Desmond Dekker (born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 1… Read Full Bio ↴Desmond Dekker (born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16, 1941, died May 25 2006) was a ska and reggae singer and songwriter. Together with his backing group, The Aces (consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had the first international Jamaican hit with "Israelites". Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967), and "It Mek" (1968).

Before the ascent of Bob Marley, Desmond Dekker was the best-known Jamaican musician outside of his country, and one of the most popular within it. He was orphaned as a teenager. Dekker began working as a welder, singing around his workplace while his coworkers 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. Dekker's "Honour Your Father and Mother" was to be that song.

Rudy Got Soul
Desmond Dekker & The Aces Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You are the one I adore
That is why I flipped out your door
Even at the days or night
I won't let you out of my sight

You got soul, baby
You got soul
So much soul

So much soul
It's hard to control

Best thing in life is for free
Love and be loved that's the key

When the winter and summer or fall

You are my love
My life and my all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Rudie Got Soul" by Desmond Dekker & The Specials speak of a deep and passionate love for someone who possesses a great amount of soul and energy. The lyrics make it clear that the singer is deeply in love with this person, to the point of being possessive, as he states that he won't let them out of his sight. This level of love and adoration is further emphasized when he says: "You are the one I adore/ That is why I flipped out your door." In essence, the singer is declaring that they are so in love with this person that they cannot bear the thought of being without them.

The song's chorus is a repetition of the lines "You got soul, baby/ You got soul/ So much soul/ So much soul/ It's hard to control," highlighting the intense and undeniable energy and passion that the subject of the song possesses. The singer seems to revel in this energy, describing it as hard to control yet immensely alluring, emphasizing that the viewer's soul is a key aspect of their attractiveness.

In the final verse, the singer concludes that the best thing in life is love, and to be loved. The object of his admiration is his love, his life, and his all, regardless of the passing of the seasons. "When the winter and summer or fall/ You are my love/ My life and my all." The singer is declaring his eternal and unconditional love for this person who he believes to be the best thing in his life.

Line by Line Meaning

You are the one I adore
You are the person I love and cherish deeply

That is why I flipped out your door
That is why I cannot get enough of you and always want to be near you

Even at the days or night
At any time of the day or night

I won't let you out of my sight
I won't let you leave my presence

You got soul, baby
You possess a unique and exceptional quality that captures my attention and admiration

You got soul
You are a person of great character and depth

So much soul
Your soul is so powerful and influential that it affects everything around you

So much soul
Your soul has a profound effect on everything and everyone you encounter

It's hard to control
It's difficult to contain or restrain the impact of your soul

Best thing in life is for free
The most valuable things in life are not material possessions, but the intangible things that cannot be bought or sold

Love and be loved that's the key
The key to a fulfilling life is to give love and receive love in return