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
Pare Sodom
Capleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
then yuh woulda know a who chosen
from yuh hear dem yuh will know dem
listen to di way how dem spoken
from yuh si dem yuh will know dem
then yuh woulda know a who chosen
oh, from yuh hear dem yuh will know dem
by di way how dem spoken
Listen me again
Yuh nuh se a Battyman dem
A Sodomite dem
A Heathen dem boy
True mi lotion di woman dem
Dem nuh like me and mi nuh like dem
Unu listen me again
Yuh nuh see a dead man dem
A duppy man dem
A demon dem boy
That's why wi naaaaaah,
Guh ina nutten wid dem
Well Bulby a seh
Weh mi guh caught dem all
Which part wi caught dem? Inna di dancehall
None a dem can't escape this judgement ball
>From mi found dem guilty after all
Bulby have the eye weh all a see tru all di wall
Wi nuh si nuh eye water but wi si seh nuff a bawl
Nuff dumbstruck but still wi hear dem a call
Nuff seh dem a Moses but mi si seh dem a Saul
Nuff seh dem a David but mi si seh dem a Saul
Weh dem aguh do all ina di roll call
Judgement gwaan tek dem ina di Judgement ball
Never send dem guh mix up with RuPaul
Never send dem guh work fi John Pope Paul
Never tell dem fi male with Frankie Paul
Dis di Prophet dem head a roll like...
Raasclaute tek dem inna di Judgement baaaaaaaaaaaall
Yuh nuh se a battyman dem
A Sodomite dem
A Heathen dem boy
True mi lotion di woman dem
Dem nuh like me and mi nuh like dem
Unu listen me again
Yuh nuh see a dead man dem
A duppy man dem
A demon dem boy
That's why wi naaaaaaaaaah,
Guh ina nutten wid dem
Well bigga Judgement
It betta dem nuh talk it mek sense dem shut up
Every minute dem open dem mouth dem owna words shut dem up
Mi si di whole a dem when me a drive ina di bus
Ketch di whole a dem a drink outta di same cup
And mi find out seh dat di whole a dem guh touch
And mi find out seh dat di whole a dem a kruff
Hey missa man deh coulda who dat you a Ffff...
Hey missa man deh coulda wah dat you a suck
Hey missa man deh coulda wah dat you a touch
Oh.a who got di keys to yuh truck?
Nuh man nuh mek love to fella inna rush
Dis di Emperor yuh know yuh head gwaan bus
Yuh nuh se a battyman dem
A Sodomite dem
A Heathen dem boy
True mi lotion di woman dem
Dem nuh like me and mi nuh like dem
Unu listen me again
Yuh nuh see a dead man dem
A Duppy man dem
A Demon dem boy
That's why wi naaaaaah,
Guh ina nutten wid dem
Well Bulby ask dem
Why yuh aguh dweet?
Who dat yuh deh all a kiss yuh pon yuh cheek?
Inna di King size yuh have another man a sleep
sight Anne Marie and yuh nuh want her meat
sight Jackilyn and yuh nuh want her meat
everday dem come yah with dem battyman speech
Haile King Selassi Rastafari seek
Yuh nuh want nuh gal yuh head a roll pon di streeeeeeeet
Yuh nuh se a battyman dem
A Sodomite dem
A Heathen dem boy
True mi lotion di woman dem
Dem nuh like me and mi nuh like dem
Unu listen me again
Yuh nuh see a dead man dem
A Duppy man dem
A Demon dem boy
That's why wi naaaaaah,
Guh ina nutten wid dem
In Capleton's "Pare Sodom," he tackles the topic of homosexuality, specifically those who are gay or engage in what he refers to as "Sodomite" behavior. Through the song's lyrics, he states that it is easy to spot someone who engages in these activities, whether it is by their behavior, appearance, or manner of speaking. He warns against associating with these individuals and suggests that doing so could result in negative consequences. Capleton also implies that these individuals are judged by a higher power and that their "head[s] will roll like Raasclaute" in the final judgment.
The song's message is clear: homosexuality is not condoned in Jamaican society and is viewed as an immoral or sinful act. While many people may not agree with Capleton's views, the song speaks to broader attitudes within Jamaican culture around homosexuality and the pressures and discrimination that can be experienced by those who are LGBTQ+.
Line by Line Meaning
From yuh si dem yuh will know dem
If you see them, you will recognize them
then yuh woulda know a who chosen
Then you'll know who's chosen
from yuh hear dem yuh will know dem
If you hear them, you'll know who they are
listen to di way how dem spoken
Listen to the way they speak
Yuh nuh se a Battyman dem
Don't you see all the gay men
A Sodomite dem
Those sinners
A Heathen dem boy
Those godless boys
True mi lotion di woman dem
Because I'm after the women
Dem nuh like me and mi nuh like dem
They don't like me and I don't like them
Unu listen me again
Listen to me again
Yuh nuh see a dead man dem
Don't you see all the dead men
A duppy man dem
Those ghost men
A demon dem boy
Those demons boys
That's why wi naaaaaah, Guh ina nutten wid dem
That's why we don't have anything to do with them
Well Bulby a seh
Well, Bulby is saying
Weh mi guh caught dem all
Where I caught them all
Which part wi caught dem? Inna di dancehall
Where did we catch them? In the dancehall
None a dem can't escape this judgement ball
None of them can escape judgment day
>From mi found dem guilty after all
Since I found them all guilty after all
Bulby have the eye weh all a see tru all di wall
Bulby has the ability to see through all walls
Wi nuh si nuh eye water but wi si seh nuff a bawl
We don't see tears, but we can tell many are crying
Nuff dumbstruck but still wi hear dem a call
Many are speechless, but we can hear them crying for help
Nuff seh dem a Moses but mi si seh dem a Saul
Many claim to be Moses, but I see they're Saul
Weh dem aguh do all ina di roll call
What will they do during roll call on judgment day?
Judgement gwaan tek dem ina di Judgement ball
Judgment is coming for them in the Judgment Ball
Never send dem guh mix up with RuPaul
Don't send them to mix with RuPaul
Never send dem guh work fi John Pope Paul
Don't send them to work for John Pope Paul
Never tell dem fi male with Frankie Paul
Don't tell them to act like Frankie Paul
Dis di Prophet dem head a roll like... Raasclaute tek dem inna di Judgement baaaaaaaaaaaall
This is the Prophet's warning, their heads are going to roll, they will be judged harshly.
Well bigga Judgement
A greater judgment
It betta dem nuh talk it mek sense dem shut up
They better not speak if they don't have anything good to say
Every minute dem open dem mouth dem owna words shut dem up
Every time they speak their words condemn them
Mi si di whole a dem when me a drive ina di bus
I see all of them when I drive the bus
Ketch di whole a dem a drink outta di same cup
All of them drink from the same cup
And mi find out seh dat di whole a dem guh touch
And I've found out they all touch each other
And mi find out seh dat di whole a dem a kruff
And I've found out that they're all criminals
Hey missa man deh coulda who dat you a Ffff...
Hey, mister, who are you f*cking?
Hey missa man deh coulda wah dat you a suck
Hey, mister, what are you sucking?
Hey missa man deh coulda wah dat you a touch
Hey, mister, what are you touching?
Oh.a who got di keys to yuh truck?
Oh, who has the keys to your truck?
Nuh man nuh mek love to fella inna rush
Don't make love to guys in a hurry
Dis di Emperor yuh know yuh head gwaan bus
This is the Emperor's warning, your head is going to explode
Well Bulby ask dem
Well, Bulby asks them
Why yuh aguh dweet?
Why are you doing it?
Who dat yuh deh all a kiss yuh pon yuh cheek?
Who are you kissing on the cheek?
Inna di King size yuh have another man a sleep
You have another man sleeping in your king-size bed
sight Anne Marie and yuh nuh want her meat
You see Anne Marie, but you don't want her
sight Jackilyn and yuh nuh want her meat
You see Jackilyn, but you don't want her
everday dem come yah with dem battyman speech
Every day they come here with their gay rhetoric
Haile King Selassi Rastafari seek
Hail King Selassi Rastafari, seek help
Yuh nuh want nuh gal yuh head a roll pon di streeeeeeeet
You don't want to have sex with women, your head will roll in the streets
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lamargrant8151
Dj can't do no better. Youtube would take it down.
@leonitis59
Pure fiyah dis!!!!✌
@lesliegreenidge868
2023 and this tune is srill 🔥i
@lamargrant8151
It's this version or else the batty bwoy @ YouTube would ban it
@leechynn8729
Why mute out the party cake bwoy dem???????
@djpredetorsoundsystem2976
I like this sound boom big turn
@briandoherty9087
This is cencored bun that
@AllKinaTing
agreed
@sherwinjeremiah1168
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@mrsandy3658
Were is the raw version?