There are at least 2 bands with the name Dillinger

1. Dillinger (bor… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 2 bands with the name Dillinger

1. Dillinger (born Lester Bullocks on January 25, 1953) is a prominent reggae artist. Dillinger was part of the second wave of DJ Toasters who sprung up around Jamaica during the mid 1970s. Inspired by Big Youth, U Roy, and Dennis Alcapone, Dillinger was known for his quick wit, humorous lyrics and vulgar content ("crab in my pants").

As a youth growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, Dillinger would hang around Dennis Alcapone's El Paso Setup. This exposure would eventually lead to a full time gig at Jackie's sound system. Just as Alcapone took his performing name from a famous American gangster, Dillinger took his own name from John Dillinger.

The song "Cocaine In My Brain" is considered an all-time reggae classic and was even featured on the K-Jah reggae station of GTA: San Andreas.

2. A progressive Rock band formed in Ontario, Canada. They released two albums in total. the first was the self titled which was released in 1974 and then Don't Lie to the Band which was released in 1975.
Their music was progressive with bluesy riffs in a hard rock vein. The music was fairly complex and keyboards , vocals, saxophone , flute, accordion, drums, guitars and bass was used.

Natty Ten to One
Dillinger Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

They say this race is not for the swift
Line up for the strong
But if you don't got got speed, you can't succeed
But know your speed, all

But now mi ten to one inna Babylon
Ah, now mi ten to one inna Babylon
From Jerusalem down to Jericho

Told him not to walk with a black princess
Said he not to talk with a black princess
Said he not to travel with a black princess

But now mi ten to one inna Babylon
Then him ten to one inna Babylon
Say one to one in ah Zion
Me say ten to one inna Babylon
Yeah

A riddim, say Rasta
I and I have sight on full Jah
I and I princess, well jazz
Yeah
It's only to level out our show, ah

Said ten to one, down inna Babylon
Ten to one, down inna Babylon
One to one down inna Zion
Goin' Zion, goin' Zion

Something I would show her every hour
Someone's calling at the black princess
Keep controlling the interest
For some to be the best, yeah
Someone's calling now to ten to one
I would take you by the hand and leave for the last two, yeah

Said I went up to Boscobel to check retail
She cannot read, nah, she cannot spell
So go to hell retail, move yeah
So greet, see it, and spell on a L

Because you cannot read, nah, you cannot spell
So I wish you well, yuh better go to hell
So go to hell, retail
So greet, see it, and spell
Oh, wave the rasta

Ten to one, down inna Babylon
Ten to one, down inna Babylon
He not to travel with the black princess
I want the man, I'll stay with the rasta
I and I go Jerusalem
Jah dey all yuh being
I and I don't feel like we need pass

Yeah
Cah mi say ten to one down inna Babylon

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dillinger's song Natty Ten to One are a commentary on the racial discrimination and inequalities faced by the black community in Babylon, which could be seen as a metaphor for Western society. The opening lines, "They say this race is not for the swift, line up for the strong, but if you don't got got speed, you can't succeed, but know your speed, all," suggest that the competition in Babylon is not based on merit, but rather on some arbitrary factor. The repetition of the phrase "ten to one" throughout the song highlights the odds that the singer and his community are up against.

The references to a "black princess" and the warnings not to talk to or travel with her also allude to the racial prejudices of Babylon, which view black people as inferior and unworthy of equal treatment. The singer's defiance in choosing to associate with the black princess despite the consequences speaks to the need for resistance against oppressive systems. The use of Rastafarian language and references to Jah emphasize the spiritual and cultural roots of the black community, which provide a source of strength and solidarity in the face of adversity.

Overall, Natty Ten to One is a powerful anthem of resistance and defiance that speaks to the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in society.

Line by Line Meaning

They say this race is not for the swift
People say that in a race, it's not just the fastest person who wins

Line up for the strong
The strong and skillful people have a better chance of winning

But if you don't got got speed, you can't succeed
But if you don't have speed, you cannot succeed in a race

But know your speed, all
It is important to know your own speed to have a better chance of winning

But now mi ten to one inna Babylon
But now, my chances of winning are only ten to one in Babylon

Ah, now mi ten to one inna Babylon
My chances of winning are still ten to one in Babylon

From Jerusalem down to Jericho
From the ancient city of Jerusalem to the city of Jericho

Told him not to walk with a black princess
Someone advised him to not associate himself with a black princess

Said he not to talk with a black princess
He was warned not to have any conversation with the black princess

Said he not to travel with a black princess
He was advised not to travel with the black princess

Say one to one in ah Zion
Now it is a fair game in Zion, the chances are equal.

Me say ten to one inna Babylon
I still stand at ten to one chances in Babylon

A riddim, say Rasta
The particular beat of the music signifies Rastafarian culture

I and I have sight on full Jah
The use of 'I and I' refers to the singer and their inner spirit, and they have a clear sight of Jah, a Rastafarian term for God

I and I princess, well jazz
The singer's partner, referred to as 'princess', is well-dressed

It's only to level out our show, ah
It is only to balance our show/performance, nothing more than that.

Something I would show her every hour
I would show her a pleasant time or something new to her every hour

Someone's calling at the black princess
Someone is trying to contact the black princess

Keep controlling the interest
The singer wants to control the interest level of the audience

For some to be the best, yeah
Everyone wants to be the best

Someone's calling now to ten to one
Someone is calling out the artist's low chances of winning

I would take you by the hand and leave for the last two, yeah
I promise to stay with the black princess till the end, even if we don't end up winning the race.

Said I went up to Boscobel to check retail
I went to Boscobel to check out the merchandise

She cannot read, nah, she cannot spell
The black princess is not literate

So go to hell retail, move yeah
The singer is disapproving retail because the black princess could not read or spell

Because you cannot read, nah, you cannot spell
The singer is criticizing someone for not being able to read and spell

So I wish you well, yuh better go to hell
The singer wishes them well but also advises them to go to hell

So go to hell, retail
Retail is not favored by the artist

So greet, see it, and spell
The artist is telling someone to introduce themselves properly by greeting and spelling their name

Cah mi say ten to one down inna Babylon
Because I stand at ten to one chance in Babylon

He not to travel with the black princess
Someone advised him to leave the black princess behind while traveling

I want the man, I'll stay with the rasta
The artist wants a man who follows Rastafarianism.

I and I go Jerusalem
The artist and their inner spirit are going to Jerusalem

Jah dey all yuh being
'Jah is with you' to strengthen or encourage someone