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.
Rude Boy Train
Desmond Dekker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The rude boy train is comin' now
Dippy dippy dooey - dippy dippy dooey
The rude boy boat is comin' now
The rude boy boat is comin' now
Dippy dippy dooey - dippy dippy dooey
The rude boy plane is comin' now
Dippy dippy dooey - dippy dippy dooey
Rude boy get up a circuit chart
Rude boy get up a circuit chart
Dippy dippy dooey - dippy dippy dooey
Rude boy a loot an' a shoot an' a wail
Rude boy a loot an' a shoot an' a wail
Dippy dippy dooey - dippy dippy dooey
Double oh seven is back on the scene
Double oh seven is back on the scene
Dippy dippy dooey - dippy dippy dooey
Desmond Dekker's song "Rude Boy Train" is a joyous celebration of the Jamaican "rude boy" culture of the 1960s. The lyrics describe the arrival of the "rude boy train" by various modes of transportation, including boat and plane. The exclamation of "dippy dippy dooey" adds a sense of excited anticipation to the arrival of this subculture.
The lyrics also encourage the "rude boy" to have a "circuit chart," which was a type of plan used by Jamaican gangsters to map out their robberies and heists. The line "rude boy a loot an' a shoot an' a wail" reinforces the idea that these individuals were involved in criminal activity.
The mention of "Double oh seven" is a reference to James Bond, a cultural icon of the 1960s. This line emphasizes the connection between the "rude boy" culture and the glamorous world of spies and espionage.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the "rude boy" subculture, which was largely associated with poverty and disenfranchisement in Jamaica. While the lyrics mention criminal activity, the upbeat and joyful tone of the music suggests a sense of pride and rebellion among those who identified as "rude boys."
Line by Line Meaning
The rude boy train is comin' now
The group of young rebels is approaching now
Dippy dippy dooey - dippy dippy dooey
Refrain with no significant meaning
The rude boy boat is comin' now
The group of young rebels is approaching now (variation)
The rude boy plane is comin' now
The group of young rebels is approaching now (variation)
Rude boy get up a circuit chart
Rebel, make a plan before taking action
Rude boy a loot an' a shoot an' a wail
The rebel is ready to steal, fight, and cry for their cause
Double oh seven is back on the scene
A reference to James Bond, implying that someone skilled and cunning is present
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DESMOND DEKKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leostreat3573
They had this on the juke box in the pub I mis spent my youth in !! Shooting pool instead of hitting the books 🤣 . That's why I'm now a gardener . Good times
@SunnieDae1
Nothing wrong with gardening 😆
@denizdilmen8531
AZdan geldim derdâ ve esrarkeş jameikalılar rude boy train is coming downn
@paultiger9985
memories from my childhood - Desmond beats
@mamac8219
Love this Song, one of my favorite group singers. ❤
@mdillard473
If you don't get this in 2021 you never will
@alexanderroberts3855
oh snap, 007 is back on the scene!
@Paul5520
2.19 well spent👍
@lindakerkhove8233
I love it
@marcnoetinger152
Beaux souvenirs... rudie can't fail !...