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
Cooyah Cooyah
Capleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kid's Voice:
Wise...wise....blessed...blessed...
More fire!!...More fire!!....red
Capleton:
More fire!!! Red hot!!!! Yuh see ah now well done, yo!!
Light up di fire from mi ready fi put it pon dem
Chorus:
Dat one yah name cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di vampire
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di obeah wuker
Tell dem cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...again
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di obeah wuker
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di vampire
Tell dem cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!
Well there is...nuttin to nuh worry about
There is...nuttin to confuse about
There is, when mi seh nuttin to nuh carry about
Cause from yuh clean seh di fire nah go bun yuh out
There is...nuttin to nuh worry about
There is...nuttin to confuse about
There is, when mi seh nuttin to nuh carry about
Cause even if yuh dutty seh di fire still a purge yuh out
Dat one yah name red!!!!!
When di fire go bun dem red!!!
And a di same fire go purge dem red!!!
And gimme di fire mek mi serve dem
And gimme di and gimme di yo!!!
Verse 1:
Walk wid your children yuh fi come to di fire camp
Come inna di fire suit fi fire education
Mi teachin di fire woman and mi teachin di fire man
Give dem di fire foot, give dem di fire hand
When baby a move weh mi give dem fi nyam
And a mi give dem di fire meditation
Go bun babylon!!!...bun Scotland!!!
Bun Pentagon!!!...bun Vatican!!!
Bun confusion!!!...bun disillusion!!!
Bun temptation!!!...bun distraction!!!
Bun pollution!!!...bun malfunction!!!
Bun temptation!!!...bun disillusion!!!
Bun corruption!!!...The Queen Of England!!!
Bun Scotland!!!...John Paul The Second!!!
Bun everyting weh wrong!!! and bun dem clan!!!
Bun confusion!!!...bun tension!!!
And mi seh bun boogaman!!!...bun lesbian!!!
Then who agree wid mi unno push up unno hand, yo!!!
Chorus:
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
Cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...again
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di obeah wuker
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di vampire
Tell dem cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...again
Nuttin to nuh worry about
There is...nuttin to confuse about
There is, when mi seh nuttin to nuh carry about
Cause from yuh clean seh di fire nah go bun yuh out
There is...nuttin to nuh worry about
There is...nuttin to confuse about
There is, when mi seh nuttin to nuh carry about!!!!
Red hot!!!! Yo!!!! Cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
Cuyah cuyah cuyah.....Hold on hold on hold on hold on!!!!!!!!
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeddd!!!.....Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddd!!!!!
Dat one yah name red!!!
When di fire go bun dem red!!!
And a di same fire go purge dem red!!!
And gimme di fire mek mi serve dem
And gimme di and gimme di and gimme di yo again
Red!!!! so di fire go bun dem red!!!
And a di same fire go purge dem red!!!
And gimme di fire mek mi serve dem
Hey gimme di yo yo!!
Verse 3:
Well mi seh who fight di fire dem same one go bow up
Who fight di fire dem same one go corrupt
Who fight di fire dem same one nah go give up
Who fight di fire dem same one go give up
Who fight di fire dem same one go bow up
Who fight di fire dem go likkle pon mash up
Who fight di fire dem same one haffi go pack up
Who fight di fire dem same one go..yo yo!!!
Chorus/Outro:
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di vampire
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di backstabber
Tell dem cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!
The song "Cooyah Cooyah” by Capleton is a powerful expression of spiritual and social rebellion. The song begins with the sound of a child's voice calling for “More Fire,” which is a popular phrase that Capleton has used in many of his songs, and a reference to the element of fire as a symbol of spiritual power and cleansing. Capleton then goes on to talk about his readiness to stand up against those who would seek to oppress him or exploit his people, using the power of the fire. He sings about how the fire can be used to burn away the vampiric energies that surround us, and how it can also be used to burn away the corrupt systems of power that exist in the world today.
Capleton's lyrics are a powerful call to action, encouraging people to stand up for their rights and to fight against injustice wherever they see it. The use of the word “cuyah” repeatedly throughout the song is a reference to a Jamaican Patois word that means “burn.” Capleton is essentially calling on his listeners to burn away the negative energies in their lives, to burn away the systems of oppression that surround them, and to embrace the cleansing power of the fire.
Overall, “Cooyah Cooyah” is a powerful reggae anthem that speaks to the deep spiritual and social struggles of the Jamaican people, and it is a testament to Capleton's status as one of the most influential voices in contemporary reggae music.
Line by Line Meaning
Wise...wise....blessed...blessed...
I am wise and blessed, and I wish the same for others.
More fire!!! Red hot!!!! Yuh see ah now well done, yo!!
I am calling for more energy and passion, as I am ready to deliver what I have to offer.
Light up di fire from mi ready fi put it pon dem
I am prepared to ignite the fire within myself and others and share it with the world.
Hey gimme di hey gimme di yo!!!!
I am eagerly asking for more enthusiasm and support.
Dat one yah name cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
People refer to me as 'cuyah cuyah cuyah' when they see me with the fire I bring.
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di vampire
People call me 'cuyah cuyah cuyah' when I burn down the vampires.
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di obeah wuker
People name me 'cuyah cuyah cuyah' when I put an end to the work of the dark arts practitioners.
Tell dem cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...again
Again and again, people recognize me as 'cuyah cuyah cuyah'
There is...nuttin to nuh worry about
You need not worry about anything.
There is...nuttin to confuse about
There is no need to be confused, everything is clear.
There is, when mi seh nuttin to nuh carry about
You do not have to carry any burdens or weights when I say there's nothing to worry about.
Cause from yuh clean seh di fire nah go bun yuh out
If you are pure-hearted, the fire within me will not burn you out.
Cause even if yuh dutty seh di fire still a purge yuh out
Even if you are impure, my fire will cleanse and purify you.
Dat one yah name red!!!!!
When di fire go bun dem red!!!
And a di same fire go purge dem red!!!
And gimme di fire mek mi serve dem
And gimme di and gimme di yo!!!
The fire I bring is intense and powerful, capable of burning and purging those who need it most. Give me the fire and I will serve others wholeheartedly.
Walk wid your children yuh fi come to di fire camp
Bring your children and come to my fire camp.
Come inna di fire suit fi fire education
Wear the fire suit and receive an education on the fire I bring.
Mi teachin di fire woman and mi teachin di fire man
I teach both men and women about this fire.
Give dem di fire foot, give dem di fire hand
I equip people with the tools they need to harness the fire within them.
When baby a move weh mi give dem fi nyam
When babies are moving away, I give them something to eat.
And a mi give dem di fire meditation
I also provide them with fire meditation.
Go bun babylon!!!...bun Scotland!!!
Bun Pentagon!!!...bun Vatican!!!
Bun confusion!!!...bun disillusion!!!
Bun temptation!!!...bun distraction!!!
Bun pollution!!!...bun malfunction!!!
Bun temptation!!!...bun disillusion!!!
Bun corruption!!!...The Queen Of England!!!
Bun Scotland!!!...John Paul The Second!!!
Bun everyting weh wrong!!! and bun dem clan!!!
Bun confusion!!!...bun tension!!!
And mi seh bun boogaman!!!...bun lesbian!!!
Then who agree wid mi unno push up unno hand, yo!!!
Cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...cuyah!!!...again
I express my desire to burn down the corrupt institutions of society and anything that is wrong. I urge others who agree with me to show their support.
Red hot!!!! Yo!!!! Cuyah cuyah cuyah when dem see mi wid di fire
When people see me with the fire, they call me 'cuyah cuyah cuyah'.
Cuyah cuyah cuyah.....Hold on hold on hold on hold on!!!!!!!!
Reeeeeeeeeeeeeddd!!!.....Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddd!!!!!
Dat one yah name red!!!
And gimme di and gimme di and gimme di yo again
Red!!!! so di fire go bun dem red!!!
Hey gimme di yo yo!!
People call me 'red' because of the fiery energy I bring. I ask for more support as I continue to burn those who need it, and become an even stronger force to be reckoned with.
Well mi seh who fight di fire dem same one go bow up
Who fight di fire dem same one go corrupt
Who fight di fire dem same one nah go give up
Who fight di fire dem same one go give up
Who fight di fire dem same one go bow up
Who fight di fire dem go likkle pon mash up
Who fight di fire dem same one haffi go pack up
Who fight di fire dem same one go..yo yo!!!
Those who resist the fire I bring will ultimately face defeat, corruption, and destruction. They cannot win the battle against my fire.
Cuyah cuyah cuyah when mi bun di backstabber
I am dubbed 'cuyah cuyah cuyah' when I burn those who stab me in the back.
Contributed by William D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Truth teller
on Who Dem
Say me nah keep no funny man friend
Tell me say me nah keep no
(Edit)
Friend
Tell them say me nah keep no funny man friend
Tell them say me nah keep no sodomite friend
Truth teller
on Who Dem
Ruben ah wah we a go do to dem
What actions are we going to take against them?
Slew dem, who dem
We must defeat them, who are they?
Who demwell done, yo
Whoever they are, we've done a great job against them
So me seh again
Let me say it again
Slew dem ah pure feeling dem a carry
We must defeat them because they only carry negative energy
Dem done bow already and dem can't say dem sorry ya
They have already lost and they can't even apologize
Unno wan do dem something for me again well yo yo it name
Let's do something against them again, it's what we do
Who dem ah couldah, wha dat dem a try
Who do they think they are, what are they trying to do?
Dem go dis King Selassie watch all a dem die yo
By opposing King Selassie, they will face repercussions
Who dem me go see dem wit dem spell
Who are they that use witchcraft?
Dem dis Emmanuel and dem soul gone a hell
By opposing Emmanuel, they will lead themselves to hell
Who dem a coulda, who dem waan cuss, dem dis Marcus
Who do they think they are, disrespecting Marcus?
And now dem all bite de dust ya
Now they are facing the consequences of their actions
Who dem and me go tell dem fi splurt
We will tell them to flee and never come back
Tell dem dem can't dis mama earth
They cannot harm mother nature
Say me nah keep no funny man friend
I won't be friends with those who are not honest and sincere
Tell me say me nah keep no
I am told to not keep a
Friend
dishonest friend
Nah go stoop low me trod di rocky road dem
I won't lower myself to their level and will keep to my difficult path
Da fire ya, it redder dan red, da one yah name
The fire that burns within me is intense and unstoppable
So me bun out dem dutty heart
I will remove those with evil intentions
Dem evil heart and dem corrupted thought nyam too much
They have too much greed and corrupt thoughts
Snake under grass, bow to de boss
Snakes hide under the grass and serve their boss
Move too fast, me tell dem bout dem
They move too fast, I will let them know
Who go tell dem to provoke de youths dem to wrath
Who told them to provoke the youth to anger?
Now de youth dem seh dem nah trust no shadow after dark
Now the youth don't trust anyone in the dark
Nah tek no check nor no fool fool talk
They won't take any payments or foolish talk
Dem know who and who ah come straight from dem heart
They know who is sincere and genuine
Know who a hypocrite from de way how dem talk
They know who is dishonest based on their speech
Dis de emperor and watch de whole a dem loss
Opposing the emperor will lead to their downfall
Can't even find food to put inna dem troft
They are so impoverished they can't even afford food
Not even bicycle much less donkey cart
They can't even afford basic transportation
Can't even creep, much less fi walk
They can't even crawl, let alone walk
Dem can't even smile nor laugh da one yah name
They can't even enjoy life's simple pleasures
Who dem ah dem ah want ah treasure
They are after treasure
Tell dem dem caan dis mama 'mega
They cannot disrespect mother nature
Sense did a gi weh like dem never get a pence
They are senseless, they can't even think logically
Seems like dem gone school and go warm bench
It seems like they went to school to waste time
Dem nah have no faith no confidence
They don't have any faith or confidence in themselves
Nah hold no faith nah block no reverence
They don't hold any faith or respect
Find out say nuff a dem disobedient
Many of them are disobedient
So me find out dem no have no conscience
I found out they have no conscience
Dem no have a clean heart nor a clear conscience
They don't have a pure heart or a clear conscience
Dis king Selassie I it never mek sense
Opposing King Selassie I is nonsensical
Dis Emmanuel and dem get kick of a de bench
By opposing Emmanuel, they will be defeated
Dis Marcus Garvey ah weh the case dem get drenched
Opposing Marcus Garvey was an unfavorable decision
Who dem, who dem yo
Whoever they are, who are they?
noah's ark
on Babylon Judgement
Mystery Babylon is the new world order
Sherry
on Bad Mind
Bad Mind- Jealousy or Envy The song is about people with the problem and how to avoid having bad mind