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.
Untold Stories
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thanks I'll be giving
To the most high you know
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only he knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only he knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say
When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It's a competitive world for low budget people
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only him know how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only he knows how we get through everyday
All the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say
When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It's a competitive world for low budget people
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
In Buju Banton's song Untold Stories, he reflects on the struggles and hardships faced by the common people, while the leaders play. He starts with expressing gratitude towards God for being alive and then talks about his daily struggle to make ends meet. He feels that only God knows how they make it through each day with increasing prices and expenses to pay. Meanwhile, the leaders who are supposed to lead the people are busy playing games and not doing anything substantial.
In the next few lines, Buju Banton describes how he sees people stealing and taking things that do not belong to them. He believes that thieves do not like to see honest people succeed and are greedy. People suffer greatly, but politicians do not seem to care about the common people's problems. Banton admits that he could go on for days because there are countless untold stories of struggles and hardships that people face every day.
Banton then talks about the scarcity of opportunities in today's times. Those who can afford to move away from adversity do so, but what about those who cannot? The competition is immense, and it's not easy for low-budget people to make ends meet. Banton concludes the song by saying that his cup is full to the brim, and he could go on and on with untold stories.
Line by Line Meaning
While I'm living
Acknowledging that he is alive in the present moment
Thanks I'll be giving
Expressing gratitude for life
To the most high you know
Giving thanks to a higher power
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Praying to God in the present moment as he lives his life
Only he knows how we get through everyday
Acknowledging that God is the only one who knows how they are able to survive each day
With all the hike in the price
Referring to the rising cost of living
Arm and leg we have to pay
The high cost of living is causing financial strain
While our leaders play
Leadership is not doing enough to address the high cost of living
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
People are resorting to theft and crime to survive
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
Those who are stealing do not want to see others succeed in stealing too
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
People who are struggling are not receiving compassion from others
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
Another burden to overcome, in need of divine intervention
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Youth may resort to more drastic measures to survive
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
Having an education but not being able to find a job to make a living
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
Clothes are worn out and have multiple holes
I could go on and on the full has never been told
There is much more to say and things are much worse than what has been described
Who can afford to run will run
Those who can afford to leave will leave the country
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Those who cannot afford to leave will have to endure the struggles of living in the country
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
Opportunities for success are hard to come by
In these times I say
In the current situation
When mama spend her last and send you go class
When a mother spends all her money on her child's education
Never you ever play
Do not take education for granted and waste the opportunity given
It's a competitive world for low budget people
The world is highly competitive and those who do not have much money are at a disadvantage
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
Living expenses are high and wages are low, making it difficult to make ends meet
With no regards to who it may tickle
Others are not considering the struggles faced by those with little funds
My cup is full to the brim
Despite the struggles and hardships, he is grateful for what he has
I could go on and on the full has never been told
There is still more to say about the struggles faced and it is worse than what has been described
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Donovan Germain, Glenroy Browne, Handel Wesley Alexander Tucker, Mark Anthony Myrie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@_AIAH_
LYRICS:
While I'm Living
Thanks I'll Be Giving
To the Most High You know,
I am living while I am living to the Father I will pray
Only him know how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we haffi pay
While our leaders play
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fi see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own a payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole.
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the Father I will pray
Only him know how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we haffi pay
While our leaders play
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It's a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regard to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the Father I will pray
Only him know how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we haffi pay
While our leaders play
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fi see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own a payroll
The clothes pon yuh back have countless eyehole
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
(On and On)
Though this life keep getting me down
Don't give up now
Got to survive somehow
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the Father I will pray
Only him know how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we haffi pay
While our leaders play
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It's a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on.
The full has never...
Been.
Told
@moniqueaguilar451
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only him knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
All I see people a rip and a rob and a rival
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a sufferin bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no on no payrollyroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only him knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't, they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say, when mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It's a competitive world for low budget people
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only him knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
All I see people a rip and a rob and a rival
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a sufferin bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no on no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
Could go on and on and the fool has never been thrown
(On and On)
Though this life keep getting me down
Don't give up now
Got to survive somehow
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only him knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can't, they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say, when mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It's a competitive world for low budget people
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on
The full has never
Been
Told
@liostar9878
Buju Banton - dun went off 2 da big leages on this right here! β¨ a u t h e n t I c v i e w s β¨ π dun took him 2 da next level and for dat I will be forever grateful for!
@emelinemadi4270
Anyone here in 2k24?
@Riogi
I'm here. :).
@leslygonzalez8506
Yoooo
@CavikeLevy-zq1sz
I'm still here
@EolianRichards
IM HERE
@bigdawg3305
Mi deh yah right deh bro
@user-blaqjyzoz
Who is still listening to it in this..2024
@ty-niccasanders6237
Over and over and over again
@ItsMeDeeDee
Meeeeee