A wise man onc… Read Full Bio ↴King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet.
A wise man once said that a prophet is not without honour save in his own country and so it has been with Capleton. While the veteran DJ's words and works long ago earned him the title of "The Prophet", the respect and honor that should rightfully be his have been a long time coming. "Anytime you try to uplift righteousness and upliftment of the people them, then you ah go get a fight", says the hottest entertainer in the worldwide reggae fraternity. "Bob Marley come do it and them fight him. And when Bob Marley dead, that's when they start to endorse him. I already aware of this, I am not unaware. So I know the more them fight I is the more I get stronger" In the fast-moving world of dancehall reggae, fame and success are hard to obtain and easy to lose. Fans can be fickle, and trends change in the blink of an eye, leaving most entertainers with painfully short career spans. Only a rare few can remain relevant from year to year, holding their audience's attention and leaving them crying for more. His lyrics are deep, precise, and thoughtful. His stage shows are nothing less than dynamic, explosive performances. But his remarkable staying power and longevity may be Capleton's greatest gift.
Born Clifton George Bailey III on April 13, 1967, in the rural parish of St. Mary, Capleton earned his future stage name from friends who were so impressed with his sharp reasoning skills that they named him after the most famous lawyer in town. From a tender young age, he was a lover of the traveling sound systems, sneaking out at night to catch the vibes until dawn. But it wasn't until he turned 18 and moved to Kingston that he was able to realize his destiny.
It was Stewart Brown, owner of a Toronto-based sound called African Star, who gave the untested artist his first break, flying him to Canada for a stage show alongside giants like Ninjaman and Flourgon. The audience poured out their appreciation, and he never looked back. When Capleton first burst on the scene in the late 1980s, the dancehall was a very different place than it is today. Slackness and gun talk were the order of the day. This bright promising newcomer announced his arrival with a string of hit songs from "Bumbo Red" to "Number One on the Look Good Chart" and "Lotion Man." Everything he touched hit the sound-good charts, and the youthful artist with the nimble vocabulary and hardcore voice quickly established himself as one of dancehall's most reliable hitmakers. But even he could not have predicted that eleven years later, at the start of the new millennium, he would be dancehall's ruling voice.
"I think the people dem see say me really deserve that because of the amount of years me put in," Capleton says, "and we never really bow and we still hold the faith. We stand up for whatever we a say. Yeah and we really work for it. And them say by your works, a so you get your pay. The people them see the amount of fight me face and the whole heap of accusation. And me still never give up"
When he dropped the tune "Alms House" in 1992, Capleton established himself as more than an entertainer but as a guiding light of righteousness through music. "United we stand and divided we fall," he sang for the benefit of his fans and dancehall comrades. "Nuff of them nah go know themself till them back against the wall." A few years later he came back with yet another antidote to the clashing and rivlary that had taken hold of the dancehall business. "Music is a mission," he reminded his fellow artists, "not a competition. Some man use the music to cause confusion." The path of this dancehall Prophet was clearly established in 1994 with a string of songs that declared his newfound faith in Rastafari. "INI sight up the light and see say really, yunno, Rasta is real," he recalls. "founder of the world, because Rasta did come set the trend. Y'unnerstand. Rasta is life."
The first words of his mega-hit "Dis The Trinity" made it plain that the DJ had experienced some kind of revelation. "I was once lost but now I'm found," he stated, "Selassie I live every time." Capleton became a strong advocate of the teaching of the Jamaican National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and advocate of universal black repatriation. "Babylon rewarded us with hatred for our love," he declares. "They taught us to rape, steal and kill. For instance, they stole our literature and taught it back to us in a different manner so as to infiltrate our minds with foolishness and other misconceptions. Now we as black men do not see ourselves as prince and prophets, but as punks and guys. Our women do not see themselves as queens, princesses or empresses anymore, but as harlots and concubines." The only solution, as Bob Marley advocated, is to emancipate oneself from mental slavery.
"Over the years INI as a nation and a people, them no really teach INI nuttin' bout INI black self. You know I mean? Them teach INI them give we European philosophy. So INI and some other youths a try emerge now, we ask certain question and we ask fi certain things. Caw we know say an institute, or in a college, or in a certain organization we need we Ethiopian curriculum, we need the black man thing. We need to know about weself. Becaw the prophet Marcus Garvey did show we say, A nation without no knowledge of them own history is like a tree without a root. And if you don't know where you're coming from, you're not gonna know where you're going."
Even as he uplifts the black race, Capleton always makes a point of clarifying that he does not seek to alienate any race. "We are not being racial nor prejudiced star," he says. "Becaw we know Jah is for everyone. But where history and prophesy in concerned, that is our witness and we have to be ourself, and we cannot hide from the truth. Caw we woulda be a traitor and a sellout to ourself. And you cannot sell out yourself."
Soon thereafter came the song "Tour" a blazing state of the dancehall report written in the weeks following the slaying of Panhead and Dirtsman, two of Capleton's fellow artists. That song not only became an anthem of the roots revival within the dancehall, but a hip hop flavored remix of that song hit the Billboard charts, opening up a huge new audience to Capleton's messages of righteousness.
There followed a relationship with Def Jam records, who released two Capleton albums, Prophecy and I-Testament, which featured memorable collaborations with rap stars like Method Man and Q-Tip. Both records were warmly accepted by the international audience, but as the millennium drew to a close, Capleton sensed that it was time to return to his core audience. He had work to do. "I have to be myself, right? And I only can be me," he reasons. "So whichever way fi make me be me, I work with dat. Y'understand."
Capleton is now at the height of his powers. 1999 and 2000 have brought a ceaseless string of sound system favorite and dancehall chart toppers like the anti-violence anthem "Jah Jah City" and "Good In Her Clothes," a message of respect for the sisters who carry themselves like Empresses rather than. But even as he completes his mission of upliftment, Capleton has had many critics. One of his biggest hits, in fact, is addressed the naysayers in the press and the ivory towers of power. "Critics won't leave I alone," chats the Prophet. "They say they can't take the fire weh me put pon Rome"
Many of Capleton's songs "and most of his critics" make mention of this blazing fire. Capleton hopes to clear up the confusion once and for all. "Is not really a physical fire. Is really a spiritual fire, and a wordical fire, and a musical fire. You see the fire is all about a livity. But is people get it on the wrong term. People get confused.So when a man say "more fire" him think that mean say you fi go light the cane field or go light the church." Fire, Capleton explains, is a way of reminding one's brother that they are going astray. "That way a man know say him doing something wrong. That even give him the urge to know say Yo check up on yourself. What you're doing is not right, or else him would not say "Fire fi dat," or "Burn dat" or "More fire." "If we go check it back now," he continues, "fire is for the purification of earth, anyhow you check it. This earth itself have to even emerge from the literal fire also, which is the volcanic activity, we a talk bout lava. The hottest element to rise us in the morning is the sun. The water cleanse, but it's still the support from the fire that burn the water, burn out of the bacteria so the water coulda heal we fi cleanse. The herb heal, but it's still the fire fi burn the herb so the herb coulda heal we also."
{Bio is courtesy of Rob Kenner} www.vprecords.com
Chalice
Capleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't give me that crazy look
One of these days, then you gonna be mine
Don't give me that crazy look
I want a woman that pure and soul divine
Don't give me that crazy look
One of these days, then you gonna be mine
I need a woman that pure and soul divine
An' mi want one weh clean
(Oh) She affi have di vision an' a dream
An' she caan prang bust nuh M-16
An' she caan dutty, seh she affi clean
An' she affi straight, an' she caan lean
An' she affi kind, an' she caan mean
An' she affi hice up di red and di gold and di green
Inna har heart, she affi let rasta in
Chorus
Mi want a woman weh clean
Want one weh pure
Righteousness, she affi always adore
So mi can always all tek her pon tour
She affi mentally rich, she caan mentally poor
Physically rich, she caan physically poor
When she give me loving me affi holla out fi more
Loving weh she give mi seh it always secure
Righteousness, she affi always adore
Chorus
Mi want a woman weh clean
An' mi want weh fine
De woman weh mi want
She affi one of a kind
An' di wrong tree man weh seh she caan climb
She nuh fi deaf, she nuh fi dumb
She nuh fi cripple nor blind
Emperor Selassie a go show one fi sign
Bear good tings affi inna har mind
Nuh bad company, an' mi seh she caan join
(Oh) An' mi seh she caan play 69
(Oh)
Chorus (repeat until fade)
The song "Chalice" by Capleton talks about his desire for a woman who is pure and soulful. He describes the characteristics he wants in his ideal partner as he wants a woman who is clean physically and mentally. She should have a vision and a dream for her future, and she should not resort to violence or guns. Furthermore, he wants her to be kind and righteous, and she should always adore righteousness. He desires a woman who is emotionally and physically rich and can give him love and more. The woman he desires should be mentally and emotionally stable, and good company with no bad intentions.
Capleton's lyrical articulation displays that he is a man of culture and beliefs. His strong conviction in Rastafarianism is evident in his lyrics. The red, gold, and green references in the song are the colors of the Rastafarian religion. Capleton's admiration for Rastafari and Emperor Selassie is audible in his lines "Inna har heart, she affi let rasta in" and "Emperor Selassie a go show one fi sign." In essence, the song reinforces the idea that righteousness is essential and essential to being pure and soulful.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't give me that crazy look
I don't want you to look at me like I am crazy
One of these days, then you gonna be mine
Someday you will be mine
I want a woman that pure and soul divine
I desire a woman who is pure and spiritually good
Mi want a woman weh pure
I want a woman who is pure
An' mi want one weh clean
And I want one who is clean
(Oh) She affi have di vision an' a dream
She must have a vision and a dream
An' she caan prang bust nuh M-16
And she should not be able to use any weapon
An' she caan dutty, seh she affi clean
And she cannot be dirty, she has to be clean
An' she affi straight, an' she caan lean
And she has to be honest, and cannot be dependent
An' she affi kind, an' she caan mean
And she must be kind, and not mean
An' she affi hice up di red and di gold and di green
And she has to represent the colors of the Rastafarian flag - red, gold, and green
Inna har heart, she affi let rasta in
She has to let Rastafarian beliefs and values into her heart
Mi want a woman weh clean
I want a woman who is clean
Want one weh pure
I desire one who is pure
Righteousness, she affi always adore
She has to always love righteousness
So mi can always all tek her pon tour
So I can take her with me on my tours
She affi mentally rich, she caan mentally poor
She has to be mentally rich, not poor
Physically rich, she caan physically poor
She has to be physically rich, not poor
When she give me loving me affi holla out fi more
When she gives me love, I have to ask for more
Loving weh she give mi seh it always secure
The love she gives me is always secure
De woman weh mi want
The woman that I want
She affi one of a kind
She has to be one of a kind
An' di wrong tree man weh seh she caan climb
And any man who says she cannot achieve anything is wrong
She nuh fi deaf, she nuh fi dumb
She should not be deaf or dumb
She nuh fi cripple nor blind
She should not have any disabilities
Emperor Selassie a go show one fi sign
Emperor Selassie will show me a sign
Bear good tings affi inna har mind
She should always have good thoughts in her mind
Nuh bad company, an' mi seh she caan join
She should not be involved with any bad company
(Oh) An' mi seh she caan play 69
And I am saying that she cannot engage in sexual activities
Writer(s): S. Brown, Clifton George Bailey Copyright: Dub Plate Music Publishers Ltd., Jetstar Music Limited
Contributed by Joshua N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulsands3955
Babylon can't stop de chalice from burning down Rome
@shawnysmith1182
Still listening May 2019! Pure memories!
@rasjay93
RASPEK!!!
@shereencoteau4083
2020 & I'm worl dancing all over this room, much needed energy in this current time ❤✊🏿💚
@marlonbarrentine6268
More fyah!!!!
@trackcivil5041
A classic. I think about this song when I think about work. We must work but all oppression fuels rebellion.
@danieldoobree3282
Who still here 2020 and I’m 13 btw but love and respect it 💯
@rasjay93
Blessins yute, keep pon reggae music and gud livity, stay blessed ghetto yute https://youtu.be/hCqCmWly7AA ask yuh parents fi check mi reggae music , raspek !
@latoyaannunziata7662
Error of the Drum❣️✍🏽🔥🔥🔥 2024 message
@truthhitman7473
Still listening 2017