by the problems, unable to think clearly
Your actions I could never understand
I cannot comprehend your behavior
Old friends say (old friends say)
My long-time acquaintances suggest
Man if she really love you she would stay (she would stay)
If she genuinely loved you, she would remain with you
But then again, that just the games girls play
However, that is the typical act that women do
When they're no longer in love, aye
When they are no longer in love
I could not find the reason
I could not identify the cause
Where did I went wrong?
What mistake did I make?
Girl, your actions I could never understand
I cannot comprehend your behavior
I guess you was a good time girl (good time girl)
I suppose you only wanted to have fun with me
Now I'm standing all alone (ooh ooh)
Currently, I am by myself
No one to call my own (ooh ooh)
I do not have anyone that belongs to me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mark Anthony Myrie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yuran Ricardo
on Fake Smile
with your cynical green
you leave no action
If there’s a choking problem she a reach with everyone
why acting dumb. second verse:
with your cynical green
you leave no action
If you have a choking problems she a reach with everyone
why acting dumb
Kern Rodney
on Fake Smile
If there's ah joke in progress share it with everyone, why acting dumb?