Brown's first recording was "Lips of Wine" recorded for Derrick Harriott (The Musical Chariot), but this was not released initially. He then recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, and Dodd released Brown's first single, "No Man is an Island". Brown recorded two albums for Dodd, No Man is an Island and If I Follow my Heart (the title track penned by Alton Ellis). Around this time, Brown recorded material for Lloyd Daley ("Baby Don't Do It" and "Things in Life") and material for Derrick Hariott, which was eventually released as the Super Reggae and Soul Hits album. He also worked for Earl Hayles and the Charmaine label early in his career. He had a Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom in 1977. This led to his contract with A&M Records, and to the formation of his own label, DEB records, which produced several hits, including many by Junior Delgado.
His first big hit was "Money In My Pocket" on the Joe Gibbs label, and by the late 1970s, Brown had recorded and performed chart-toppers such as "Sitting & Watching", "Wolves and Leopards", "Here I Come" and "Revolution"; many featuring Sly and Robbie as the rhythm section. As the dancehall era of the 1980s arrived, Brown frequently recorded with King Jammy and Gussie Clark. His song "Revolution" is featured on the reggae radio station K-JAH Radio West in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. According to some sources, Brown became addicted to crack cocaine, which affected his career and may have lead to his premature death. Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and opposition leader Edward Seaga of the Jamaica Labour Party both spoke at Brown's funeral, which was held on July 17, 1999 in Kingston, Jamaica. The service, which lasted for three hours, also featured live performances by Maxi Priest, Shaggy, and five of Brown's sons. Brown was then buried at Kingston's National Heroes Park.
Slave Driver
Dennis Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love
I'm praying for a girl to be my own
Soon you said she coming
But I don't believe a word she say
And left me one rainy day
She made me had in mind
That her love would never die
And a now I'm alone, yeah
So alone, so alone, yeah, yeah, ooh yeah
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love, oh no
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love
The love I had in mind
Was very, very hard to find
Oh, it's hard for a man to live without a woman, yeah
And a woman needs a man to cling to
You'll see what love can do
After making me feel blue
Ain't that a shame? Yeah, whoa baby
Ain't that a shame? Yeah
To make me feel blue, ooh yeah
I've got money in my pocket
Yeah, yeah, whoa yeah, ooh yeah
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love, oh no
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love
The love I had in mind
Was very, very hard to find
Oh, it's hard for a man to live without a woman, yeah
And a woman needs a man to cling to
You'll see what love can do
After making me feel blue
Ain't that a shame? Yeah, whoa baby
Ain't that a shame? Yeah
To make me feel blue, ooh yeah
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love, no
Money in my pocket
But I just can't get no love
The love I had in mind
Was very, very hard to find, yeah
Ain't that a shame?
Ain't that a shame? Yeah, yeah
In Dennis Brown's "Slave Driver," the lyrics speak to the struggles of seeking love and the complexities of relationships. He opens up by stating that he has money, but it fails to provide the missing piece in his heart- love. He longs for a girl to be his own, but when she comes around, she ends up leaving him standing, alone, on a rainy day. Brown goes on to express how her departure has affected him greatly, leaving him feeling empty and resulting in him questioning if her love would have ever lasted. In the end, he concludes that "it's hard for a man to live without a woman" and vice versa, showcasing the fragile and necessary balance needed to keep a relationship together.
Line by Line Meaning
Money in my pocket
I have money, but it doesn't bring me happiness.
But I just can't get no love
Despite the money, I can't seem to find love.
I'm praying for a girl to be my own
I'm hoping to find a special girl to love.
Soon you said she coming
Someone told me that a girl is coming into my life.
But I don't believe a word she say
I don't trust what I've been told about this girl.
'Cause she ran away
She left me without an explanation.
And left me one rainy day
She left me on a sad day.
She made me had in mind
She made me believe that our love was special.
That her love would never die
I thought our love would last forever.
And a now I'm alone, yeah
But now I'm alone and sad.
So alone, so alone, yeah, yeah, ooh yeah
I feel very lonely and isolated.
The love I had in mind
I had a very specific idea of what love should be.
Was very, very hard to find
It's been difficult to find someone who matches my idea of love.
Oh, it's hard for a man to live without a woman, yeah
Life is tough without a woman by your side.
And a woman needs a man to cling to
Women also need men for emotional support and companionship.
You'll see what love can do
Love has the power to lift us up or bring us down emotionally.
After making me feel blue
She has left me feeling sad and depressed.
Ain't that a shame? Yeah, whoa baby
It's sad and disappointing.
To make me feel blue, ooh yeah
To leave me feeling so sad and down.
Money in my pocket
Still have money, but it's not enough to make me happy.
The love I had in mind
Love is still something that I'm searching for.
Ain't that a shame?
It's really unfortunate.
Yeah, yeah
Whoa yeah, yeah, ooh yeah
Writer(s): Dennis Brown, Delroy Reid, Dennis Emanuel Brown, Joseph Jackson Copyright: Dennis Emanuel Brown Music, Dennis Brown Music, Greensleeves Publishing Limited
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Thern Foster
Nice tune! If you like this type of Reggae song, then check out these OTHER KILLER TUNES!
Arema - In Love
Audley Rollens - Runaway Girl
Junior Brammer - Cold Concrete
George Nooks & Prince Weedy - Tribal War
Ernest Wilson - Truths & Rights
Enos McLeod - Lonely Teardrops
Enos McLeod - Jericho
Derrick Lara - You Have Changed
Meditations - Babylon Trap Them
Barrington Levy - Praise His Name
Fulk Livingston Reid - Golden Dufferdil
Tony Tuff - Good Times
Ruddy Simbal - A So The System Work
Mighty Diamonds - Pass The Kutchie
Mighty Diamonds - I Need A Roof
Senya - Roots Man
Anthony Johnson - Spend Time Loving You
Johnny Clarke - Nice Time
African Star - Love In Your Heart
Horace Martin - Peeping Tom
Leroy Gibbons - She's My Baby
I Roy - Drifter
Dennis Alcapone - Guns Don't Argue
John Holt & U Brown - Equal Rights & Justice
Nightingales - What A Situation
Desmond Dekker - Mother Pepper
The Wailers - Simmer Down
Majestarians - Youthman
Wailing Souls - Bag A Trouble
Little Howie - Original Love Me
O'Neil Dyer - Night Shift
John Holt - Stranger In Love
Alton Life s - What Does It Take
Alton Ellis - Willow Tree
Alton Ellis - Big Bad Boy
Frankie Paul - Be Mine Tonight
Sanchez - In Your Eyes
Garnett Silk - Green Line
Dolphin Morris - Su Su Pon Rasta
Leroy Brown - Gone Gone
Warrior King - Can't Get Me Down
I Roy - Fire Burn
U Roy - Jah Son Of Africa
Thriller U Ft. Johnny P - Stick By Me
Tanto Metro & Devonte Ft. Mega Banton - Jam Party
Peter Broggs - Bloodstain
Peter Broggs - Mr. Sheriff Man
Puddy Roots - Lovers Rock
Easton Clarke - Mass Charles
Delroy Wilson - Letter To Mommy & Daddy
Barbara Jones - You're Always On My Mind
Junior Byles - Fade Away
Alton Ellis - Let Him Try
Jamelody - Pressure
Cocoa Tea & Cutty Ranks - I'm Not A King
Cocoa Tea - First Date
Prilly Hamilton - Don't Take It Personal
Tony Curtis - My God Is Real
Maytones - Throw Down Your Arms
Maytones & I Roy - Money Worries
Pat Kelly & Ranking Trevor - It's A Good Day
Luciano - Good God
Carlton Bryan - Gridlock
Carl Meeks - A Wah Dem Fah
Chuck Turner - Run Around Girl
Colin Roach - Screechy Across The Border
Ernest Wilson - Let True Love Be
Ras Shiloh - Home To Zion
Everton Blender - Bring The Kutchie
Peter Tosh - Maga Dog
Tamlins - Testify
Kashief Lindo & Don Yute - I Need A Roof
Dennis Brown - If This World Were Mine
Derrick Harriot - Let Me Down Easy
Barry Briggs - Love Come Down
Barry Brown - Enter The Kingdom Of Zion
Horace Andy - Just Say Who
Richie Stephens & Mad Cobra - Legacy
Abyssinians - Keep On
Alpheus Taylor - Struggling
Corna Stone - In This Town
Paragons & U Roy - Tide Is High
Papa Natty - Dancehall Rock
Israel Vibraton - Licks & Kicks
Mighty Diamonds - Ready For The World
The Congos - Rock Of Gibraltar
The Gladiators - Dreadlocks The Time Is Now
Tamlins - Baltimore
Tamlins - Ting A Ling
Tamlins - Hard To Confess
Count Machuki - Movements
King Stitt - Skanking West
Gregory Isaacs - Border
Gregory Isaacs - I Can't Give You My Love Alone
Leroy Smart - I Love You
Leroy Smart - Jamaica We Nice
Mighty Maytones - Madness
Marijuanas - Tell Us When
Michael Prophet - Fisherman
Don Carlos - Chant Down Bablyon
Don Carlos - Hog & Goat
Lacksley Castell - Leaving
Lacksley Castell - Johnny Brown
Lacksley Castell - Government Man
King Kong - He Was A Friend
Nitty Gritty - Sweet Reggae Music
Tenor Saw - African Children
Super Black - Love Sick
Dennis Brown - Created By The Father
Hortense Ellis - Willow Tree
Hortense Ellis - Which Way You Going Natty
Linval Thompson - Look How Me Sexy
Linval Thompson - Marijuana Tree
Freddie McGregor - Reggae On It
Gregory Isaacs - Permanent Lover
Gregory Isaacs - Poor Millionaire
General Plough - No Pity In The City
Gideon Jah Rubal - Love Rasta
Gregory Isaacs - Forgive Her
Hugh Griffiths - African Dream
Ras Shiloh - Child Of A Slave
U Roy - African Message
Cornell Campbell - The Sun
Prince Jazzbo - Gal Boy I Roy
Big Youth Cool Breeze
I Roy - News Carrier
Junior Brammer - All Time Batchelor
Ken Boothe Ft. Cutty Ranks - Love Ain't Simple
Don Carlos - White Squall
Barrington Levy - Shine Eye Girl
Barrington Levy - English Man
Matthew McAnuff - Be Careful
Little Roy - Rastaman Fight
Little Roy - Owl
Ronnie Davis - Strange Things
Ronnie Davis - No More Darling
Mikey Spice - Born Again
Carl St. Clair - Guilty For Loving You
Winston Reedy - What A Feeling
Chalice - That's The Way It Is
Wa-Da-Da - Gimme Di Wok
Zu-Zu - Winner
Zamunda - Herbsman
B.B. Seaton - Is Life
Dennis Brown - If This World Were Mine
Arena - Knot Up Head
Thern Foster
Nice tune! If you like this type of Reggae song, then check out these OTHER KILLER TUNES!
Arema - In Love
Audley Rollens - Runaway Girl
Junior Brammer - Cold Concrete
George Nooks & Prince Weedy - Tribal War
Ernest Wilson - Truths & Rights
Enos McLeod - Lonely Teardrops
Enos McLeod - Jericho
Derrick Lara - You Have Changed
Meditations - Babylon Trap Them
Barrington Levy - Praise His Name
Fulk Livingston Reid - Golden Dufferdil
Tony Tuff - Good Times
Ruddy Simbal - A So The System Work
Mighty Diamonds - Pass The Kutchie
Mighty Diamonds - I Need A Roof
Senya - Roots Man
Anthony Johnson - Spend Time Loving You
Johnny Clarke - Nice Time
African Star - Love In Your Heart
Horace Martin - Peeping Tom
Leroy Gibbons - She's My Baby
I Roy - Drifter
Dennis Alcapone - Guns Don't Argue
John Holt & U Brown - Equal Rights & Justice
Nightingales - What A Situation
Desmond Dekker - Mother Pepper
The Wailers - Simmer Down
Majestarians - Youthman
Wailing Souls - Bag A Trouble
Little Howie - Original Love Me
O'Neil Dyer - Night Shift
John Holt - Stranger In Love
Alton Life s - What Does It Take
Alton Ellis - Willow Tree
Alton Ellis - Big Bad Boy
Frankie Paul - Be Mine Tonight
Sanchez - In Your Eyes
Garnett Silk - Green Line
Dolphin Morris - Su Su Pon Rasta
Leroy Brown - Gone Gone
Warrior King - Can't Get Me Down
I Roy - Fire Burn
U Roy - Jah Son Of Africa
Thriller U Ft. Johnny P - Stick By Me
Tanto Metro & Devonte Ft. Mega Banton - Jam Party
Peter Broggs - Bloodstain
Peter Broggs - Mr. Sheriff Man
Puddy Roots - Lovers Rock
Easton Clarke - Mass Charles
Delroy Wilson - Letter To Mommy & Daddy
Barbara Jones - You're Always On My Mind
Junior Byles - Fade Away
Alton Ellis - Let Him Try
Jamelody - Pressure
Cocoa Tea & Cutty Ranks - I'm Not A King
Cocoa Tea - First Date
Prilly Hamilton - Don't Take It Personal
Tony Curtis - My God Is Real
Maytones - Throw Down Your Arms
Maytones & I Roy - Money Worries
Pat Kelly & Ranking Trevor - It's A Good Day
Luciano - Good God
Carlton Bryan - Gridlock
Carl Meeks - A Wah Dem Fah
Chuck Turner - Run Around Girl
Colin Roach - Screechy Across The Border
Ernest Wilson - Let True Love Be
Ras Shiloh - Home To Zion
Everton Blender - Bring The Kutchie
Peter Tosh - Maga Dog
Tamlins - Testify
Kashief Lindo & Don Yute - I Need A Roof
Dennis Brown - If This World Were Mine
Derrick Harriot - Let Me Down Easy
Barry Briggs - Love Come Down
Barry Brown - Enter The Kingdom Of Zion
Horace Andy - Just Say Who
Richie Stephens & Mad Cobra - Legacy
Abyssinians - Keep On
Alpheus Taylor - Struggling
Corna Stone - In This Town
Paragons & U Roy - Tide Is High
Papa Natty - Dancehall Rock
Israel Vibraton - Licks & Kicks
Mighty Diamonds - Ready For The World
The Congos - Rock Of Gibraltar
The Gladiators - Dreadlocks The Time Is Now
Tamlins - Baltimore
Tamlins - Ting A Ling
Tamlins - Hard To Confess
Count Machuki - Movements
King Stitt - Skanking West
Gregory Isaacs - Border
Gregory Isaacs - I Can't Give You My Love Alone
Leroy Smart - I Love You
Leroy Smart - Jamaica We Nice
Mighty Maytones - Madness
Marijuanas - Tell Us When
Michael Prophet - Fisherman
Don Carlos - Chant Down Bablyon
Don Carlos - Hog & Goat
Lacksley Castell - Leaving
Lacksley Castell - Johnny Brown
Lacksley Castell - Government Man
King Kong - He Was A Friend
Nitty Gritty - Sweet Reggae Music
Tenor Saw - African Children
Super Black - Love Sick
Dennis Brown - Created By The Father
Hortense Ellis - Willow Tree
Hortense Ellis - Which Way You Going Natty
Linval Thompson - Look How Me Sexy
Linval Thompson - Marijuana Tree
Freddie McGregor - Reggae On It
Gregory Isaacs - Permanent Lover
Gregory Isaacs - Poor Millionaire
General Plough - No Pity In The City
Gideon Jah Rubal - Love Rasta
Gregory Isaacs - Forgive Her
Hugh Griffiths - African Dream
Ras Shiloh - Child Of A Slave
U Roy - African Message
Cornell Campbell - The Sun
Prince Jazzbo - Gal Boy I Roy
Big Youth Cool Breeze
I Roy - News Carrier
Junior Brammer - All Time Batchelor
Ken Boothe Ft. Cutty Ranks - Love Ain't Simple
Don Carlos - White Squall
Barrington Levy - Shine Eye Girl
Barrington Levy - English Man
Matthew McAnuff - Be Careful
Little Roy - Rastaman Fight
Little Roy - Owl
Ronnie Davis - Strange Things
Ronnie Davis - No More Darling
Mikey Spice - Born Again
Carl St. Clair - Guilty For Loving You
Winston Reedy - What A Feeling
Chalice - That's The Way It Is
Wa-Da-Da - Gimme Di Wok
Zu-Zu - Winner
Zamunda - Herbsman
B.B. Seaton - Is Life
Dennis Brown - If This World Were Mine
Arena - Knot Up Head
Calvin Clarke
One of king tubbys finest
charlie
@Jules Ldefinitely a Tubby dub but this engineering.....got scientist fingerprints on it.....
Calvin Clarke
@Jules L thank you very much for your reply and insight for this mix. respect 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Jules L
I was set to argue, never knew this a was Tubby's mix. Which my gut says it was not Tubby on the controls - his studio, but almost 100% it was apprentice Prince Jammy / later King Jammy. Compare the high pass filter and tape echo technique to Jammy's A Shine, the classic, especially the fader/instrument drop outs are indicative of Jammy. I remember sitting in a San Diego trolley around 2008 and this song came on my headset, and looking around feeling like a maniac with this incredibly complex music pulsating. I was completely obsessed with the mixing board technique, it is truly incredible. I would just imagine the tape head spinning recording and re-encoding the signal over and over and that was enough, so cool. I think the heart of any true dub set up is a proper tape echo system. Watch the Deep Roots Music documentary dvd's if you're interested in Tubby's hi-pass filter, the stories around it are so funny. It was at that time a completely new invention, at least in Jamaica, in that application. The particular frequencies it pulled gave the music a ghost-like floating quality, and if you ever meet people who lived around waterhouse you'll get some great anecdotes. The filter was one of the most important moments in dub history, Tubby could "pull" the life out of a song and let it float around in the mixing board. Just more evidence that a proper analog board is alive, and it will come for you if you don't mix properly.
If you like my post hit an idiot you know and subscribe to Netflix, and also listen to Shuggie Otis' song aht uh mi hed - it's worth a listen.
SmartfoolGB
Tables are indeed turning. 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
Gawian Dennis
Dennis Brown is my favorite
tommy patchanka
Bomboklaat, Greetings from Bologna, Italy, Bless ❤️
Calvin Clarke
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Slave Drive Dub plates
David Sookar
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥slave driver🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥