Clinton Fearon was the former bass player for 'The Gladiators' and now is s… Read Full Bio ↴Clinton Fearon was the former bass player for 'The Gladiators' and now is solo.

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.

Who Stole the Cookie
Clinton Fearon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar
who stole the cookie man from far
you stole the cookie from the cookie jar
bring back the cookie we no want no war
you could a run run run run run
but you can't hide
You could a run run run run run
but you can't hide... x2

wait until mi go home and tell mama
and she come chasing you with a whipping stick
and when she hit she never miss
see you running away with no place no

place to hide
(repeat song)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song are expressing the idea of taking responsibility for our actions. The question posed in the beginning of “who stole the cookie from the cookie jar” is used as a metaphor to illustrate that we cannot escape the consequences of our choices. When the singer asks directly “you stole the cookie from the cookie jar, bring back the cookie we no want no war”, he is giving a clear message that owning up to our mistakes is the best way to avoid conflict.

Furthermore, the line “wait until mi go home and tell mama and she come chasing you with a whipping stick” suggests that it is better to be accountable for our actions rather than facing a certain punishment. This can be seen as a call to be honest and truthful in our dealings with others. The repeated phrase “you could a run run run run run but you can’t hide” is emphasizing the inevitability of facing the consequences of our actions.

In conclusion, “Who Stole the Cookie” is a playful yet meaningful song that urges listeners to take responsibility for their actions instead of running away from the consequences. It uses a relatable metaphor to deliver a universal message.

Line by Line Meaning

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar
Who is responsible for taking the cookie from its place

who stole the cookie man from far
Whoever stole the cookie did it from a distance

you stole the cookie from the cookie jar
You are the one who took the cookie

bring back the cookie we no want no war
Return the cookie to avoid conflict

you could a run run run run run
You might have tried to escape quickly

but you can't hide
But you cannot avoid getting caught

You could a run run run run run
You may have attempted to flee rapidly

but you can't hide... x2
But there is no escape for you

wait until mi go home and tell mama
I will wait until I get home and inform my mother

and she come chasing you with a whipping stick
Then she will pursue you with a stick to punish you

and when she hit she never miss
And when she strikes, she never fails to make contact