From his website:
If you know reggae music, you know Clinton 'Basie' Fearon. Clinton Fearon is counted among Jamaica's most talented musicians by peers and professionals in the Reggae music industry. His infectious bass riffs, guitar licks, percussion accents and powerful vocals make Bassie a living legend amongst reggae musicians and fans.
As a youth, Bassie went to Kingston to eventually become the well-known bassist, vocalist and lyricist for The Gladiators as well as a house musician for Coxsonne Dodd’s Studio One and Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Black Ark Studio. Fearon recorded many of Perry's best known songs, including Roast Fish and Cornbread which features one of Fearon's most famous bass lines. He also composed some everlasting basslines for Yabby You, Jimmy Riley, Max Romeo, Junior Byles and many many others.
Parable Sound
Clinton Fearon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You trouble Jah parable sound
Yes this a parable sound if you trouble mi
You trouble Jah parable sound... X2
Duppy know a who fi frighten
Loud mouth can't hide
Silent river runs deep
Chicken merry hawk deh near
See and blind hear and deaf
Wha no trouble you no trouble it
Farthing buy trouble pound can't cure it
This is a parable sound if you trouble mi
You trouble Jah parable sound
Yes this a parable sound if you trouble mi
You trouble Jah parable sound... X2
Mi little brother be careful
Mi little sister be careful
Just like a robot they'll use you
And after use you then they'll diffuse you
Rain a fall dutty tough
One one coco full basket
Who feels it knows it
Trust no shadow after dark
This is a parable sound if you trouble mi
You trouble Jah parable sound
Yes this a parable sound if you trouble mi
You trouble Jah parable sound... X2
The lyrics of Clinton Fearon's song Parable Sound offer words of wisdom and caution, delivered through a series of well-known parables and sayings. Fearon warns his listeners that if they trouble him, they trouble Jah's parable sound, which serves as a reminder that one's actions can have consequences beyond the immediate. The first verse makes clear that Fearon is not to be trifled with, as he employs parables such as "Duppy know a who fi frighten" (ghosts know who to scare), and "Empty barrel make the most noise" to illustrate the dangers posed by those who talk big but do not back up their words.
In the second verse, Fearon addresses his "little brother" and "little sister," urging them to be careful of those who would manipulate and exploit them. He speaks of being "diffused" after being used, emphasizing the importance of being wary of those who seek to take advantage. He also uses the parable "One one coco full basket" (slow and steady wins the race) to encourage perseverance, and cautions against trusting shadows after dark.
The song as a whole carries the message that words have power, and that one's actions can have consequences far beyond what one may immediately realize. Fearon uses these parables and sayings to encourage his listeners to be mindful of the choices they make, and to consider the potential ripple effects of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a parable sound if you trouble mi
Clinton Fearon is cautioning that if anyone bothers him, then they would also be bothering Jah's message that he sings about.
You trouble Jah parable sound
Jah represents a musical message that Clinton Fearon sings about, which he refers to as a parable sound. If someone bothers Clinton, then they are also bothering this message of love and peace.
Duppy know a who fi frighten
This is Jamaican Patois for 'ghosts only scare those that they know to be scared of them'. Clinton Fearon is saying that those that make threats are often the ones that are most scared.
Loud mouth can't hide
Those that speak too much are easy to spot and can't hide their true intentions.
Silent river runs deep
People who don't talk much may have more depth than they show, potentially more complex thoughts and feelings hiding beneath the surface level.
Empty barrel make the most noise
This idiom means that those that talk a lot often don't have much substance behind what they're saying.
Chicken merry hawk deh near
If someone is acting overly confident or carefree, they may be overlooking looming danger nearby.
See and blind hear and deaf
Sometimes people will ignore warning signs, even when the information is presented clearly.
Wha no trouble you no trouble it
If something isn't bothering you, it's not necessary to try and fix it or make it into your problem.
Farthing buy trouble pound can't cure it
You can save a little money in the short term by cutting corners, but you'll ultimately regret it when the whole thing falls apart.
Mi little brother be careful
Clinton Fearon is warning his younger brother to be cautious and not get caught up in dangerous situations.
Mi little sister be careful
Clinton Fearon is warning his younger sister to also be careful and avoid dangerous situations.
Just like a robot they'll use you
There are people who may use others for their own purposes, much like a robot is used until it is no longer useful.
And after use you then they'll diffuse you
Once someone has gotten what they need from you, they may discard you and move on to the next person.
Rain a fall dutty tough
Sometimes life is difficult and challenging, and it's important to be able to persevere in the face of adversity.
One one coco full basket
Small steps add up to big achievements over time, as each little bit you do builds upon the next.
Who feels it knows it
Those who have experienced a struggle, pain, or hardship are the only ones who truly understand what it feels like.
Trust no shadow after dark
People can change, and sometimes you can't always trust someone who seemed trustworthy in the past.
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.