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.
Mother Pepper
Desmond Dekker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why, why, why, Why Mother Pepper?
Haul up you mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Haul up you mouth and give me pass Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Just stand and look at your mouth, it big as the Gulf of Mexico
And if someone say réf, see ya Jah
Ooh, you deh right den
Like when them say "dire under moos-moos tail and him think of cold breeze"
Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper
Haul up your mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Gal, what make you so hot?
And your foot dry like de rat bat
You hot like fire and be breaking a dish
And your neck favor cutlass fish
How could you say it's a sham, and you mouth gettin' caught in a jam
Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper
The song "Mother Pepper" by Desmond Dekker & The Aces is a playful and humorous take on the concept of an overbearing mother figure. The repeated lines, "Why, why, why, why Mother Pepper?" serve as a sort of chorus, emphasizing the singer's exasperation and confusion. The first verse speaks directly to "Mother Pepper", telling her to "haul up" her mouth and let him pass, suggesting that she may be prone to gossip or meddling. The second verse shifts focus to a woman who is described as hot and fiery, but also has dry feet and "cuts like a fish". The singer challenges her to explain how something could be a "sham" when she is getting her mouth caught in a "jam".
There is a playful, almost childlike quality to the language used throughout the song, with plenty of rhyming and wordplay. The verses are punctuated by the repeated refrain of "Mother Pepper", which adds a sense of structure to the otherwise free-flowing lyrics. The song's upbeat, ska-inspired sound adds to its sense of whimsy and lightheartedness. Overall, "Mother Pepper" is a catchy and fun song that combines humor with social commentary.
Line by Line Meaning
Why, why, why, why Mother Pepper?
Questioning about the identity of Mother Pepper
Why, why, why, Why Mother Pepper?
Repeating the same question to emphasize the curiosity about Mother Pepper
Haul up you mouth and give me pass Mother Pepper
Requesting Mother Pepper to stop talking and let the singer pass
Mother Pepper
Addressing and calling out to Mother Pepper
Just stand and look at your mouth, it big as the Gulf of Mexico
Commenting on the size of Mother Pepper's mouth by comparing it to the Gulf of Mexico
And if someone say réf, see ya Jah
Implying that Mother Pepper is quick to react to certain words or phrases
Ooh, you deh right den
Acknowledging that Mother Pepper is present and listening
Like when them say "dire under moos-moos tail and him think of cold breeze"
Giving an example of a phrase that would cause Mother Pepper to react
Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper
Continuing to address and call out to Mother Pepper
Gal, what make you so hot?
Asking about why Mother Pepper is so irritable or angry
And your foot dry like de rat bat
Commenting on the dryness of Mother Pepper's feet by comparing them to a rat bat
You hot like fire and be breaking a dish
Commenting on how easily Mother Pepper gets angry and destructive
And your neck favor cutlass fish
Comparing the appearance of Mother Pepper's neck to that of a cutlass fish
How could you say it's a sham, and you mouth gettin' caught in a jam
Questioning how Mother Pepper can criticize others when she herself is prone to speaking out of turn
Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper
Continuing to address and call out to Mother Pepper
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DESMOND DACRES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TH3 FURY
This song is so complete and various, verse, refrain or chorus, instruments, all is in the right place at the right time, it's just fantamajestic !
So much souvenir resonate in me when i listen this huge artist who is Mister Desmond Dekker !
He stay in my top 3 with Alton Ellis and Ken Booth ... They are "The Holy Graal of Trinity" !
edzsjuelaj
beautiful , bless
Joe Daniel
Why, why, why, why Mother Pepper?
Why, why, why, Why Mother Pepper?
Haul up you mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Haul up you mouth and give me pass Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Just stand and look at your mouth, it big as the Gulf of Mexico
And if someone say réf, see ya Jah
Ooh, you deh right den
Like when them say "dire under moos-moos tail and him think of cold breeze"
Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper
Haul up your mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Gal, what make you so hot?
And your foot dry like de rat bat
You hot like fire and be breaking a dish
And your neck favor cutlass fish
How could you say it's a sham, and you mouth gettin' caught in a jam
Mother Pepper, Mother Pepper
AAAASMAR
Why not ?
AAAASMAR
go go go go
Raymond Catt
Haul up your mouth and give me pass.
Wicked. :-)
Mr. Red
🇯🇲🎙💿
Nabucodonosor II
yeah boi
Audrey Laurent
Why, why, why, why Mother Pepper?
Why, why, why, Why Mother Pepper?
Haul up you mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Haul up you mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Just stand and look at your mouth, it big as the Gulf of Mexico
And if someone say réf, see ya Jah
Ooh, you deh right den
Like when them say "dire under moos-moos tail and him think of cold breeze"
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Haul up your mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Haul up your mouth and give me pass, Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Mother Pepper
Gal, what make you so hot?
And your foot dry like de rat bat
You hot like fire and be breaking a dish
And your neck favor cutlass fish
How could you say it's a sham, and you mouth gettin' caught in a jam
Mother Pepper.....