Buju Banton (born Mark Myrie 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and regg… Read Full Bio ↴Buju Banton (born Mark Myrie 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer. He was born in a slum near Kingston, Jamaica called Salt Lane. "Buju" is a nickname which is of Breadfruit. The name is ironic in light of Mark Myrie's slim frame and large head, but it is, nevertheless, the nickname his mother gave him as a child. "Banton" is a Jamaican word referring to someone with a superior attitude and a gift with speech, but it was also the name of a local artist Burro Banton that Buju admired as a child. It was Burro's rough gravelly vocals that Buju emulated and ultimately made his own. Buju's mother was a higgler, or street vendor while his father worked as a labourer at a tile factory. He was one of fifteen children born into a family which was directly descended from the Maroons, a group of escaped slaves who proudly fought off the British colonialists.

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.

Searching
Buju Banton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is it
I'm longin' yea
Longin' to find
I'm longin'

I'm longin' to find
Some peace of mind
A love that will stay forever (and ever and ever)

I've been there before, now I'm hurtin' once more
So I'm searching for someone better (what a shame)

Whoa baby, gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never
Got to have some peace inside
Gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never
Got to have some peace inside

I am searchin' walkin' up and down like mi mad
Lookin' for a love mi 'cause I need one bad
I am desperate an' lonely an' hopelessly sad
Need a better loving than the one that I
To raise mi hands to di father and say thank you
Hills and valley nuff roads we haffi trek
No I am over happy, over joyed and glad
Searchin' for di loving dat will never make mi sad

Gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never
Got to have some peace inside, oh baby
Gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never (I'm searching)
Got to have some peace inside

I'm like we Winnie Winkle runnin' thru di town
Up di stairs and down di stairs inna mi night gown
Callin' out di window, peepin' thru di lock
Can't find mi girl and it's past ten o'clock
And ah di gyal dem a talk and ah di chat dem a chat
A she a love mi lover she a mi wan' to do ma
Cuh de love mi have fi her mi you have to park a cock
Woman just change up your lifestyle, rearrange your act

Loneliness in my eyes
Day and night my heart cries
Don't want this feeling go on, forever
Happiness is not home
Hurt won't leave me alone
So I'm searching for someone better

Whoa baby, gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never
Got to have some peace inside
Gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never
Got to have some peace inside

I am searchin' walkin' up and down like mi mad
Lookin' for a love mi 'cause I need one bad
I am desperate an' lonely an' hopelessly sad
Need a better loving than the one that I
To raise mi hands to di father and say thank you
Hills and valley nuff roads we haffi trek
No I buck up inna love dat will never make mi said
Jump up inna di air got mi feelin' extra glad

Gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never
Got to have some peace inside
Gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never
Got to have some peace inside

I'm like we Winnie Winkle runnin' thru di town
Up di stairs and down di stairs inna mi night gown
Callin' out di window, peepin' thru di lock
Can't find mi girl and it's past ten o'clock
And ah di gyal dem a talk you know me wonder to di mat
Anywhere anywhere she go she have to come back
How I watch out for you is change you pon act
An' mi love when mi half a rise it and drop oh

Gotta find someone better
Gotta be now or never

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buju Banton's song "Searching" explore one of the most basic human needs - the need for love and companionship. The chorus of the song establishes the central theme of the lyrics, which is the search for someone who can bring peace and happiness to the singer's life. The song presents the singer as a person who is lonely and desperate for love and shows how this feeling of loneliness is so overwhelming that he is compelled to go out and search for someone better.

The verses of the song then go on to present different scenarios of how the singer searches for love. Whether he is walking up and down the street like a madman, calling out windows, or trying to track down his lover, these scenes illustrate the depth of his longing for love. The use of imagery and repetition throughout the lyrics emphasizes the singer's desperation and the urgency of his search, as he realizes that he cannot continue with the feeling of loneliness and sadness.

Overall, "Searching" is a deeply emotional song that strikes a chord with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of loneliness and the yearning for a better life with someone by their side.

Line by Line Meaning

This is it
The singer is starting to talk about their current situation.

I'm longin' yea
The singer is feeling a strong desire for something.

Longin' to find
The singer is searching for something specific.

I'm longin'
The artist remains consistent in their desire and search.

I'm longin' to find Some peace of mind A love that will stay forever (and ever and ever) I've been there before, now I'm hurtin' once more So I'm searching for someone better (what a shame)
The artist desires inner peace and a long-lasting love, but has been hurt before and is now searching for a better love in their life.

Whoa baby, gotta find someone better Gotta be now or never Got to have some peace inside Gotta find someone better Gotta be now or never Got to have some peace inside
The singer emphasizes their urgency to find a better love and achieve inner peace.

I am searchin' walkin' up and down like mi mad Lookin' for a love mi 'cause I need one bad I am desperate an' lonely an' hopelessly sad Need a better loving than the one that I To raise mi hands to di father and say thank you Hills and valley nuff roads we haffi trek No I am over happy, over joyed and glad Searchin' for di loving dat will never make mi sad
The singer is desperate for love, feeling lonely and sad, and is in search of a love that will make them truly happy and fulfilled.

I'm like we Winnie Winkle runnin' thru di town Up di stairs and down di stairs inna mi night gown Callin' out di window, peepin' thru di lock Can't find mi girl and it's past ten o'clock And ah di gyal dem a talk and ah di chat dem a chat A she a love mi lover she a mi wan' to do ma Cuh de love mi have fi her mi you have to park a cock Woman just change up your lifestyle, rearrange your act
The artist seems to be out looking for their partner, feeling a need for their love. They hear rumors about their partner and wants them to change their ways.

Loneliness in my eyes Day and night my heart cries Don't want this feeling go on, forever Happiness is not home Hurt won't leave me alone So I'm searching for someone better
The artist feels alone and hurt and doesn't want to feel that any longer, so they continue to search for someone who will bring them happiness and healing.

Gotta find someone better Gotta be now or never Got to have some peace inside Gotta find someone better Gotta be now or never Got to have some peace inside
The artist is again expressing their urgency to find love and peace.

I am searchin' walkin' up and down like mi mad Lookin' for a love mi 'cause I need one bad I am desperate an' lonely an' hopelessly sad Need a better loving than the one that I To raise mi hands to di father and say thank you Hills and valley nuff roads we haffi trek No I buck up inna love dat will never make mi said Jump up inna di air got mi feelin' extra glad
The singer repeats their feelings about being lonely and desperate for a better love, but also expresses their hope to find a love that never make them sad again and will make them feel glad.

I'm like we Winnie Winkle runnin' thru di town Up di stairs and down di stairs inna mi night gown Callin' out di window, peepin' thru di lock Can't find mi girl and it's past ten o'clock And ah di gyal dem a talk you know me wonder to di mat Anywhere anywhere she go she have to come back How I watch out for you is change you pon act An' mi love when mi half a rise it and drop oh
The artist is still searching for their partner, feeling frustrated and blaming themselves for their partner's absence. They want their partner to come back and to see a change in their behavior.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Von Wayne, Dave Kelly, Mark Myrie, Sly Dunbar

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

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