Following her departure from Wham!, Lee released her first solo single, "Selina Wow Wow", in 1983. Despite considerable airplay, the single failed to reach the top 40. In 1984, she then worked with The Style Council and appeared on their debut album Café Bleu (released as My Ever Changing Moods in North America). Lee can be heard on the tracks "Headstart for Happiness," "It Didn't Matter," "The Lodgers," "Walls Come Tumbling Down," and "Shout to the Top." Lee continued to record solo material during this time, but singles "Yippee Yi Yay!" and "Don't Do It Baby" failed to chart.
In 1985, after the release of the second Style Council album Our Favourite Shop (which reached no.1) and a stint working with the band Animal Nightlife, Lee released another solo single; the self-penned ballad "See the Day". The single became a UK hit and peaked at no.2 in December 1985, selling a quarter of a million copies in the UK alone, and earning Lee a silver disc. Twenty years later, the song was covered by Girls Aloud, their version peaking at no.9 on the UK Singles Chart in December 2005.
Lee's follow-up singles, a cover of Judie Tzuke's "Come Hell Or Waters High" and "Hold On" failed to make the UK Top 40. All tracks were featured on her 1986 album, Shrine.
Throughout the rest of the 1980s, Lee continued to work with The Style Council on their albums The Cost of Loving (1987) and Confessions of a Pop Group (1988). She also worked with the band on their 1989 recording Modernism: A New Decade, but this album was rejected by the band's label, Polydor, and did not see a release until almost ten years later, when it was included in the boxed set, The Complete Adventures of The Style Council.
Between 1989 and 1991, Lee teamed up with Robert Howard of The Blow Monkeys to form Slam Slam. They achieved a number of minor UK club hits including "Move (Dance All Night)" and "Free Your Feelings", the latter produced by Young Disciples. In 1993, Lee later collaborated with Gang Starr frontman Guru (rapper) née Keith Alam, on a single from his solo project Jazzmatazz called "No Time to Play" on which also featured Ronny Jordan. Later in the 1990s, Lee released two further solo albums; Things Will Be Sweeter (1994) and Smiles (1998).
In 2006, Lee had a small part as a pop star in the comedy film Rabbit Fever. In September 2007, Lee performed her hit "See The Day" on ITV1's Loose Women show. In September 2007, she also performed at a charity event in aid of domestic violence a cause close to her heart.
Lee also played the part of Preaching Nut-Nut in a 2008 short film, The Town that Boars Me. It tells the tale of a Pig Boy created by the lonely town butcher. The Pig Boy, now banished from the town, returns at nightfall to torment the local women and satisfy his insatiable fetish for high-heeled shoes. It also starred Kelly Osbourne, Sadie Frost, Lee's son Natt Weller, Zandra Rhodes and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The film was released in London on 28 August 2008.
On 31 May 2009, Lee joined ex-Level 42 musicians, Mike Lindup and Phil Gould, to play a comeback gig with a collective called 'Favoured Nations'. The gig took place at Ginglik, Shepherd's Bush, London. On 11 October 2009, she played a gig at Dingwalls in Camden Town.
Dee played 2 concerts in 2010 - The 1st was on 30 April 2010, at Pizza on the Park, Hyde Park Corner, London and the second on 31 December at Shades of Soul, New Year's Eve Extravaganza, Live Funk and Soul at The Pheasantry. This was a night featuring Dee, Louise (Funk Affair) and Nathan Watson. Billed as “A night of unforgettable Funk and Soul Classics."
The setlist was:- Things Will be Sweeter, See The Day, Walk Away From the Floor, It's Gonna Be Alright, No Time To Play, Set Your Spirit Free and Come Hell or Waters High.
January 2011 - Dee is currently getting a band together and is holding auditions. No album release date is yet known.
No Time to Play
Dee C. Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't got no time to play
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
Never no time to play
(No time to play)
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves
Nope, I can't stop
Nope, I can't stop to talk
I gotta go, I gotta go, yo
Basically I'm a brother they depend on, lean on
So now I gotta be gone, I gotta keep strong
Always stayin' busy, kid 'cause I can never fall off
Laziness ain't gettin' to me
There's too much opportunity
And I'm not waitin' for no one
'Cause slow ones, they don't get nuttin' done, son
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
(No time to play)
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
(I gotta make moves)
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
(No time to play)
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
(I gotta make moves)
Your time is runnin' short, sport
Make a move or get caught
Nothing lasts forever, nothing lasts forever, baby
Maybe, you shouldn't act so crazy
Instead of tryin' to be the man
You could really be the man
If you had a plan, understand?
But I'm not the one to be waitin' for ya
Back in the day, I used to do stuff for ya
Now I'm warnin' ya
That you really ain't no pimp, you wimp
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
(No time to play)
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
(I gotta make moves)
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves
I gotta make moves, each and every day
I need the cash, I need the cash money
With my rhyme display, I may take all the paper wild
I guess I have the know-how
When you see me in the house you better go
"What's up G? What's up Gang?"
Then give me a pound because I've been down
Dedicated and I've waited for my turn
'Cause respect is somethin' you earn
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(Uh, I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves with no delay
Never no time to play
(No time to play)
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
(I gotta make moves)
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves with no delay
Never no time to play
Gotta keep workin' every day
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
Never no time to play
No time to play, ahh
Never no time to play
Gotta make moves
Ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
Ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
No time to play
(No time to play)
Ain't got no time
(No time to play)
(No, no time to play)
(No time to play)
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
I ain't got no time
(No time to play)
No time to play
(No time to play)
Ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
I ain't got no time
Never have the time
Never no time to play
No time to play
No time to play
No time to play
No time to play
My man Ronny Jordan gets busy on guitar
DC Lee and Big Shug in the house
Big shouts to the crew
"Whassup?" To the Cutthroats, slicker than most
I ain't got no time, yo, so I'm gone, I'm gone
The song "No Time to Play" by Dee C. Lee/Guru/Ronnie Jordan talks about the importance of hard work and making moves. The song begins with the artist expressing frustration at people who try to waste their time, emphasizing that they have no time to play. They need to keep working every day and make moves with no delay. The song highlights the importance of staying busy and motivated, with the artists suggesting that there is too much opportunity to waste time being lazy.
The lyrics feature a sense of urgency and a warning that time is running short. The artists encourage listeners to make a move and not wait for others. They suggest that having a plan and earning respect is crucial, and that simply trying to be the man is not enough. The chorus reinforces the message that there is never any time to play and that making moves with no delay is crucial.
Overall, the song emphasizes the importance of staying focused and driven, and the value of hard work in achieving success.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'm tired of chumps tryin' to waste my time
I am frustrated with people who waste my time by not taking things seriously.
Never no time to play
I am always busy and have no free time for leisure activities.
Gotta keep workin' every day
I have to stay focused on my work every single day.
Gotta make moves with no delay
I need to take action quickly and efficiently to get things done.
Nope, I can't stop
I cannot afford to stop and waste any time.
Nope, I can't stop to talk
I can't waste time chatting; I need to keep moving.
Basically I'm a brother they depend on, lean on
People rely on me and put their trust in me.
Always stayin' busy, kid 'cause I can never fall off
I am always working hard to maintain my success and avoid failure.
Laziness ain't gettin' to me
I refuse to let laziness and procrastination affect me.
There's too much opportunity
There are numerous opportunities available, and I must take advantage of them.
'Cause slow ones, they don't get nuttin' done, son
Those who move too slowly and procrastinate do not accomplish anything meaningful.
Your time is runnin' short, sport
You are running out of time.
Make a move or get caught
Take action or face negative consequences for inaction.
Maybe, you shouldn't act so crazy
Perhaps you should avoid acting erratically and impulsively.
Instead of tryin' to be the man
Instead of attempting to act tough and in charge.
You could really be the man
You have the potential to be respected and successful in your own right.
If you had a plan, understand?
If you actually had an organized plan, do you see what I'm getting at?
But I'm not the one to be waitin' for ya
I'm not going to sit around and wait for you or anyone else.
Back in the day, I used to do stuff for ya
In the past, I used to do things for you, but things have changed.
That you really ain't no pimp, you wimp
You are not as tough as you think you are.
I need the cash, I need the cash money
I require money to cover my expenses and achieve my goals.
With my rhyme display, I may take all the paper wild
I could potentially make significant money by showcasing my musical talents.
I guess I have the know-how
I am confident in my abilities to succeed based on my skills and experience.
When you see me in the house you better go 'What's up G? What's up Gang?'
When you encounter me, you should show respect and greet me courteously.
Then give me a pound because I've been down
Show solidarity by giving me a fist bump because we've been through similar experiences.
Dedicated and I've waited for my turn
I have worked hard and been patient in order to achieve success.
'Cause respect is somethin' you earn
Gaining respect from others is something that must be earned through actions and achievements.
My man Ronny Jordan gets busy on guitar
Musician Ronnie Jordan is particularly talented on guitar.
DC Lee and Big Shug in the house
DC Lee and Big Shug are present and involved in the song.
Big shouts to the crew
Acknowledgement and appreciation for the people who contributed to the song.
I ain't got no time, yo, so I'm gone, I'm gone
I am always extremely busy, and must be on my way now.
Ain't got no time
I don't have any free time.
Never have the time
I have a chronic lack of free time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEITH ELAM, BARRY EUGENE WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Staalstraal
I used to play this before work. Helped me through the day. GURU R.I.P.
@forestdwellerresearch6593
So did i. I had it on my headphones when people still had those. Just commuting to work and feeling good with it. Great music helps us get through the day.
@nistramo
Same here!!!!!!
@defvanas
A big help and a great mis❤️
@RoamingHeathen
Man … this comment was 11 years ago. I keep forgetting how long ago we lost Guru. Also something about being able to connect with comments from years past and see the love of music stay strong throughout decades … I love it
@369ucc
Peace and love family 🛸
@danizm4165
RIP Ronny and Guru two masters of their craft! Their music lives on forever..
@Mclenchie
Ahh shit when did Ronnie J die?
@danizm4165
@@Mclenchie back in 2014,
@massimomuntoni93
what a dope song, love this type of songs with jazzy vibes, Guru was one of the realest mc's! respect from Italy.
RIP Guru, gone but never forgotten