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.
Hey Grandma
Desmond Dekker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't mean to stay out late
Hey Grandma
Can't you see I've got a date
Hey Grandma
It is just a minute now after eight
Hey Grandma
I was just singing a song
Sweetie Charlie
Charlie
Sweetie sweetie Charlie
Grandma
Wrinkle and sprinkle
Screw and screw
A-wrinkle sprinkle
Screw and screw
That is the truth
Grandma
I didn't mean to stay out late
Hey Grandma
Can't you see I've got a date
Hey Grandma
It is just a minute now after eight
Hey Grandma
I didn't do nothing wrong
I was just singing a song
Sweetie Charlie
Charlie
Sweetie sweetie Charlie
Grandma
Wrinkle and sprinkle
Screw and screw
A-wrinkle sprinkle
Screw and screw
That is the truth
Grandma
I didn't mean to stay out late
Hey Grandma
Can't you see I've got a date
Hey Grandma, ahhh
It is just a minute now after eight
Hey Grandma
Sweetie sweetie Charlie
Hey Grandma
Sweetie sweetie Charlie
Hey Grandma
Sweetie sweetie Charlie
Desmond Dekker's song 'Hey Grandma' is about a teenager trying to convince his grandma to let him go out on a date. In the first verse, he apologizes for staying out late and tries to explain that he didn't do anything wrong. He then mentions his date, hoping that his grandma would understand that he wants to spend time with her. The chorus is repeated three times and emphasizes that he means no harm and just wants to be with his girlfriend.
The second verse starts with the same lines from the first and transitions into the refrain of "Sweetie Charlie." While the meaning of the refrain is not explicitly stated, it is likely referring to the teenager's girlfriend. The last lines of the song still try to convince his grandma of his innocence by repeating the lines "That is the truth, Grandma" and "Sweetie sweetie Charlie."
The song gives a glimpse into the changing values and norms of the 1960s. The teenager in the song wants to spend time with his girlfriend, and the values of romance and independence were becoming more prominent at the time. The song also highlights the cultural clashes that can exist between different generations and their different values and beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Grandma
Addressing his Grandma, the singer tries to justify his behaviors and pleads for her understanding
I didn't mean to stay out late
The singer apologizes for returning late and implores his Grandma not to be too hard on him
Can't you see I've got a date
He tells his Grandma he was trying to impress a girl by staying out late, and to please understand his motives
It is just a minute now after eight
The singer explains that he wasn't out too late and that he will make up for his actions
I didn't do nothing wrong
The singer tries to absolve himself of any blame or wrongdoing
I was just singing a song
He offers an excuse for being late, saying he was singing and lost track of time
Sweetie Charlie
The name of the girl he was out with
Charlie
Repeating the name of the girl he was out with, emphasizing his focus and interest in her
Sweetie sweetie Charlie
He affectionately refers to the girl he was out with, highlighting his feelings for her
Grandma
Returning to addressing his Grandma, the singer is still seeking her forgiveness
Wrinkle and sprinkle
Using nonsensical words, the singer is acknowledging his Grandma's older age and wisdom
Screw and screw
Again using nonsensical words, the singer is possibly implying that his Grandma can fix anything, or twist people around her finger
A-wrinkle sprinkle
Continuing with the non sequiturs, this line is possibly acknowledging his Grandma's appearance
That is the truth
Re-affirming his innocence, the singer insists that he is telling the truth
Hey Grandma, ahhh
He repeats his plea to his Grandma, perhaps sensing her reluctance to forgive him
Sweetie sweetie Charlie
The singer again refers to the girl he was out with, to encourage his Grandma to allow him to continue seeing her
Contributed by Elijah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.