Eek-a-Mouse is since 1979 the stage name for the Jamaican dancehall deejay … Read Full Bio ↴Eek-a-Mouse is since 1979 the stage name for the Jamaican dancehall deejay artist, songwriter and music producer Ripton Hylton (⋆ 19 Nov 1957 in Kingston, Jamaica). He is one of Jamaica's premier dancehall stars known for songs as Ganja Smuggling and The Freak and is also seen as a good reggae artist. He advanced the sub-genre singjaying, created by early toasters like Big Youth. Eek-A-Mouse had his most successful years 1979-1992. His debute studio album Bubble Up Yu Hip was released 1980 and his latest with new material Eekziled 2011. His carrier stopped 2008 when was arrested on charges of rape and narcotic possession, fled to USA and later to Paraguay. In July 2013 he was released after a plea agreement, having pleaded "no contest" to misdemeanor charges for assault on a female and attempted crime against nature, with his time already spent in prison covering his sentence. He now performs again.
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Born in Kingston, Jamaica as Ripton Hylton, Eek-a-Mouse began his foray into reggae music when he was in college, but did not begin to garner a substantial audience until 1979 with his hit "Once a Virgin". This same year, he changed his singing name to "Eek-a-Mouse", the name of the racehorse he always bet on. In 1981, he cheered up the Reggae Sunsplash Festival, which was still mourning over the death of reggae icon Bob Marley. After this, his fame continued increasing through the year 1982 until 1988, when he released "Eek-A-Nomics", his last full-length CD until 1996.

Eek-a-Mouse is a regular at the Jamaican music festival Reggae Sunsplash and often teams up with reggae duo Michigan and Smiley. He has also been featured on Christian rock group P.O.D.'s (Payable on Death) album Satellite, lending his vocals to the rock-reggae track "Ridiculous".

Palaving
Eek-a-Mouse Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't cry no little youth don't cry
Just you realize
Those good things in life, you want to achieve
Will soon, come in time

Don't get out of your mind goin' round doing crimes
You won't survive
Pray to the almighty god I say

And he will pave your way

Live conscious and look within yourself
Youth man hear what I'm saying

And remember,
plelan
And remember,
plelan

Palaving, palaving, palaving, palaving
helen hey

Somee keep starving, keep starving, keep starving,
helen hey

While some of them keep balling, keep balling
helen hey

An dem fear and some calling
while some of them palaving, ey!
while some of them are not starving
starving and starving and starving
ey!

Palaving
plelen
Palaving
plelen
ey!

Don't cry no little youth don't cry
Just you realize
Those good things in life, you want to achieve
Will soon, come in time

Don't get out of your mind go in a rumbling style (?)
You won't survive
Pray to the almighty god I say
And he will pave your way

Live conscious and look within yourself
Youth man hear what I'm saying

Please follow helen

Palaving, palaving, palaving, palaving
helen

Some starving, some starving, some starving,
helen

Some balling, some balling, some balling,
helen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eek-a-Mouse's song "Palaving" urge young people to keep faith and focus on their goals, rather than engaging in criminal activities in desperation. The singer encourages his listeners not to despair or give up hope, but instead to trust that the good things they desire will eventually come to them in time. He emphasizes the importance of living consciously and looking within oneself to find guidance, rather than seeking immediate gratification or material wealth. The repetition of the word "plelan" throughout the song serves as a kind of rallying cry or mantra for listeners, urging them to keep moving forward with faith and determination.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't cry no little youth don't cry
Do not weep, young one, for your time will come

Just you realize
Simply acknowledge and comprehend

Those good things in life, you want to achieve
The positive things in life that you desire

Will soon, come in time
Will eventually materialize

Don't get out of your mind goin' round doing crimes
Do not allow yourself to resort to criminal activities

You won't survive
It will lead to your downfall

Pray to the almighty god I say
Invoke the power of a higher being

And he will pave your way
And they will remove obstacles from your path

Live conscious and look within yourself
Be aware and introspective

Youth man hear what I'm sayin'
Young one, listen and heed my words

And remember, pelan
Recall and keep in mind

Palaving, palaving, palaving, palaving, Helen, hey
Some people are chattering away while others suffer in silence

Some keep starving, keep starving, keep starving, Helen, hey
Some are in a state of perpetual hunger

While some of them keep balling, keep balling, Helen, hey
While some enjoy a lavish and luxurious lifestyle

An dem fear and some calling, while some of them palaving, ey! While some of them are not starving, starving and starving and starving, ey!
Some people are scared and reaching out for help, while others are gossiping and some are still suffering greatly

Palaving, plelan, Palaving, plelan, ey!
Some are endlessly chatting while others are barely surviving

Contributed by Jackson E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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