Capital Letters were a reggae band out of Wolverhampton, England. A move to… Read Full Bio ↴Capital Letters were a reggae band out of Wolverhampton, England. A move to Shepherds Bush, Middlesex in 1977 set them in place to become one of the Greensleeves label's first signings. Their single "Smoking My Ganja" blew the woofers out of UK soundsystems throughout '78, and propelled them into the studio to record a full-length. The resulting LP, Headline News, was Greensleeves' seventh release and one of the more critically acclaimed reggae records of 1979 with its finely balanced blend of African, Jamaican, and English influences and songs that covered topics ranging from religion to marijuana legalization to the bloody reign of Idi Amin.

Capital Letters were a big band, eight-strong (adding another guitarist/vocalist for their 1979 John Peel radio session), that boasted four vocalists, two drummers (one the conga player) and two percussionists among their ranks. In Jamaica, brass and/or organ filled out the arrangements.

Unfortunately, Capital Letters were also a relatively-short lived band. After Headline News they only released one other LP--Vineyard on a minor German label in 1982--and it is rarely in print. That and a handful of fine 12" were all the Capital Letters wrote.

Goodnews CAPITAL LETTERS the band are now practising and will be playing out soon doing all their tracks and more , I should know I'm the keyboard player Perch.

Smoking My Ganja
Capital Letters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

M a wanted man
Running away from the policeman
Them want fe charge I
For smoking ganja

I see them coming
Some are coming with their guns
Some are coming with their batons

Some are riding on horses
Some are coming with their dogs
Just fe catch I
Oh oh just fe catch I
(I feel the presence of the wicked)

Meanwhile Im smoking my ganja
Them a use LSD
Meanwhile Im smoking my ganja
Them a use them LSD
Don't wanna learn no GCE
Or JSE
Don't trouble I (oh no)
Don't trouble I (oh no)

Im just smoking my ganja
Im just smoking my ganja

Overall Meaning

In Capital Letters's song "Smoking My Ganja," the lead singer describes himself as a wanted man, running away from the police who are trying to arrest him for smoking marijuana. He is aware of their presence and describes how they are coming after him with guns, batons, horses, and dogs just to catch him. The lyrics express a sense of danger and tension, signalling the fear of being caught for an illegal act.

While the police are using harsh means to catch him, the singer of the song is still smoking his ganja, and he describes how the authorities are using LSD. The use of drugs by both parties highlights the state of confusion and desperation faced by people in the society. This is further emphasised by the singer's disinterest in traditional education, expressed through the line "Don't wanna learn no GCE, or JSE."

The song portrays an appreciation for the use of marijuana as a form of escapism, despite the threat of punishment from the authorities. It echoes the sentiment of many who believe that marijuana should be decriminalized, and that the law enforcement agencies should look for other means to reduce crime.

Line by Line Meaning

M a wanted man
I am a fugitive from the law.

Running away from the policeman
I am evading capture by the police.

Them want fe charge I
They want to arrest and charge me.

For smoking ganja
Because I am smoking marijuana.

I see them coming
I am aware of their approach.

Some are coming with their guns
Some officers are armed with firearms.

Some are coming with their batons
Some officers are carrying batons.

Some are riding on horses
Some officers are patrolling on horseback.

Some are coming with their dogs
Some officers are accompanied by police dogs.

Just fe catch I
Their sole mission is to apprehend me.

Oh oh just fe catch I
Their determination to catch me is prevalent.