Barry G is still amazed by Rodigan’s devotion to the history of reggae and his willingness to learn the history and origin of a song.“He makes it his duty to experience it; he has mastered it.
Jamaica, its people and its culture still elude and bemuse the most earnest of wannabes. David Rodigan is no wannabe. As far as Jamaicans are concerned, he’s not only on the inside, he’s ranking. Come down, selector!
Church Heathen
David Rodigan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Them Feel Say Tru Them Go A Church Them Sins Don't Need Forgiving Forgiving
Them Really Gone From Bad To Worse With Them Careless Living Living
[Shaggy:]
Me A One No Go Church For How Long Rather Seem To Demanding And Put On A Slam But Me Woman She A Pressure Me To Go Confession So Me Decide Fi Go And Kill The Conversation So Me Sit Down Right Beside Sister Pam Who A Tell Me Everything About The Congregation Bout Sister Paulette And Her Gay Husband And How She Still A Sleep With The Ni Ni Bus Man Sister Gwen Claim She A Christian But A Last Night Them Catch Her In A Stone Love Session She A Do Duty Dance To The Matteran Song And A Say She Get The Thing Them From Baby Cham
[Chorus:]
Them Really Gone From Bad To Worse With Them Careless Living Living
[Shaggy:]
She All A Tell Me Bout The One Deacon Who A Drive The Big Benz A Where Him Get Money From Thats Why Nobody No Want Give No Collection No See The Church Overleak A Wha Him Really De Pan . Every Sunday Is A Competition Me See Nuff A Dem A Gwan Like Them In A Name Brand That De Sinten Whe She Where Come Out A Some Chunk Bottom With The Yank Fa Ball Smell That A No New Fashion.Then She Proceed Fi Talk Bout The Man Them Only Come A Service Fi Look Church Woman And Fi Pull Up The Gal Them Talk Bout Religion But Me Couldn't Say Nothin Cause Me No Me A One
Shaggy - Church Heathen
[Chorus:]
Them Feel Say Tru Them Go A Church Them Sins Don't Need Forgiving Forgiving
Them Really Gone From Bad To Worse With Them No Careless Living Living
[Shaggy:]
Next Sunday Na Miss Me (Hear Me)
Soap Opera Cant Sweet So (Hear Me)
Just Sight Some Kinda Sista (Hear Me)
Haffi Secure Me Walk Tru The Pearly Gates
[Shaggy:]
Next Sunday Na Miss Me (Hear Me)
Soap Opera Cant Sweet So (Hear Me)
Just Sight Some Kinda Sista (Hear Me)
Haffi Secure Me Walk Tru The Pearly Gates
Me A One No Go Church For How Long Rather Seem To Demanding And Put On A Slam But Me Woman She A Pressure Me To Go Confession So Me Decide Fi Go And Kill The Conversation So Me Sit Down Right Beside Sister Pam Who A Tell Me Everything About The Congregation Bout Sister Paulette And Her Gay Husband And How She Still A Sleep With The Ni Ni Bus Man Sister Gwen Claim She A Christian But A Last Night Them Catch Her In A Stone Love Session She A Do Duty Dance To The Matteran Song And A Say She Get The Thing Them From Baby Cham
[Chorus:]
Them Feel Say Tru Them Go A Church Them Sins Don't Need Forgiving Forgiving
Them Really Gone From Bad To Worse With Them No Careless Living Living
[Chorus:]
Them Feel Say Tru Them Go A Church Them Sins Don't Need Forgiving Forgiving
Them Really Gone From Bad To Worse With Them No Careless Living Living
In "Church Heathen," Shaggy opens up about his apprehension towards going to church, citing it as too demanding and suffocating. However, he is pressured to go to confession by his partner, leading him to overhear scandalous gossip from fellow churchgoers such as Sister Pam, who tells him about Sister Paulette and her gay husband or Sister Gwen, who is caught in a stone love session with the bus driver but falsely claims to be a devout Christian. Ultimately, Shaggy concludes that the churchgoers in his community are "careless living," hypocritical sinners, who are "really gone from bad to worse" rather than seeking forgiveness for their transgressions. Despite this, he decides to go back to church and secure his place in heaven, mocking the soap opera-like atmosphere of the congregation in doing so.
Through this song, Shaggy seems to be highlighting the gap between religious teachings and the behavior of its adherents - that, despite preaching values like forgiveness or abstinence, many churchgoers often fail to live up to these standards. The song also subtly touches upon issues like homophobia or social status, as exemplified by the gossip about Sister Paulette or the Deacon who drives a fancy car but may be corrupt. The song ultimately presents a sarcastic but critical take on the state of one's spiritual life in contemporary society.
Line by Line Meaning
Them Feel Say Tru Them Go A Church Them Sins Don't Need Forgiving Forgiving
They believe that just by attending church, their sins are automatically forgiven.
Them Really Gone From Bad To Worse With Them Careless Living Living
Their careless lifestyles have only gotten worse.
Me A One No Go Church For How Long Rather Seem To Demanding And Put On A Slam
I haven't attended church for a long time because it seems too demanding and pretentious.
But Me Woman She A Pressure Me To Go Confession
My partner pressures me to attend confession.
So Me Decide Fi Go And Kill The Conversation
So I decided to attend church to avoid the conversation.
So Me Sit Down Right Beside Sister Pam Who A Tell Me Everything About The Congregation
I sat down beside Sister Pam who proceeded to tell me everything about the church members.
Bout Sister Paulette And Her Gay Husband And How She Still A Sleep With The Ni Ni Bus Man
About how Sister Paulette's husband is gay but she still sleeps with the bus driver.
Sister Gwen Claim She A Christian But A Last Night Them Catch Her In A Stone Love Session
Sister Gwen claims to be a Christian, but she was caught in a sexual encounter last night.
She A Do Duty Dance To The Matteran Song And A Say She Get The Thing Them From Baby Cham
She danced suggestively to a Matteran song and claimed to have gotten her ways from Baby Cham.
She All A Tell Me Bout The One Deacon Who A Drive The Big Benz A Where Him Get Money From
She even told me about the Deacon who drives a big Benz and questioned where he gets his money from.
Thats Why Nobody No Want Give No Collection No See The Church Overleak A Wha Him Really De Pan .
That's why no one wants to give to the collection, suspecting the Deacon's true intentions.
Every Sunday Is A Competition Me See Nuff A Dem A Gwan Like Them In A Name Brand
Every Sunday is a competition, and many try to impress with name brand clothing.
That De Sinten Whe She Where Come Out A Some Chunk Bottom With The Yank Fa Ball Smell That A No New Fashion.
However, some churchgoers come out wearing old, worn-out clothes with a distinct odor, which is not the new fashion.
Then She Proceed Fi Talk Bout The Man Them Only Come A Service Fi Look Church Woman And Fi Pull Up The Gal Them Talk Bout Religion
She then talked about men who attend church only to find women and use religion as an excuse to approach them.
But Me Couldn't Say Nothin Cause Me No Me A One
I couldn't say anything because I am also guilty of my own sins.
Next Sunday Na Miss Me (Hear Me)
I won't be missing church next Sunday.
Soap Opera Cant Sweet So (Hear Me)
I won't be entertained by soap operas; I'm looking for spiritual fulfillment.
Just Sight Some Kinda Sista (Hear Me)
I'm only looking for a genuine sister in faith.
Haffi Secure Me Walk Tru The Pearly Gates
I need to secure my place in heaven by living a righteous life and seeking forgiveness for my sins.
Them Really Gone From Bad To Worse With Them No Careless Living Living
Their careless lifestyles have only gotten worse.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: ORVILLE BURRELL, ANTHONY ST. AUBYN KELLY, RICKARDO GEORGE DUCENT, CHRISTOPHER BIRCH, MAURICE GREGORY, ANDRE ONEIL FENNELL, Andre Fennell, Kelly Anthony, Ricardo Ducent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind