McGregor's career began at the age of seven. In 1963 he joined with Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin to form The Clarendonians, and began to record for the legendary Studio One label. Freddie worked with producer Niney The Observer during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
His popularity soared in the early 1980s with the release of "Bobby Bobylon". Other popular hits of Freddie's include "Big Ship", "Push Comes To Shove", "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" and "I Was Born A Winner"; as well as cover versions of many early reggae standards. He has also worked with producers Junjo Lawes, Linval Thompson and Gussie Clark. McGregor has also toured extensively for many years.
He established the Big Ship Recording Studio, and has produced many artists including Luciano and Mikey Spice. He is a member of the Twelve Tribes organization.
UK singles chart discography
* "Just Don't Want To Be Lonely" (1987) - Chart Number 9
* "That Girl (Groovy Situation)" (1987) - Chart Number 47
Big Ship
Freddie McGregor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say when I'm ready you must hold on steady
We're moving off at lightening speed, yeah
Take a seat and wait 'till I'm ready
I'm coming so hold on steady, yeah
Big ship sailing on the ocean
Big ship sailing on the ocean
Big ship sailing on the ocean
Big ship sailing on the ocean
There's a time when the sea gets rough
The wind is blowing and the fishes keep movin'
What are you doing mister man
Sit down hold on tight, get ready 'cause youre sailing
Big ship sailing on the ocean
We don't need no commotion
Big ship sailing on the ocean
Get ready 'cause we're moving
Big ship sailing on the ocean
Big ship sailing on the ocean
Say when I'm ready you must hold on steady
We're moving off at lightening speed, yeah
Take a seat and wait 'till I'm ready
I'm coming so hold on steady, 'cause
Big ship sailing on the ocean
We don't need no commotion
Big ship sailing on the ocean
We got to come over
Say we're sailing on the ocean
Say there's a time when the sea gets rough
The wind is blowing and the fishes keep movin'
What are you doing mister man
Sit down hold on tight, get ready 'cause youre sailing
Big ship sailing on the ocean
We don't need no commotion
Big ship sailing on the ocean
We got to come over
Big ship sailing on the ocean
Big ship sailing on the ocean
The song "Big Ship" by Freddie McGregor is a reggae classic that speaks to perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. The lyrics describe a journey at sea and the challenges that come with it, but also the determination to keep moving forward towards a brighter future. The metaphor of the "big ship" represents the strength and stability needed to weather any storm and stay on course towards one's goals.
The opening lines of the song set the scene for the journey ahead, urging the listener to hold on tight and prepare for takeoff. The repetition of the word "sailing" creates a sense of momentum and excitement, as if the ship is already in motion. When the sea gets rough and the wind starts to blow, McGregor advises to sit down and hold on tight. This suggests that there may be turbulence ahead, but with the right mindset and preparation, one can overcome it and reach their destination.
The chorus of the song reinforces the idea of the ship as a symbol of strength and determination. "We don't need no commotion" implies that there may be distractions or obstacles in the way, but they can be overcome with focus and perseverance. Ultimately, the message is one of hope and faith in the journey, no matter how challenging it may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailing, sailing, sailing
We're about to embark on a voyage across the sea.
Say when I'm ready you must hold on steady
I'm in charge here, so be prepared to follow my lead when the time comes.
We're moving off at lightening speed, yeah
We're going to be moving very quickly, so buckle up and hold on tight.
Take a seat and wait 'till I'm ready
Just relax and wait for me to get everything in order before we set sail.
I'm coming so hold on steady, yeah
Just hold on tight and be ready for whatever comes our way.
Big ship sailing on the ocean
We're sailing a big ship across the ocean.
We don't need no commotion
We don't want any trouble or chaos while we're on this journey.
Get ready 'cause we're moving
Be prepared to start moving as soon as I give the signal.
Say there's a time when the sea gets rough
There will be times during our journey when the ocean will become turbulent and difficult to navigate.
The wind is blowing and the fishes keep movin'
The wind is strong and the fish are swimming fast, indicating rough waters ahead.
What are you doing mister man
Are you ready for this challenge?
Sit down hold on tight, get ready 'cause you're sailing
Take a seat, hold on tightly, and prepare yourself for the journey ahead.
We got to come over
We have to persevere and overcome any obstacles that come our way during this journey.
Lyrics ยฉ MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Freddie McGregor, Linval Thompson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RAS CARDO REGGAE
RASPECT, MY BRETHREN FREDDIE. LONG TIME NUH SEE THE I. RAS CARDO REGGAE SENDS JAH LOVE. STAY SAFE MY BRETHREN.
@GRYL180
Jamaica gwah like dem nuh waan give Rasta dem props but what an injustice! Rasta put Jamaica pon di world map wid some a di sweetest music on earth. Bless up Freddie McGregor
@coppadread1922
Rasta put Costa Rica pan di map. KING SELASSIE I neva partial
@marikabastien
My soul is at ease when I hear this ๐ฅน๐
@allishapowell3973
I love when my uncle be jamming these reggae tunes man. It's relaxing to my soul thanks uncle B
@jenniferbailey5366
๐ฏโค๏ธ
@slimdaniels3322
Shouts out uncle b passing the infinite love of reggae down to the next generation. Reggae will last for the rest of human history.
@markusmonteiro6162
Love love mucho amor saludos desde cabo verde , respect from cabo verde โค๏ธ๐๐
@CdubGottiRawDogg
1982 and no I'm not playing with you I was born for this ๐ข๐ผ๐พ๐
@hustleno-filta5373
Sailing sailing! ๐ฏ๐คฒ๐พ๐ค๐พ