One of the few Jamaican singers to truly bridge the gap between the roots a… Read Full Bio ↴One of the few Jamaican singers to truly bridge the gap between the roots and dancehall reggae styles is the man known as Everton "Blender." When reggae fans hear the opening notes of "Lift Up Your Head," "Ghetto People Song," "Blend Dem," etc., they instantly recognize these songs as the cultural anthems of our time. The large number of hits Everton has accrued is most impressive for an artist who has been in the business for such a seemingly short period of time. But like many of Jamaica's biggest musical stars, the road to fame wasn't a short or easy one.

Everton Williams was born in the parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, but grew up in Kingston 13 on Maxfield Avenue. Everton worked as a painter, construction worker, and decorator, but he realized that the strong chemicals he was working with were not good for his voice or his health in general. With divine help and direction, he decided to leave his job to pursue a singing career. In 1980, he met Phyllis Thompson (who would later become his wife), and moved back to Clarendon. In 1985, Everton and Phyllis' first child, Isha, was born.

Although Everton had recorded a handful of singles for various producers, he had yet to score with a hit on the island. But that was all about to change in 1991 he voiced the autobiographical "Create a Sound." The song described Everton's experiences in the music business and with the Rasta faith. It was released the following year on the Star Trail label, and it was Everton Blender's first hit. Everton continued to record for Star Trail, who had a distribution deal with Heartbeat Records. 1994's Lift Up Your Head (HB 169) was Everton's full length debut, and featured "Create a Sound," along with the hits, "Family Man," "Bring di Kutchie," "My Father's Home," "Gwaan Natty," and the title track, which would go on to become one of the biggest anthems of the 1990's.

Everton continued to record for Star Trail and other labels, scoring hits including "Blend Dem," "World Corruption," "Bob Marley," "Piece of the Blender," "The Man," and "Coming Harder," all collected on the 1996 album, Piece of the Blender: The Singles (HB 209). At this time, Everton decided to take charge of his career and start his own label, which he named Blend Dem Productions. He began to finance most of his own recordings, a move that proved to heighten tension between him and many who wished to control the music production and promotion on the island. But he persevered, knowing that being in control of his career was the right decision, and his relationship with Heartbeat became even stronger. In 1999, Heartbeat released Everton Blender's first album of Blend Dem productions, Rootsman Credential (HB 227). Alongside boom shots like "Ghetto People Song," "Why Do We Have to War," and "False Words" was Everton's own productions including "Slick Me Slick," "These Hands," and many more strong statements of Everton's faith and will to succeed. Since the release of Rootsman Credential, Everton has toured the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean-establishing himself as one of the top touring forces from Jamaica. Live at the White River Reggae Bash (HB 242) captures Everton performing his most popular material with the Blend Dem band.

As the millennium came to a close, Heartbeat released an album of new Blend Dem productions that includes top acts riding Everton Blender produced rhythms. Dance Hall Liberation (HB 246) features Anthony B, Tony Rebel, Louie Culture, Richie Spice, Everton Blender, daughter Isha, and others. Everton was also executive producer on Richie Spice's debut album, Universal (HB 103), and plays a role in Spanner Banner's new release, Real Love (HB 249).

Blender's album released in 2001, Visionary (HB 254), consisted of his trademark conscious commitment over sizzling roots and dancehall self-productions. With guest appearances by Bennie Man, Anthony B, Tony Rebel, and Marcia Griffiths along with Everton's own strong performance, the album garnered favorable reviews throughout the music press. 2001 and 2002 also marked excellent touring year for Blender, where he headlined several major reggae events.

King Man (HB 258) is the latest work of Blend Dem Productions. This new album is the latest installment in Blender's legacy of excellent reggae music for the discerning listener. Expect to see Everton Blender somewhere near you as he tours later this year to support the release.

I Love Jah Jah
Everton Blender Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I love I love I love
I love Jah Jah
I love I love I love
I love Jah to my heart, heart and soul
I love Jah to my heart, yeash
I love Jah to my heart, heart and soul
I love Jah to my heart, yeash
All them a kick up and a galong and a gwan

I'm still here praising the Lord
Just a teach them with a message in my song
Just to guide you all day long
I'm not crazy
I'm not greedy
I know what I'm standing for

It's not easy
I chant daily

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Everton Blender's "I Love Jah Jah" express the artist's devoted and unconditional love for Jah, which is another name for God in the Rastafarian faith. The song starts with repeating the phrase "I love" to emphasize the depth of the artist's feeling towards Jah. Blender then directly addresses Jah and confirms his love and devotion multiple times in the following lines. The artist believes that his love for Jah extends from his heart and soul, emphasizing the importance of Jah's presence in his life. Blender then contrasts his love for Jah with the materialistic and superficial behaviors of others around him, who are "kick up and a galong and a gwan," which means they are causing commotion and going about recklessly. Nevertheless, the artist continues to praise the Lord and spread the message of Jah's love and guidance through his music.

The artist then justifies his actions as not being "crazy" or "greedy" and knowing what he stands for, which highlights his firm belief in Jah and the path he has chosen. The message is straightforward: loving God means living a righteous and moral life. Blender emphasizes the importance of daily worship through chanting, showing that his love for Jah is not just temporal but deeply ingrained in his being. Through the song, the artist urges listeners to embrace love for Jah and to embrace the Rastafarian way of life, which is founded on peace, love, and righteousness.

Line by Line Meaning

I love I love I love
I love deeply and passionately

I love Jah Jah
I love and adore God above all else

I love Jah to my heart, heart and soul
My love for God is all-encompassing, from the depths of my being

I love Jah to my heart, yeash
My love for God is unshakeable

All them a kick up and a galong and a gwan
Others may act foolishly and recklessly

I'm still here praising the Lord
But I remain steadfast in my devotion to God

Just a teach them with a message in my song
My music is a vehicle for spreading positive messages and teachings

Just to guide you all day long
To offer guidance and inspiration throughout the day

I'm not crazy
Contrary to what some may think, I am not insane

I'm not greedy
Nor am I motivated by materialistic desires

I know what I'm standing for
I am clear and certain in my beliefs and values

It's not easy
Living a life of faithfulness and righteousness is not without its challenges

I chant daily
But I remain committed to my spiritual practice

Writer(s): EVERTON WILLIAMS, CLEMENT DODD, JOHN LEWIS, RANDY PHIPPS, NEIL MARTIN

Contributed by Oliver O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS