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.
Make My Day
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is what I've got to reveal
I'll be your friend
to the end like "Chucky"
Do you understand?
I'm reaching out to the love of my life
Everlasting!
You're the rose in my garden -
pretty little flower
Guardian angel -
fairy godmother
A friend to the end
and also a lover
My one and only,
I don't need another
You're the heat in my winter,
and the breeze in my summer
Love escalating,
growing by the hour
The sweet inna my life,
when my life seems sour
You are my energy,
the source of my power
Girl, you make my day
(uh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
a little things you do???
Girl, you make my day
(please, stay-ye-yeah)
Don't ever ever go away
2:
You are di beat a mi heart,
the topic a mi dream
Remember that I love
no matter how it seem
You bring joy inna mi life,
girl, you a mi queen
You know my lovin'
is pure and clean
So don't you ever leave me,
stay by mi side
Lovin' you is easy,
my future bride
Woman, my heart is open wide
The way you make me feel
I just can't hide
Girl, you make my day
(uh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
a little things you do???
Girl, you make my day
(please, stay-ye-yeah)
Don't ever ever go away
3:
Woman, you make my day,
you make my year
The little things that you do
show me that you care
Moments of laughter,
memories that we share
Light of mi life
and erase my fears
You're my ever reason
to go on and fight
Tough in and out of season,
day and night
If my whole life is wrong
I know you are right
So here is another thing
I want to highlight
Girl, you make my day
(uh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
a little things you do???
Girl, you make my day
(please, stay-ye-yeah)
Don't ever ever go away
All you, girls
(Repeat1)
Girl, you make my day
(uh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
a little things you do???
Girl, you make my day
(please, stay-ye-yeah)
Don't ever ever go away
(Repeat2)
Girl, you make my day
(uh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
a little things you do???
Girl, you make my day
(please, stay-ye-yeah)
Don't ever ever go away
The lyrics of the song "Make My Day" by Buju Banton speaks of the deep love and appreciation the artist has for the special lady in his life. He describes her as the "rose in my garden," the "heat in my winter," and the "source of my power." He acknowledges the little things she does that make his day and emphasizes that he wants her to stay and never go away. The song expresses the artist's desire to reach out to the one he loves and emphasizes that his love for her is pure and genuine.
The lyrics of the song are pure and sincere, and it expresses the depth of the artist's love for the special lady in his life. The song highlights the importance of relationships and the need to appreciate the ones we love. The artist emphasizes the little things in the relationship that matter, from the moments of laughter to the memories they share, and how they erase his fears. The song also portrays the artist's appreciation for his lover, as he describes her as his "guardian angel" and "fairy godmother."
In conclusion, the lyrics of "Make My Day" are an expression of true love, appreciation, and affection, and they remind us of the importance of cherishing the relationships that matter.
Line by Line Meaning
Happiness is what I feel
I am filled with joy
This is what I've got to reveal
I need to express my feelings
I'll be your friend
I want to be your companion
to the end like "Chucky"
I will stay with you until the very end
Do you understand?
Do you comprehend?
I'm reaching out to the love of my life
I am opening up to my soulmate
Everlasting!
Our love is eternal
Girl, you make my day
Your presence brightens up my day
(uh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Implies positive tone and vibration
a little things you do???
It's the little things you do that mean so much to me
(please, stay-ye-yeah)
I want you to stay with me forever
Don't ever ever go away
Please, never leave me
You're the rose in my garden -
You are a beautiful flower in my life
pretty little flower
You are a pretty flower
Guardian angel -
You are my protector
fairy godmother
You are like a fairy godmother to me
A friend to the end
You are my true friend
and also a lover
But you are also my lover
My one and only,
You are the only one for me
I don't need another
I don't need anyone else
You're the heat in my winter,
You warm my heart in the coldest times
and the breeze in my summer
You cool me down in the hottest days
Love escalating,
Our love keeps growing
growing by the hour
Our love grows with time
The sweet inna my life,
You are the sweetest thing in my life
when my life seems sour
Especially when my life is tough
You are my energy,
You give me strength
the source of my power
You are the reason I can do anything
You are di beat a mi heart,
You are my heart's beating
the topic a mi dream
You are the subject of my dreams
Remember that I love
Never forget that I love you
no matter how it seem
Even when things seem difficult
You bring joy inna mi life,
You bring happiness into my life
girl, you a mi queen
You are my queen
You know my lovin'
You know that I love you
is pure and clean
My love for you is pure and true
So don't you ever leave me,
Please never leave my side
stay by mi side
Stay with me
Lovin' you is easy,
Loving you comes naturally
my future bride
I want you to be my future wife
Woman, my heart is open wide
My heart is completely open to you
The way you make me feel
You make me feel amazing
I just can't hide
I can't keep my feelings hidden
Woman, you make my day,
You brighten up my day
you make my year
You make my life better every year
The little things that you do
The smallest things mean the most to me
show me that you care
It shows me that you love me
Moments of laughter,
Our shared moments of joy
memories that we share
Memories that we have created together
Light of mi life
You are the light of my life
and erase my fears
You take away my fears
You're my ever reason
You are the reason for everything in my life
to go on and fight
You give me strength to keep pushing forward
Tough in and out of season,
You are with me in the good and the bad
day and night
24/7
If my whole life is wrong
Even when everything else is going wrong
I know you are right
You make everything feel right
So here is another thing
One more thing to say
I want to highlight
I want to emphasize
All you, girls
This is for all of you ladies
Writer(s): Mark Anthony Myrie Copyright: Gargamel Music, Donovan Germain Music, Songs Of Polygram Int. Inc.
Contributed by Layla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@blessed2429
This song will never get old.
@joegrinefine
Never…..Along with the music video….A truly defining era of vibes,fashion and music✅‼️‼️‼️‼️
@therealmckoy2016
NEVER
@ashtonrussell4820
Never 💯🔥
@adeakin3758
Never ever
@adeakin3758
Damn I was 16yrs when this came out.
@KimFert
Beautiful black women. Miss those days and these kinda tunes.
@lewiscarl4848
Bob marley
@godjewlz1381
OMG YESSSSSSSSS I MISS THE 90’s bad😓😓
@x.naxarii.x7221
✝️✔️