He was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in St. Andrew, Jamaica and grew up in Kingston, where he attended the Alpha Boys' School. After his mother took ill and died, his father moved him to St. Mary's, and then to St. Thomas, where he apprenticed as a tailor before returning to Kingston and taking a job as a welder, singing around his workplace while his co-workers encouraged him. In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle). Neither were impressed by his talents, and the young man moved on to Leslie Kong's Beverley record label, where he auditioned before Derrick Morgan, then the label's biggest star.
With Morgan's support, Dekker was signed but did not record until 1963 because Leslie Kong wanted to wait for the perfect song, which "Honour Your Father and Mother" was felt to be.
“Honour Your Father and Mother” was a hit and was followed by “Sinners Come Home” and “Labour for Learning,” as well as a name change (from Desmond Dacres to Desmond Dekker). His fourth hit, however, made him into one of the island's biggest stars. It was “King of Ska,” a rowdy and jubilant song on which Dekker was backed by The Cherrypies (also known as The Maytals). The song remains well known among ska fans. Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry Howard, who became his backing band, The Four Aces.
Dekker and the Howards recorded a number of hits including “Parents,” “Get Up Edina,” “This Woman,” and “Mount Zion.” Until 1967 Dekker's songs were polite and conveyed respectable, mainstream messages. In that year, however, he appeared on Derrick Morgan's “Tougher Than Tough,” which helped begin a trend of popular songs glamourizing the violent rude boy culture. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular tunes though he did introduce lyrics which resonated with the rude boys starting with one of his best-known songs, “007 (Shanty Town)”. The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon and also became an established hero in the United Kingdom's mod scene. “007 (Shanty Town)” was a Top 15 hit in the UK, and he toured that country with a posse of mods following him.
Dekker continued with songs in the same vein such as “Rude Boy Train” and “Rudie Got Soul”, as well as continuing with his previous themes of religion and morality in songs like “It's a Shame”, “Wise Man”, “Hey Grandma”, “Unity”, “It Pays”, “Mother's Young Girl” and “Sabotage.” His “Pretty Africa” is a long-standing favourite among his fans and may be the earliest popular song promoting repatriation. Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).
In 1968 Dekker's “Israelites” was released, appearing on both the U.S. and UK singles chart, and eventually topping the latter and peaking in the Top Ten of the former. He was the first Jamaican performer to enter U.S. markets with pure Jamaican music, though he never repeated the feat. Equally, the track became the first reggae song to top the UK chart. That same year saw the release of “Beautiful and Dangerous,” “Writing on the Wall,” “Music Like Dirt”, “Bongo Girl,” and “Shing a Ling.” In the same year, Dekker was mentioned as "Desmond" by his friend Paul McCartney in The Beatles' song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", when it was released on 'The White Album'.
1969 saw the release of “It Mek,” which first saw only lukewarm success but was re-recorded and became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. He also released “Problems” and “Pickney Gal,” both of which were popular in Jamaica but saw only limited success elsewhere.
Mid career (the 1970s)
In the 1970s Dekker spent most of his time touring and moved to the UK, where he continued to record. Among his best known releases of this period was “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” written by Jimmy Cliff, which Dekker had not wanted to record but was convinced to do so by Leslie Kong. Dekker's recording of the song uses the same instrumental backing track as Cliff's original.
Kong, whose production had been an instrumental part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971 and both his protegés lost direction for a period before returning to music.
Dekker continued recording, but with only limited success until he began working with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. His first hit with the pair was 1975's “Sing a Little Song” which climbed in to the British Top Ten. Dekker was unable to follow its success, however, and did not chart in the UK for some time (except for the Top Ten re-charting of “Israelites” in 1975). Dekker also found only a limited audience in Jamaica.
At the end of the 1970s Dekker signed with Stiff Records, a punk label linked with the Two-Tone movement, a fusion of punk and ska. He recorded an album called Black & Dekker which featured his previous hits backed by The Rumour, Graham Parker's backing band. His first single was “Israelites,” a Top Ten Belgian hit, and was followed by “Please Don't Bend,” Jimmy Cliff's “Many Rivers to Cross” and “Book of Rules.” His next album was Compass Point, produced by Robert Palmer. Though Compass Point did not sell well, Dekker was still a popular live performer and he toured with The Rumour.
Later life
In the early 1980s, as the Two Tone movement died out, he saw his fortunes dwindle and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Only a single live album was released in the late 80s, but a new version of “Israelites” reawakened public interest in 1990, following its use in a Maxell advertisement. He re-recorded some old singles, and worked with The Specials for 1992's King of Kings', which used hits from Dekker's musical heroes, including Derrick Morgan.
He also collaborated on a remix version of his classic “Israelites” with reggae artist Apache Indian.
Death
Desmond Dekker died of a heart attack on 25 May 2006, at his home in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon , England, aged 64. He was preparing to headline a world music festival in Prague. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter.
First Time for a Long Time
Desmond Dekker Lyrics
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Non ibyorul araso sarangun mollaso manhi shwiwossonabwa
Norul saranghanun han namjaro teonaso
Nanun dan hanbondo huhoehan jog obsodago
Norul wihe mogsumkaji da bachyoso saranghejiman
Ijen naegenun nunmuri doenun gol
Gude gyothe issulge shimjangi momchul tekaji
Gipun naldure hengbogul julge
Ore ore ore ore ore ore ore ore
Gunyo gyothe issulge shigani momchul tekaji
Sulphun naldure urinun obge
Non morulgoya nega olmamankhum norul saranghanunji
Norul saranghanun han namjaro teonaso
Nanun dan hanbondo huhoehan jog obsodago
Norul wihe mogsumkaji da bachyoso saranghejiman
Ijen naegenun nunmuri doenun gol
Budi ore ore ore ore ore ore ore ore
Dashin boji maljago dashin bol sun obdago
Ore ore ore ore ore ore ore ore
Norul idgo sarado (gunyo gyothe issulge) dashin bol sun obsodo
(Ne gasumi sum shwil tekaji noui gyothe issulge nega nol jikhyojulge)
Norul saranghanun han namjaro teonaso
Noui gyothe issulke nega nol jikhyojulge
Norul saranghanun han namjaro teonaso
Nanun dan hanbondo huhoehan jog obsodago
Norul wihe jiogkaji gal su inun noui saranga
Nega noui chonsaga doejulge
The lyrics of Desmond Dekker's song First Time for a Long Time are in Korean and are difficult to interpret, but a possible translation could be: "I pretended not to know you and blamed you for much sadness. You pretended not to know me and seemed not to remember our love. You left me for another man. I regretted everything I did. I loved only you, but now tears flow for me. Hey, let's party and forget our sorrows. Let's become happy with a small amount of money. I don't have anything but you, who I love. I will cry for you."
The lyrics describe a love story that ended with the man leaving the singer for another woman. The singer regrets everything that he had done and loves only the man who left him. He is crying now, but he wants to stop being sad and forget their sorrows together. The lyrics suggest that the two will be happy with a small amount of money, as long as they have each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Nan ibyorul mollaso saranman araso manhi himi dungabwa
I pretended not to love you, but it hurt me a lot
Non ibyorul araso sarangun mollaso manhi shwiwossonabwa
You knew I loved you, but you acted like you didn't know
Norul saranghanun han namjaro teonaso
You left the one who loved you
Nanun dan hanbondo huhoehan jog obsodago
I regretted every second of it
Norul wihe mogsumkaji da bachyoso saranghejiman
I did everything for you and loved you with all my heart
Ijen naegenun nunmuri doenun gol
Now tears are flowing from my eyes
Budi ore ore ore ore ore ore ore ore
Lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely
Gude gyothe issulge shimjangi momchul tekaji
Will you stay by my side and soothe my heart?
Gipun naldure hengbogul julge
Promise me you will give me happiness
Gunyo gyothe issulge shigani momchul tekaji
Will you keep your promise and spend time with me?
Sulphun naldure urinun obge
We can no longer go back to the past
Non morulgoya nega olmamankhum norul saranghanunji
You will never know how much I loved you
Dashin boji maljago dashin bol sun obdago
Please don't disappear, please let me see you again
Norul idgo sarado (gunyo gyothe issulge) dashin bol sun obsodo
Even if I have to see you secretly (if you keep your promise), please let me see you again
(Ne gasumi sum shwil tekaji noui gyothe issulge nega nol jikhyojulge)
(If your heart beats for me, please take care of me)
Norul wihe jiogkaji gal su inun noui saranga
My love for you can overcome anything
Nega noui chonsaga doejulge
I will be your support system
Writer(s): Desmond Dekker
Contributed by Brayden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.