Raised in Syracuse, New York, she found success in the 70s as a model, working in New York and Paris (where she shared an apartment with Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange), before rising to public prominence as a singer and personality.
Jones secured a record deal with Island Records, which resulted in a string of club hits. The three disco albums she recorded - Portfolio (1977), Fame (1978), and Muse (1979) - generated dance singles such as Sorry That's The Trouble, I Need A Man, and a classic cover of La Vie En Rose. During this period, she also became a muse to Andy Warhol, appearing in his portraits and accompanying him to Studio 54 on many occasions.
As the 70s drew to a close, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music to suit a different style, a significant departure from her previous output that resulted in some of her strongest work. Still with Island, and now working with producers Alex Sadkin and Chris Blackwell at Compass Point Studios, and with the considerable talents of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie) behind her, she released the acclaimed Warm Leatherette (1980) and Nightclubbing (1981). These included re-imaginings of songs by Sting, Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Flash And The Pan, The Normal, and Tom Petty, as well as originals like the innuendo-filled Pull Up To The Bumper and the haunting I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango). Parallel to her musical shift was an equally dramatic visual departure; Jones - working heavily with style artist Jean-Paul Goude - adopted a severe, androgynous look that enhanced her already striking presence, the iconic cover of Nightclubbing exemplifying this new identity. Her collaboration with Sadkin and Blackwell continued with the dub reggae-influenced album Living My Life, which featured Nipple To The Bottle, The Apple Stretching, and the Jones-penned and much-sampled My Jamaican Guy.
Later in the 80s, she worked with Trevor Horn for the conceptual musical collage Slave to the Rhythm (1985), and with Nile Rodgers for Inside Story (1986) - her first album away from the Island label. Inside Story produced her last US Hot 100 hit to date, I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You), while Bulletproof Heart in 1989 produced the #1 US club hit Love on Top of Love - Killer Kiss, produced by C+C Music Factory's David Cole and Robert Clivilles. Though a chart regular in the UK Grace Jones never achieved mainstream musical success in the US, but most of her singles became huge hits in the dance underground.
Jones' strong visual presence was extended to her stage work. Her performances were unique spectacles as she adopted various personas and wore outlandish costumes throughout, particularly during her years with Goude. Her most memorable performances include the Paradise Garage in 1985, wherein she collaborated with legendary visual artist Keith Haring for her costume and the extraordinary One Man Show filmed in Drury Lane Theatre London and in New York and released on video in 1982 (it is yet to be re-released).
In 2008 she returned with the album "Hurricane".
My Jamaican Guy
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never standing by the door,
Just stretching out pan de floor,
That way him don't fall over,
No way him gwan fall out pan me,
That way him won't fall over,
No way him gwan fall out pan me.
Layed back, not worried back,
Layed back, not thinking back,
Layed back, never holding back,
My Jamaican guy, My Jamaican guy.
When my dread start to sw..
Him no think if it hot nor cold,
We just come in a de riva cold,
Dat way him don't waste him wata,
No way it gwan run out pan him,
Dat way him don't waste him wata,
No way it gwan run out pan him.
'Cause he's layed back, not worried back,
Layed back, not thinking back,
Layed back, not laying back,
Layed back, never holding back,
My Jamaican guy, My Jamaican guy.
My J.A. guy.
Take my life for a drive,
Never need to change his tools,
Him drive like a stubborn mule,
Dat way him naw go plop plop,
No way gas gwan bun out pan him,
Dat way him naw go plop plop,
No way gas gwan bun out pan him.
'Cause he's layed back, not thinking back,
Layed back, not worried back,
Layed back, not laying back,
Layed back, never holding back,
My Jamaican guy,
My J.A. guy.
The lyrics to "My Jamaican Guy" by Grace Jones are an ode to a laid-back and carefree Jamaican man. The song paints a vivid picture of a man who is always in control and never rushes. He takes his time smoking his herb, stretching out on the floor, and driving his car like a slow but steady mule.
The lyrics capture a sense of ease and relaxation that is characteristic of Jamaican culture. The man that Grace Jones sings about is never worried, never thinking too much, and never holding back. He is the perfect embodiment of a carefree island lifestyle.
Grace Jones's delivery of the lyrics is equally laid-back, with her deep voice giving the impression of a woman who is just as carefree as the man she sings about. The simplicity of the lyrics and the repetitive nature of the chorus are reflective of the uncomplicated life that the Jamaican man leads.
Overall, "My Jamaican Guy" is a celebration of a certain way of life that values taking things slow and not getting caught up in the frantic pace of the world. It is a reminder to take a breath, inhale some smoke, and enjoy the ride.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a toke from the smoke,
To smoke marijuana together
Never standing by the door,
He doesn't stand by the door to look out for anyone
Just stretching out pan de floor,
He is relaxing on the floor
That way him don't fall over,
He stretches out on the floor so he doesn't fall over
No way him gwan fall out pan me,
He won't fall on me
'Cause he's laid back, not laying back,
He is relaxed and not reclining
Laid back, not worried back,
He is relaxed and not worried
Laid back, not thinking back,
He is relaxed and not thinking too hard
Laid back, never holding back,
He is always relaxed and never holding himself back
My Jamaican guy, My Jamaican guy.
He's her chilled-out Jamaican boyfriend
When my dread start to sw..
When my hair starts to sway
Him no think if it hot nor cold,
He doesn't care about the weather
We just come in a de riva cold,
They have been in the river and are now cold
Dat way him don't waste him wata,
This way he doesn't waste water
No way it gwan run out pan him,
The water won't run out on him
'Cause he's laid back, not worried back,
He is relaxed and not worried
Laid back, not thinking back,
He is relaxed and not thinking too hard
Laid back, not laying back,
He is relaxed and not reclining
Laid back, never holding back,
He is always relaxed and never holding himself back
My Jamaican guy,
He's her chilled-out Jamaican boyfriend
My J.A. guy.
Her Jamaican boyfriend
Take my life for a drive,
He takes her on a journey
Never need to change his tools,
He never needs to switch things up
Him drive like a stubborn mule,
He drives like a reliable workhorse
Dat way him naw go plop plop,
This way he won't die on the drive
No way gas gwan bun out pan him,
The gas won't run out on him
'Cause he's laid back, not thinking back,
He is relaxed and not thinking too hard
Laid back, not worried back,
He is relaxed and not worried
Laid back, not laying back,
He is relaxed and not reclining
Laid back, never holding back,
He is always relaxed and never holding himself back
My Jamaican guy,
He's her chilled-out Jamaican boyfriend
My J.A. guy.
Her Jamaican boyfriend
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRACE JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind