At the age of 14, he began his career as a reggae artist on sound systems such as Gemini, Rebel Tone, and Papa Roots. Early on in his dee jaying career he was influenced by Josey Wales. He joined Killamanjaro where he worked alongside Early B, Super Cat, Puddy Roots, and Little Twitch. His prominence on sound systems evolved in the mid-to-late 1980s on SturMars and Metromedia, alongside famed selectors Danny Dread and Skyjuice.
During the 80s, Cutty Ranks' debut single "Gunman Lyrics" was recorded for Winston Riley's Techniques label. He also recorded such tracks as "Out Of Hand" and "Fishman Lyrics" with Riley and in 1990 he joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse label.
In 1991, he released his first album entitled The Stopper, following this up with album Lethal Weapon in the same year, featuring singers such as Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Wayne Wonder, and Beres Hammond. His follow up album releases were From Mi Heart, and Six Million Ways to Die which was put out on Priority Records in 1996. Six Million Ways to Die included a hip hop remix of Ranks' song "A Who Seh Me Dun" which was voiced earlier over the Bam Bam riddim in 1992. In 2000, he released the album Back With A Vengeance produced by King Jammy. This album saw Ranks venture into other musical styles, including hip hop and dancehall.
Cutty Ranks has been influential outside the world of dancehall, particularly in the field of drum 'n' bass. His vocals have been frequently sampled and his songs remixed by artists such as Goldie and DJ Skratch Bastid with Scratch of The Roots.
Discography
* The Stopper (1991)
* Lethal Weapon (1991)
* Retreat (1991)
* From Mi Heart (1992)
* Six Million Ways To Die (1996)
* Back With A Vengeance (2001)
* Hard For It (2005)
Lambada
Cutty Ranks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Instantly a warm ray of light covered and drove me to sleep
When I woke up everything was gone
Tears ran down
"Please come back to me... "
The opening verse of Cutty Ranks's song "Lambada" is a poetic description of a man who seems to be feeling a deep sense of loss and yearning. As he walks down the road, he is suddenly overcome by a warm ray of light that seems to engulf him and put him to sleep. When he wakes up, he finds that everything he had valued and cherished is gone. He is filled with an overwhelming sense of sadness, and all he can do is plead with his lost love to come back to him.
The lyrics in this verse capture the deep emotions that often accompany the experience of loss. The imagery of the warm ray of light suggests a sense of hope or possibility, but also an overwhelming and uncontrollable force. The use of the phrase "everything was gone" creates a sense of emptiness, as if the man's entire life has been stripped away. The tears that run down his face express a profound grief and sense of powerlessness.
Overall, the song "Lambada" is a haunting and evocative piece that touches on themes of love, loss, and the fragility of human existence. It offers a powerful reminder of the profound impact that loss can have on our lives, as well as the importance of holding onto hope and the possibility of new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking calmly down the road, I turn my eyes to see the sky
As I casually strolled down the street, I gazed upwards and caught a glimpse of the beautiful sky.
Instantly a warm ray of light covered and drove me to sleep
Suddenly, I was engulfed by a welcoming beam of sunlight that lulled me into a peaceful slumber.
When I woke up everything was gone
Upon waking from my nap, I discovered that my surroundings had completely vanished.
Tears ran down
I couldn't help but cry, as I was filled with sadness and despair.
"Please come back to me... "
Longingly, I pleaded for my lost possessions or companionship to return to me.
Writer(s): PHILIP THOMAS, DAVE KELLY
Contributed by Elena M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tom Godwin
on Too Much Guns In Town
Nice video although it is not the one am looking for the video is still great