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
Tour
Capleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say straighten yuh crooked ways
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Selassie I liveth every time
(Me sing)
After me lef from Jamaica, go a foreign pon tour
Preaching teaching the people fi sure
If yuh ignore yuh goin' perish fi sure
Come back in Jamaica, everything insecure
Rich a get rich and the poor a get poor
Come back come hear say Pan head skull bore
Come back an hear say Dirts man skull bore
Hear say, John Pope Paul all a come yah pon tour
DJ dung yah a brandish mi what more
Boogerman ah plan all fi guh march and tour
Tour Kingston and all go tour Port more
But me know de whole a dem would a-must dead fi sure
And de DJ dem nah teach people no more
A pure clashing and fighting dem no unite no more
Alla tell de girls girl dem fi bruck out like a sore
It seems like the people dem no love God, no more
If slackness a the sickness then culture a the cure
Ice all mi block and all a whole city
Yeah
I say straighten yuh crooked ways
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Selassie I liveth every time
(Me sing)
After me lef from Jamaica, go a foreign pon tour
Preaching teaching the people fi sure
Answer to Jah when him a knock pon your door
If yuh ignore yuh goin perish fi sure
After mi come back a Jamaica nuff things gone wrong
Cyan know di uhman dem different from di man
Whole a dem a dressing in di same pollution
Dawn an John a join competition
Man a take them money an a go Obeah man
Man a grudge full and dem no stop envy man
But dem laborite, and dem labor wrong
Man a walk pon road and lick down innocent man
Like down the little pickiney inna de prom
Dis is one thing me got fi over stand
Most of the youth dem stop dis Rastaban
De get fi know say Rasta a di right tradition
And respect Selassie as the almighty one
If slackness a the fault, culture a the solution
Yeah
I say straighten yuh crooked ways
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Selassie I liveth every time
(Me sing)
After me lef from Jamaica, go a foreign pon tour
Preaching teaching the people fi sure
Answer to Jah when him a knock pon your door
If yuh ignore yuh goin perish fi sure
Hold up, wait a minute
Come back a Jamaica things naw run right
Man Alla fuss and dem no stop from fight
Some long icepick and some Ole rusty knife
Man a walk a road a take innocent life
But dem labor wrong and dem labor right
Man a walk a road around and take out innocent life
Say Selassie I and Alla dem start to fight
Say Emanuel and nuff a dem Alla fight
Say Marcus Garvey and nuff a dem a fight
Woman Alla shine and man no stop fight
If slackness a the darkness, then culture a the light
Ice all mi block an all a whole city
(How me say)
Yeah
I say straighten yuh crooked ways
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Selassie I liveth every time
(Me sing)
After me lef from Jamaica, go a foreign pon tour
Preaching teaching the people fi sure
Answer to Jah when him a knock pon your door
If yuh ignore yuh goin perish fi sure
This is most of the thing me tell the people on the tour
Answer to Jah when him a knock pon the door
Make sure your hands clean and make sure ya heart pure
Selassie call you, your safe an secure
Things yuh used to do yuh naw guh do them no more
Place yuh use to go yuh naw guh go there no more
Food yuh used to eat yuh naw guh eat dem no more
Things yuh used to say yuh naw go say dem no more
Leading dem a gwan like dem a bruck out like soldiers
(Say)
See dem a go upon the seashore
(Fi dandis?)
Yeah
I say straighten yuh crooked ways
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Selassie I liveth every time
(Me sing)
After me lef from Jamaica, go a foreign pon tour
Preaching teaching the people fi sure
Answer to Jah when him a knock pon your door
If yuh ignore yuh goin perish fi sure
Hold up, wait a minute
Come back in Jamaica, everything insecure
Rich a getting rich and the poor a get poor
Come back an hear say Pan head skull bore
Come back an hear say Dirts man skull bore
Hear say, John Pope Paul all a come yah pon tour
DJ dung yah a brandish mi what more
Bugggerman ah plan all fi guh march and tour
Tour Kingston and all go tour Port Moore
But mi know di whole a dem woulda must dead fi sure
And the DJ them naw teach people no more
Clashing and fightin' dem nuh unite no more
All a tell the girl dem fi bruck out like a sore
It seem like the people them no love God no more
If slackness a the sickness then culture a the cure
Ice all a block an all a whole city
Yeah
I say straighten yuh crooked ways
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Selassie I liveth every time
(Me sing)
After me lef from Jamaica, go a foreign pon tour
Preaching teaching the people fi sure
Answer to Jah when him a knock pon your door
If yuh ignore yuh goin perish fi sure
After me come back in Jamaica nuff things gone wrong
Can know di woman dem different from the man
All a dem a dress inna the same pollution
Down on general competition
[Unverified]
The lyrics of Capleton's song "Tour" are a reflection on the state of Jamaica and its people. Capleton begins by describing his travels and how he has been preaching and teaching people. He implores listeners to answer to Jah when he comes knocking and warns of the consequences of ignoring him. When Capleton returns to Jamaica, everything is insecure. The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. The violence and crime have also gotten worse, and innocent people are being killed. In the second half of the song, Capleton speaks of the need for people to straighten their ways and to turn towards Jah. He encourages people to stop with the violence and to unite. He believes that the key to fixing Jamaica's problems is to embrace culture and God and to let go of slackness and darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
I say straighten yuh crooked ways
Capleton urges listeners to change their immoral behavior and become more righteous
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Capleton suggests that those who avoid bad influences will be blessed
Selassie I liveth every time
Capleton acknowledges the enduring and powerful presence of the Rastafarian deity
After me lef from Jamaica, go a foreign pon tour
Capleton went on tour abroad after leaving Jamaica
Preaching teaching the people fi sure
During his tour, Capleton preached and taught others
Answer to Jah when him a knock pon your door
Capleton advises listeners to be accountable to God when they are judged
If yuh ignore yuh goin' perish fi sure
Capleton believes that ignoring God's judgment will lead to destruction
Come back in Jamaica, everything insecure
When he returned to Jamaica, Capleton noticed that the situation there was unstable
Rich a get rich and the poor a get poor
Capleton observes that wealth inequality is increasing
Come back come hear say Pan head skull bore
Capleton was shocked to learn of the violent death of a musician named Pan Head
Come back an hear say Dirts man skull bore
Capleton also learned of another musician's violent death
Hear say, John Pope Paul all a come yah pon tour
Capleton heard rumors that a high-ranking member of the Catholic Church was visiting Jamaica
DJ dung yah a brandish mi what more
Capleton encountered many DJs in Jamaica who were promoting themselves and their music
Boogerman ah plan all fi guh march and tour
Capleton heard that some violent criminals were planning to go on a march in Kingston
Tour Kingston and all go tour Port more
These criminals were planning to tour different areas in Jamaica
But me know de whole a dem would a-must dead fi sure
Capleton believes that these criminals will not succeed and will likely be killed
And de DJ dem nah teach people no more
Capleton laments that many DJs in Jamaica are no longer promoting positive messages
A pure clashing and fighting dem no unite no more
Capleton is disappointed that people in Jamaica are not coming together and are instead engaged in conflict
Alla tell de girls girl dem fi bruck out like a sore
Capleton objects to the way some women are encouraged to dance provocatively
It seems like the people dem no love God, no more
Capleton perceives that faith in God is decreasing
If slackness a the sickness then culture a the cure
Capleton believes that the solution to immoral behavior is to promote positive cultural values
Ice all mi block and all a whole city
Capleton laments that violence is prevalent in his neighborhood and throughout the city
Man Alla fuss and dem no stop from fight
Capleton observes that men in Jamaica engage in frequent fighting and arguing
Some long icepick and some Ole rusty knife
Capleton notes that people in Jamaica often use weapons to commit violent acts
Man a walk a road a take innocent life
Capleton condemns the senseless violence in Jamaica that leads to the deaths of innocent people
But dem labor wrong and dem labor right
Capleton acknowledges that people can be both good and bad
Say Selassie I and Alla dem start to fight
Capleton has heard stories of how different groups of Rastafarians are in conflict with each other
If slackness a the darkness, then culture a the light
Capleton believes that promoting positive cultural values can counteract immoral behavior
This is most of the thing me tell the people on the tour
Capleton shares his message of positivity and righteousness during his tours
Make sure your hands clean and make sure ya heart pure
Capleton advises listeners to lead a morally upright life
Things yuh used to do yuh naw guh do them no more
Capleton encourages listeners to give up their immoral habits
Place yuh use to go yuh naw guh go there no more
Capleton suggests that listeners avoid places where immoral behavior is common
Food yuh used to eat yuh naw guh eat dem no more
Capleton recommends that listeners adopt a more healthy and wholesome diet
Things yuh used to say yuh naw go say dem no more
Capleton urges listeners to use more positive and respectful language
Leading dem a gwan like dem a bruck out like soldiers
Capleton takes issue with the provocative dancing styles that some women are encouraged to adopt
See dem a go upon the seashore
Capleton observes that people in Jamaica are engaging in immoral behavior by the beach
Can know di woman dem different from di man
Capleton acknowledges the differences between men and women
Down on general competition
Capleton considers how negative competition can lead to immoral behavior
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SLY DUNBAR, CLIFTON ("CAPLETON") BAILEY, STUART BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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