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.
Wanna Be Loved
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not for who you think I am
Nor what you want me to be
Could you love me for me?
Real love, with no strings attached
I wanna give you me heart
Don't want to take it back
This is my chat-cho
Been searching for a long long time
For that oh-so-true love
To comfort this heart of mine
No pretense stop wasting my time
A virtuous woman is really hard to find
I'm telling you lady
I'm only human, not looking for impossibility
Just a genuine woman with sincerity
Someone who is always near to hold me
Show me you care, up front and boldly
Don't shun my feelings, all the positive meanings
Love me morning, noon all seasons
Wanna be loved
Not for who you think I am
Nor what you want me to be
Could you love me for me?
Real love, with no strings attached
I wanna give you my heart
Don't want to
Well every hoe have it's stick in a bush
What happen to me, she must be somewhere out there
Now where could she be?
Caught up passionately in a love rhapsody
I'm like waiting on some honey
But there ain't no queen bee
Everybody's laughing
Some say I'm silly
No infatuation, no love fantasy
Woman you lead my life on a string
I can't tale the on and off thing
I'm oh so lonely inside so I sing
Wanna be loved
Not for who you think I am
Nor what you want me to be
Could you love me for me?
Real love, with no strings attached
I wanna give you me heart
Lady
I would spend my nights at home
But if it means contention
I'd rather be alone
Tell the service man cut the phones
Lock all communication
If there's no light within my day
I'd rather stay in isolation
For that special someone a lifetime I'll wait
I know that I'll be okay
Cross my heart, every day I live I pray
And I know she'll come my way
Night and day for this woman I pray
Wanna be loved
Not for who you think I am
Nor what you want me to be
Could you love me for me?
Real love, with no strings attached
I wanna give you me heart
Don't want to take it back
This is my chat-cho
The lyrics of Buju Banton’s “Wanna Be Loved” speak to the desire for authentic and unconditional love. Buju Banton sets the tone of the song by stating that he wants to be loved for who he is, not how people want him to be. He craves a love that is selfless and genuine, not one that is conditional and based on masks and pretense. He searches for someone who will not toy with his feelings, but rather be a positive support in his life. The chorus highlights his yearning for real love without strings attached. Banton is straightforward in expressing his expectation to give his heart to the woman that is willing to accept him for who he is without reservation.
The verse that follows the chorus further expressing his longing for a trustworthy and sincere partner. He notes that it is difficult to find virtuous women but that he is not looking for a perfect one, just a woman with sincerity. The tone of the song is both passionate and soulful, and the reggae rhythms of the music emphasize this. It is apparent that the lyrics are heartfelt and genuine.
Line by Line Meaning
Wanna be loved
The singer desires to be loved deeply and unconditionally
Not for who you think I am
The singer does not want to be loved for any preconceived notions or perceptions of who they are
Nor what you want me to be
The singer does not want to be changed or molded into someone else's ideal version of themselves
Could you love me for me?
The singer wants to be accepted and loved for their true self, flaws and all
Real love, with no strings attached
The singer desires a genuine love that is not based on conditions or expectations
I wanna give you me heart
The singer is willing to open up and give their all to the person they love
Don't want to take it back
The singer hopes that their love will be reciprocated and not rejected
Been searching for a long long time
The singer has been looking for true love for a considerable amount of time
For that oh-so-true love
The singer is in search of a deep and genuine love
To comfort this heart of mine
The singer hopes to find someone who will provide comfort and security for their heart
No pretense stop wasting my time
The singer is not interested in any superficial or fake relationships
A virtuous woman is really hard to find
The singer believes that it is difficult to find a woman who embodies purity and goodness
I'm only human, not looking for impossibility
The singer acknowledges their own imperfections and limitations, but does not want to pursue an impossible love
Just a genuine woman with sincerity
The singer desires a woman who is truly genuine and sincere
Someone who is always near to hold me
The singer wants a partner who is always present and available to provide physical and emotional support
Show me you care, up front and boldly
The singer desires a partner who is not afraid to express their love and affection in a direct and honest way
Don't shun my feelings, all the positive meanings
The singer wants their partner to accept and appreciate their emotions and the positivity they bring to the relationship
Love me morning, noon all seasons
The singer wants a love that is constant and enduring, no matter what time of year it is
Well every hoe have it's stick in a bush
The singer uses a Jamaican saying to suggest that everyone has their match somewhere out there
What happen to me, she must be somewhere out there
The singer believes that there is a woman out there who is meant for them, but they have not found her yet
Caught up passionately in a love rhapsody
The singer believes that when they find the right woman, they will be deeply in love with her
I'm like waiting on some honey
The singer is patiently waiting for love to come to them
But there ain't no queen bee
The singer has not yet found the right woman to be their partner in life
Everybody's laughing
The singer feels like others are making fun of them for believing in true love
Some say I'm silly
The singer acknowledges that some people might view their search for love as foolish
No infatuation, no love fantasy
The singer wants a real love based on genuine affection rather than just infatuation or fantasy
Woman you lead my life on a string
The singer feels like they are being controlled or manipulated by the women in their life
I can't tale the on and off thing
The singer is tired of being in an unstable or inconsistent relationship
I'm oh so lonely inside so I sing
The singer uses music as an outlet to express their loneliness and longing for true love
I would spend my nights at home
The singer is willing to wait patiently for love, even if it means spending time alone
But if it means contention
The singer does not want to be in a relationship that causes conflict or strife
I'd rather be alone
The singer would rather be single than be in a relationship that is not right for them
Tell the service man cut the phones
The singer wants to disconnect from the world and focus on their search for true love
Lock all communication
The singer wants to isolate themselves from distractions and focus on their inner thoughts and feelings
If there's no light within my day
The singer feels like their life lacks meaning or purpose without love
I'd rather stay in isolation
The singer would rather be alone than feel unfulfilled in a relationship that is not right for them
For that special someone a lifetime I'll wait
The singer is willing to wait as long as it takes to find the right person for them
I know that I'll be okay
The singer trusts that they will be able to handle the challenges of finding true love, no matter how difficult it may be
Cross my heart, every day I live I pray
The singer is deeply committed to their search for true love and prays for guidance and support every day
And I know she'll come my way
The singer is confident that they will eventually find the woman of their dreams
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK ANTHONY MYRIE, HALDANE WAYNE BROWNE, DAVE KELLY, HOPETON ST. AUBIN LINDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ABBas94677
would spend my nights at home
But if it means contention
I'd rather be alone
Tell the service man cut the phones
Lock all communication
If there's no light within my day
I'd rather stay in isolation
For that special someone a lifetime I'll wait
I know that I'll be okay
Cross my heart, every day I live I pray
And I know she'll come my way
Night and day for this woman I pray
@CowenGittens
I hope whoever reads this finds true love, real love
@nellyc1002
From your lips to god’s ears 🙏🏾
@King-pv8fk
@Nelly C too bad god is deaf
@elisabethreese1516
This song makes me feel so good
@mandieserjeant2354
IAM mi lil cat lol x
@Lilplayboybaby
@jxk13 🤣
@aubreynorton4470
Buju is one of the most conscious Reggae Artist alive. Still jamming in 2023 and beyond.
@infinitegalore1266
Fact
@XrisXo
Fax
@candesmith9310
And 2022🥰