Delroy Wilson OD (5 October 1948 – 6 March 1995) was a Jamaican Ska, Rockst… Read Full Bio ↴Delroy Wilson OD (5 October 1948 – 6 March 1995) was a Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae singer.

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.

Put Yourself In My Place
Delroy Wilson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Put yourself in my place
If only for a day
See if you can stand
The awful hurt I feel inside
Put yourself in my place
For just a little while
Live through the loneliness
The endless emptiness

I go through
And when you lose a little sleep at night
Cause you ain't been treated right
Then you know heartaches are sad
Sitting by the telephone
Being left all alone
Then you know why I'm feeling bad
Put yourself in my place
And when you're just about to go insane
Cause it hurts to love in vain
Ask a girl who's been in love
I believed your evil line
Now I'm left alone and crying
Alone to count the stars above
Put yourself in my place
If only for a day
See if you can stand
The awful emptiness
I feel inside
Put yourself in my place
Put yourself in my place
For just a little while
Why don't you try it
Why don't you try it
Why don't you try it baby
Put yourself in my place
If only for a day
Why don't you, why don't you
Why don't you try it
Why don't you try it

Why don't you try it baby
Put yourself in my place

Overall Meaning

Delroy Wilson's "Put Yourself In My Place" is a song that speaks to the deep feeling of hurt and heartache that comes with the end of a relationship. The singer pleads with his lover, asking her to empathize with his pain even just for a day, to experience the overwhelming emptiness and loneliness that he feels. He describes sleepless nights sitting by the phone, waiting for someone who never calls, and the agony of loving someone who does not love him back. He implores the listener to imagine losing someone they loved and feeling the intense, visceral pain that comes with it.

The song is a classic example of a soulful, heart-wrenching ballad that has resonated with audiences for decades. The melody is simple, yet poignant, and the lyrics are full of raw emotion that speaks to a universal experience of love and loss. Wilson's impassioned vocals add to the emotional intensity of the song, making it a standout in his discography and a beloved classic in the world of soul and reggae music.

Line by Line Meaning

Put yourself in my place
Empathize with my situation

If only for a day
Even a brief period can give you insight

See if you can stand
Experience the pain for yourself

The awful hurt I feel inside
The extreme emotional anguish I am encountering

For just a little while
Even a short time can make a difference

Live through the loneliness
Endure the isolation

The endless emptiness
The unrelenting void that consumes me

And when you lose a little sleep at night
When you struggle to rest due to heartbreak

Cause you ain't been treated right
Because you have not received proper treatment

Then you know heartaches are sad
You understand the pain of heartbreak

Sitting by the telephone
Awaiting a call that may never come