Since stepping out onto the dancehall scene in 2003, Busy Signal's undeniable talent and lyrical dexterity has taken him quickly to the front of the pack. Busy's breakout hit single - "Step Out" - was one of dancehall's hottest songs for 2005 and with a thugged-out video to match, it signalled the arrival of dancehall's next superstar.
Busy Signal, an alias given to him by a friend because of his constantly busy persona, has always approached his craft from a different perspective, not trodding the usual road of trying to voice on every rhythm out there to try and catch a break. Instead, Busy chose to record songs with concepts attached to them on purpose-built rhythms. The first such track to catch the attention of a wider audience was "Born and Raised", a song in which Busy Signal reps his birthplace and narrates the gritty realities of Jamaica.
"Even though I was an unknown artist and there was no-one else on the riddim," says Busy, "the track got good airtime which encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing. Producers don't want to give young artists a break more time, so young artists can get stifled. I just work hard on putting creative flows and melodies together and so far people have been feeling it." Already with a big following worldwide, Busy doesn't see his music as stopping in Jamaica. A slew of Busy Signal mix CDs flooded the streets from Halfway Tree to Brixton to Flatbush and beyond, creating and spreading the hype that lead to Busy being the strongest young artist to emerge from 2005.
Busy's self-production and businesslike approach to the industry has seen him already launch his own label, Network Records. The first releases, "Tell Santa Dis" and "Where I'm From" are distributed worldwide and are selling well.
Although Busy didn't rely on familiar rhythms and producers for a break, he has no problem recording for other labels, such as Renaissance, for whom Busy recorded "Not Going Down," showcasing his singing and deejaying abilities. Other tracks from Busy include "Because of You," with Tami Chin on the Throwback Giggy beat, "That Bad," and "Pharmacy" for Don Corleon, "Fade Away" for John John and "Too Much Gun," which sees Busy in explosive form, delivering rapid fire lyrics atop the reworked Man Fi Dead (Petty Thief) soundbed.
The end of 2005 saw Busy Signal garner immense critical success from show-stealing appearances on all the major stage shows across Jamaica, including the Smirnoff Experience alongside Sean Paul, Bobby Valentino and others, as well as Island Explosion, Camp Fire and West Kingston Jamboree. And of course there was the already-legendary debut appearance at 6.45am on the toughest stage in the world - the infamous Sting reggae concert. Busy stepped out in the rising sun adorned in full black and underlined why he is here to stay.
2006 has seen no ease up in Busy's momentum, with a headline grabbing performance at Reggae Sumfest 2006, where he performed solo on Dancehall Night and was also called up by G Unit on International Night. With successful tours of the UK, the Caribbean and Japan already knocked down and with Step Out breaking new ground on the esteemed Billboard chart, Busy is already being heralded as a new icon in the business.
Tic Toc
Busy Signal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
SSMG
Gyal
B-B-B-Busy
Shake it
My girl (ladies)
Weh mi waan you do
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Toc (gyal, weh me seh fi do)
Tic Toc
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic(ladies)
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Tic Tic
[Verse 1:]
You know that I like what you do when you to that
From the floor to the bed to the rooftop
I'll work you like a nine to five
To keep the vibe alive
Each and every time we do that
Prove that
The way she turn and twist y'all
Drop it down low to the floor make her hips flow
It's another thong song like sisqo
Say you Wanna put your lips on my kisco
[Bridge:]
Sen fi har
Cause you dun know say bad man straight and me nah go bend fi har
From she look pon the size of mi foot me have the size ten fi har
Plus me under mi guiness and weed from way back when fi har
Pop out mi coil and spend pon her
Take a tic gyal
[Chorus:]
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Toc
Tic Toc
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Tic Tic
[Verse 2:]
Ah me she wan whine pon
So me give her something fi climb pon
She me love all de tatoo design pon
Say ah me she wan put all de style pon
But she know seh mi nuh come from short wood avenue
Gyal whine up show me what you have in you
Tic Tic Toc there ain't no stoppin you
You nuh deh pon nuh menu, me not nyamin you
When she ah quint it, quint it pon de edge
When she ah whine and go down pon her head
When me ah sink it, sink it she ah beg
Di gyal wah d-d-d-d-drop dead
Baba, grabber, blend up inna big head
Me mix my guiness with the Bull to the Red
Gyall bounce dat, bounce dat pon di third leg
You no soft in a bed... yuh scream but you no dead
[Chorus: x2]
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Toc
Tic Toc
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Tic Tic
[Bridge:]
Sen fi har
Cause you dun know say bad man straight and me nah go bend fi har
From she look pon the size of mi foot me have the size ten fi har
Plus me under mi guiness and weed from way back when fi har
Pop out mi coil and spend pon har
Take a tic gyal
[Chorus: x2]
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Tic Tic Toc
Tic Toc
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic
Tic Tic
The lyrics of Busy Signalβs song Tic Toc are all about the appreciation of a womanβs body and her sexual prowess. The opening lines of the chorus, βTic Tic Tic Tic Toc, Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc,β are used to describe the rhythm of a clock, which could be interpreted as symbolizing the fast and exciting pace of the sexual encounter that is being described. The lyrics are explicit in their description of what the singer wants the woman to do, encouraging her to shake and move her body in a variety of ways, from the floor to the bed to the rooftop. The chorus is followed by two verses, each describing how the womanβs movements make the singer feel, and the pleasure he derives from them. The bridge of the song serves to emphasize the singerβs bad boy persona and how he is treated by women. The lyrics of the song are graphic but also fun and catchy, incorporating a variety of rhyming words and phrases that make it easy to dance along to.
Overall, the song is about enjoying and celebrating the female body and the pleasure one can derive from it. It is also about indulging in pleasure and enjoying oneself without shame or regret. While the subject matter of the song might be considered controversial or inappropriate by some, it speaks to a cultural fascination with sexuality and desire that is shared by people all over the world.
Line by Line Meaning
SSMG
Introducing the artist's label or group name
Gyal
Addressing or acknowledging a female person
B-B-B-Busy
A reference to the artist Busy Signal
Shake it
A request for the female subject to dance or move in a sexually provocative way
My girl (ladies)
Addressing or acknowledging female listeners or dancers
Weh mi waan you do
Requesting the female subject to perform a sexual act
Tic Tic Tic Tic Toc
Describing a repetitive ticking sound, possibly referring to erotic anticipation or sexual intercourse
Tic Tic Toc (gyal, weh me seh fi do)
Reiterating the previous tick-tock sounds, while appealing to the female subject to perform the requested sexual act
Toc Toc Toc Toc Tic(ladies)
Repeating the ticking sounds, while appealing again to female listeners or dancers
You know that I like what you do when you to that
The artist expressing pleasure from the female subject's sexual activity
From the floor to the bed to the rooftop
Describing various locations where the sexual activity has occurred or could occur
I'll work you like a nine to five
The artist promising to engage in sexual activity for an extended duration, like a typical workday
To keep the vibe alive
Maintaining the erotic atmosphere or sexual energy during the encounter
Each and every time we do that
Reiterating the pleasure experienced during the sexual activity
Prove that
Confirming the previous statement about the pleasure experienced
The way she turn and twist y'all
Describing the female subject's sexual movements or techniques
Drop it down low to the floor make her hips flow
Encouraging the female subject to perform a sexual dance or move in a sexually suggestive way
It's another thong song like sisqo
Comparing the sexual encounter to a hit song from the early 2000s
Say you Wanna put your lips on my kisco
The female subject expressing a willingness to perform oral sex on the artist
Sen fi har
Addressing the female subject
Cause you dun know say bad man straight and me nah go bend fi har
The artist declaring that he is a tough or serious man and will not compromise his principles for the female subject
From she look pon the size of mi foot me have the size ten fi har
The male subject boasting about the size of his feet and implying that he has a large penis
Plus me under mi guiness and weed from way back when fi har
The male subject is possibly under the influence of alcohol and marijuana
Pop out mi coil and spend pon her
The male subject ejaculating and satisfying the female subject sexually
Take a tic gyal
Encouraging the female subject to take a breath or pause to regain composure, after a sexual encounter
Ah me she wan whine pon
The artist implying that the female subject desires to have sex with him
So me give her something fi climb pon
The artist satisfying the sexual desires of the female subject
She me love all de tatoo design pon
The female subject finds the artist's tattoos attractive or desirable
Say ah me she wan put all de style pon
The female subject stating that the artist is her preferred sexual partner
But she know seh mi nuh come from short wood avenue
The artist stating that he is not inferior in any way
Gyal whine up show me what you have in you
Encouraging the female subject to dance or move in a sexually suggestive way
Tic Tic Toc there ain't no stoppin you
Reiterating the previous tick-tock sounds and conveying excitement or pleasure
You nuh deh pon nuh menu, me not nyamin you
The artist stating that he is not just trying to impress the female subject, but actually desires her
When she ah quint it, quint it pon de edge
Describing the female subject's sexual activity or pleasure
When she ah whine and go down pon her head
Describing the female subject's sexual dance or movement
When me ah sink it, sink it she ah beg
The female subject begging the artist for more sexual activity
Di gyal wah d-d-d-d-drop dead
The female subject experiencing intense sexual pleasure
Baba, grabber, blend up inna big head
Unclear, possibly a reference to Jamaican slang or patois
Me mix my guiness with the Bull to the Red
The artist is possibly mixing different alcoholic drinks to enhance his sexual performance
Gyall bounce dat, bounce dat pon di third leg
The artist encouraging female dancers to dance in a sexually suggestive way
You no soft in a bed... yuh scream but you no dead
The artist boasting about his sexual prowess and implying that the female subject is enjoying herself
Contributed by Sophia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ianrolle4922
A re-release in 2023 would do very good numbers in this Tic Toc era
@SleepingDreamer16
LMAO!!!! I remember my mother cursing me out as a child because I kept saying the chorus over and over again regardless of where we were.
@rodannapier7013
π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£πππππ
@JMF2
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@shakiellaachee7829
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@taniquevirgo
ππ
@NellenelleForSure
They need to re-release this in 2020 in 4K!! Ugh! π©π§‘π₯ π₯ π₯ I can only imagine how stunning and mad it will be filmed with today's tech.
@royaldigitalmedia
Busy Signal puts out the best dancehall albums. Maybe not the biggest smash singles but his albums are art.
@JabberwockySupafly
One of the few times we get to see a well produced video for a dancehall track, and it just so happens that its a hot track. Mad props.
@JimCorrigan777
Busy Signal is classy. One of the best artists out of Jamaica IMO.