… Read Full Bio ↴Hepcat are a third wave ska band formed in southern California in 1989.
Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican ska, also referred to as the first wave.
Hepcat's debut album, "Out of Nowhere" was released in 1994 on New York-based ska label Moon Records. Two years later, they followed it up with "Scientific" on BYO Records. In 1998, after signing with Epitaph Records subsidiary HellCat Records, they released "Right on Time," scoring a modest hit with the swinging "No Worries" and scored a spot on the Vans Warped Tour. 2000 saw the release of "Push n' Shove," their first album without founding members Raul Talavera and Alex Désert, although the latter appears as a guest vocalist on two tracks.
The band went on indefinite hiatus after 2000, and no new material has surfaced since. Trumpeter Kincaid Smith formed Soul Traffic, a five-piece funk band. Drummer Scott Abels has played with the Rancid side project Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and the southern California reggae act The Aggrolites. Vocalist Alex Desert has had a successful career in film and television, appearing in the movies PCU, Swingers, and High Fidelity; and the television show Becker.
In early 2004, a remastered version of Out of Nowhere was released with two additional bonus tracks, an early version of "Nigel" and "Club Meditation," both of which appeared on their first single. Occasionally, Hepcat reconvenes to play a few shows a year in the California area. Often, this lineup is that which performed on "Scientific."
They take their name from a term for a 1940s-50s jazz musician.
Marcus Garvey
Hepcat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Marcus Garvey was a hero who was born in Jamaica
Married two wives named Amy and Aimee
Had two sons, with one of the Amy's
One is a Doctor
One is a teacher
Some Say Garvey Ded-o
Some say they know him
Some say they don't know him
I met a group of fanatics, the other day
With some indescribable plan
Some say ask Ed
Some say cold fact
Some say cow jump over the moon
Some Say Garvey Ded-o
Some Say him no Ded-o
Some say they know him
Some say they don't know him
I met a group of fanatics, the other day
With some indescribable plan
Some say ask Ed
Some say cold fact
Some say cow jump over the moon
Some Say Garvey Ded-o
Some Say him no Ded-o
Some say they know him
Some say they don't know him
The song "Marcus Garvey" by Hepcat begins with the lyrics "Marcus Garvey was a n***er who was born in Jamaica. Marcus Garvey was a hero who was born in Jamaica." These lyrics reflect the mixed interpretations of Garvey's legacy, as he was both celebrated as a Black nationalist leader and attacked by some as a racist and extremist. The following lyrics describe Garvey's personal life, including his two wives named Amy and Aimee, and his two sons, one of whom is a doctor and the other a teacher. Again, the lyrics reflect the complex nature of Garvey's life, as he was known for his political activism but also experienced personal struggles and controversies.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Some say Garvey ded-o, some say him no ded-o" several times, highlighting the uncertainty around Garvey's death and legacy. This uncertainty is reinforced in the following lyrics, which describe a group of fanatics with an "indescribable plan" and offer conflicting statements about Garvey's significance. Some say "ask Ed," while others say "cold fact" or "cow jump over the moon." These lyrics suggest the confusion and myth-making around Garvey, as different groups try to claim his legacy for their own purposes.
Overall, "Marcus Garvey" is a song that explores the complicated legacy of a Black nationalist leader who continues to inspire and challenge people today. Hepcat's lyrics reflect the conflicting views of Garvey and highlight the ongoing debates around his life and work.
Line by Line Meaning
Marcus Garvey was a nigger who was born in Jamaica
Marcus Garvey was an black man, born in Jamaica.
Married two wives named Amy and Aimee
He was married to two women with almost the same name, Amy and Aimee.
Had two sons, with one of the Amy's
He had two sons, one of whom was born by one of his wives named Amy or Aimee.
One is a Doctor
One of his sons became a doctor.
One is a teacher
One of his sons became a teacher.
Some Say Garvey Ded-o
There's a debate over whether or not Marcus Garvey is dead.
Some Say him no Ded-o
Some believe that he is still alive.
Some say they know him
Some people claim to have known Marcus Garvey.
Some say they don't know him
Others deny knowing him.
I met a group of fanatics, the other day
Recently, the singer encountered a group of passionate individuals.
With some indescribable plan
These individuals had a plan that was difficult to explain.
Some say ask Ed
Some believe that if you want accurate information about Garvey, you should ask someone named Ed.
Some say cold fact
Others believe that the truth about Garvey is self-evident.
Some say cow jump over the moon
Some opinions about Garvey are so ridiculous that they're like saying a cow can jump over the moon.
Some Say Garvey Ded-o
There's still a debate over whether Marcus Garvey is dead or alive.
Some Say him no Ded-o
People still believe that Marcus Garvey may still be alive.
Some say they know him
Some people claim to have known Marcus Garvey.
Some say they don't know him
Others deny knowing him.
Writer(s): lord tanamo
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.