Born in Trench Town, Kingston, Jamaica, Wilson released his first single "Emy Lou" in 1961 for record producer, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, at the age of thirteen. His early years with Coxsone yielded a number of ska hits, the biggest of which, the Lee Perry-written "Joe Liges" was an attack on rival producer and former Dodd employee Prince Buster. This was followed by another Perry-written attack on Buster, "Spit in the Sky". Further singles followed, including "One Two Three", "I Shall Not Remove", "Look Who Is Back Again" (a duet with Slim Smith), and another anti-Buster song, "Prince Pharaoh", notably the only record featuring the voice of Dodd himself.
His voice matured as he left his teens, around the time of ska's transition to rocksteady and this period in the late 1960s produced many hits including one of the first rocksteady records, "Dancing Mood", "Jerk in Time" (with the Wailers), "Feel Good All Over", "I'm Not a King", "True Believer in Love", "Rain From the Skies", "Conquer Me" and "Riding For A Fall". "Won't You Come Home", a duet with Ken Boothe on a rhythm originally cut by The Conquerors for Sonia Pottinger has become one of the most-versioned Jamaican tracks ever.[citation needed] After leaving Studio One he recorded for numerous other producers, with varying degrees of success, and set up his own short-lived W&C label along with Wilburn Cole, and the similarly-fated Links label with Ken Boothe, The Gaylads and The Melodians. He enjoyed success with Bunny Lee in the late 1960s and early 1970s with tracks such as "This Old Heart of Mine", "Footsteps of Another Man", and "Better Must Come". His double A-side "It Hurts"/"Put Yourself in My Place" was a skinhead favourite and narrowly missed UK chart success. He recorded a version of "Run Run", a song he had originally recorded for Dodd, for maverick producer Keith Hudson.
1970 saw Wilson's first tour of the UK, where he also recorded a number of songs for the Trojan record label.
In 1972, Michael Manley's People's National Party chose Wilson's "Better Must Come" as their election campaign song. The same year saw the release of one of his most popular songs, "Cool Operator", which became his nickname. He worked with a string of producers in the years that followed, including Joe Gibbs ("Mash Up Illiteracy", "Pretty Girl"), Gussie Clarke ("Love"), Winston "Niney" Holness ("Rascal Man"), Harry J ("Ask The Lonely"), and Joseph Hoo Kim ("It's a Shame").
In 1976, he recorded a cover of The Wailers' "I'm Still Waiting" for Lloyd Charmers, which was hugely popular, and enjoyed some cross-over success, and was followed by the album Sarge, which is considered one of his strongest. Also a Bob Andy produced song, "The Last Thing On My Mind" rose to number one in Jamaica. Wilson continued the run of success until the end of the decade, but his career floundered during the early 1980s, with releases less common. His fortunes revived in the digital age with releases for King Jammy ("Don't Put The Blame On Me") and Bunny Lee ("Ease Up"), with new albums following, but he again drifted out of the limelight, with his health declining, and is best remembered for his earlier work.
In 1994, Wilson's enduring legacy to Jamaican music was recognized by a special plaque awarded him by the Jamaican government, and presented by the then Prime Minister, Patterson.
Delroy Wilson died on 6 March 1995 at Kingston's UWI hospital, of complications from cirrhosis of the liver. He was 46 years old.
Delroy is referenced by The Clash, in "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais".
In 2013 Wilson was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government.
In the 1960s he sang duo with Paulette Williams as Delroy & Paulette.
He was not a part of the duo Higgs and Wilson with Joe Higgs and Roy Wilson(no relation)
He released his first solo single "If I Had a Beautiful Baby" in 1962 for record producer, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, at the age of thirteen. His follow-up single "Joe Liges" was written by Lee Perry, then working as a talent spotter/songwriter/singer for Dodd, and was a lyrical attack on former Coxsone employee and now rival, Prince Buster. The record was so popular that his follow-up, "Spit In The Sky", another Perry penned barb aimed at the Prince, was actually credited to Joe Liges when it was released in th UK on the Bluebeat and Black Swan labels.
Delroy's transition to rocksteady in the late 1960s produced many hits including "Conquer Me" and "Riding For A Fall". His classic song "Dancing Mood" remains one of the most popular Jamaican songs from that time. In 1972, Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley and his People's National Party chose Wilson's "Better Must Come" as their election campaign song to increase their vote amongst the 'sufferers' in Jamaica. Also a Bob Andy produced song, "The Last Thing On My Mind" rose to number one in Jamaica. Delroy was mainly produced by Bunny Lee throughout the 1970s and continued recording into the early 90s under various producers spanning a career of 30+ years.
Better Must Come
Delroy Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been trying a long, long time still I didn't make it
Everything I try to do seems to go wrong
It seems I have done something wrong
But they're trying to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Better must come one day
Better must come, they can't conquer me
Better must come, yeah
I've been trying a long, long time
But I can't make it
No one to give me a helping hand
They only tryin' to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Thank God I'm not the worst
Oh, my people get a seat
They're trying to take advantage of me
Better must come, better must come, yeah
Better must come one day
Better must come, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I've been trying a long, long time still I can't make it
Everything I try to do seems to go wrong
It seems I have done something wrong
But they're trying to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Thank God I'm not the worst
Better must come one day
Better must come, they can't conquer me
Better must come one day, better must come
Oh, better must come one day, better must come
I better must come one day
Better must come
Better must, ooh
The song "Better Must Come" by Delroy Wilson is a powerful commentary on the struggles of life, and the hope that one day things will improve. The opening lyrics, "I've been trying a long, long time still I didn't make it, everything I try to do seems to go wrong" speak to the frustration and disappointment that can often come with trying to achieve one's goals. This sentiment is further emphasized with the line "it seems I have done something wrong, but they're trying to keep me down," conveying the sense that external forces are actively working against the singer of the song.
Despite these setbacks, however, the song maintains an unwavering sense of optimism. The repeated refrain of "better must come" serves as a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope for a brighter future. The lyrics "who God bless, no one curse, thank God I'm not the worst" further emphasize this idea, suggesting that even if things aren't perfect, there is always something to be thankful for.
Overall, "Better Must Come" is a powerful testament to the human spirit, and a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and agreement at the beginning of the song.
I've been trying a long, long time still I didn't make it
Despite making a significant effort, the singer has not been successful in achieving their goals.
Everything I try to do seems to go wrong
The singer has encountered a series of failures or obstacles in their attempts to progress.
It seems I have done something wrong
The artist is unsure why their efforts have been unsuccessful and questions their own role in this.
But they're trying to keep me down
The artist believes that external forces are conspiring to prevent them from achieving success.
Who God bless, no one curse
Those who receive blessings from a higher power are immune to the negative influence of others.
Thank God I'm not the worst
The singer acknowledges that things could be worse and expresses gratitude for their situation.
Better must come one day
The artist expresses hope that their situation will improve in the future.
Better must come, they can't conquer me
The artist believes that external forces are attempting to defeat them, but their resilience will help them to prevail.
I've been trying a long, long time
But I can't make it
No one to give me a helping hand
They only tryin' to keep me down
The artist continues to struggle despite the lack of support from others and the efforts of others to prevent their success.
Oh, my people get a seat
They're trying to take advantage of me
The singer feels that others are exploiting them and not giving them the respect they deserve.
Better must come, better must come, yeah
Better must come one day
Better must come, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The artist repeats their belief that things will improve in the future and expresses optimism for this outcome.
I better must come one day
Better must come
Better must, ooh
The idea that things must improve and the repetition of the phrase emphasizes the singer's determination to believe in a better future.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: EDWARD OSULLIVAN LEE, HYA P
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@faunwillow
❤I've been trying a long, long time still I didn't make it
Everything I try to do seem to go wrong
It seems I have done something wrong
But they're trying to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Thank God I'm not the worst
Better must come one day
Better must come, they can't conquer me
Better must come, yeah
I've been trying a long, long time
But I can't make it
No one to give me a helping hand
They only tryin' to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Thank God I'm not the worst
Oh, my people get a seat
They're trying to take advantage of me
Better must come, better must come, yeah
Better must come one day
Better must come, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I've been trying a long, long time still I can't make it
Everything I try to do seem to go wrong
It seems I have done something wrong
But they're trying to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Thank God I'm not the worst
Better must come one day
Better must come, they can't conquer me
Better must come one day, better must come
Oh, better must come one day, better must come
Better must come one day, better must come
Better must, ooh
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Edward Osullivan Lee / Hya P
Better Must Come lyrics © Royalty Network❤
@Upgrade24
2024 and we still listening ❤
@haldenbennett5979
Great memories of positive message...
@morayofficialug
Timeless music ❤❤❤
@56postoffice
Rest In Power, Edward Sullivan 'Bunny Striker' Lee. One of the baddest producers in Jamaican music history.
@alicepowell6097
I love this song
@basillinton4099
Classic endless hit relevant to any time
@6ix611
Thank God Im Not The Worst 💫
@seanlyddy2617
Best Song for these days!
@sheerheartattack6701
My Favorite!
@stephencarroll230
Coolest cover ever!