Lewis began recording in the mid… Read Full Bio ↴Hopeton Lewis is a Jamaican singer.
Lewis began recording in the mid-1960s, and had one of the earliest rocksteady hits with "Take It Easy" in late 1966. He had several more Jamaican hits in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including the first 'herb' song ever recorded in Jamaica, "Cool Collie", worked for Duke Reid as an arranger and backing singer, and won the Festival Song Contest in 1970 with "Boom Shaka Lacka". He began working as a singer with Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, and in 1971 had a hit with "Grooving Out On Life". He continued to release records, but his success after the early 1970s was limited.
Since the late 1990s, Lewis has re-emerged as a Gospel singer.
Cool Collie
Hopeton Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or you won't live out to the end
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, cool collie
If you buy a stick, it make you slick now
If you buy a half, it make you calm
What a cool, cool collie
Don't take it so hard, my friend, no, no
Don't take it so hard, my friend
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, cool agony
Even the cops might intervene
But they won't catch you on the scene
No, no, no
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, cool collie
Even the cops might intervene
But they won't catch you on the scene
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, cool collie
Don't take it so hard, my friend
Or you won't live out to the end
What a cool, cool agony
What a cool, cool collie
Cool as a mountaineer
What a cool, cool collie
Cool as a dew at dawn
What a cool, cool collie
Yeah, yeah
In Hopeton Lewis's song "Cool Cool Collie," the lyrics suggest that using marijuana, also known as "collie" or "herb," can have a calming and cooling effect. However, the song also warns the listener to use it in moderation and to not let it consume their life. The chorus repeats "What a cool, cool collie" as a catchy and almost hypnotic mantra, emphasizing the cool and calming effects of the drug.
The verses specifically mention the different ways one can purchase and use marijuana, such as buying a stick or a half, and how it can affect your mood. The lyrics also hint at the taboo and illegal nature of using marijuana, with the mention of cops intervening but not catching you on the scene. The overall message of the song seems to be to enjoy the calming effects of marijuana, but to use it responsibly and not let it take over your life.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't take it so hard, my friend
Don't be so hard on yourself, friend
Or you won't live out to the end
Or you won't make it to the end
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, calm individual
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, calm individual
If you buy a stick, it make you slick now
If you buy a stick of marijuana, it can make you feel confident and cool
If you buy a half, it make you calm
If you buy half an ounce of marijuana, it can make you feel calm and relaxed
Don't take it so hard, my friend, no, no
Don't be so hard on yourself, friend
What a cool, cool agony
What a cool, calm feeling of pain or discomfort
Even the cops might intervene
Even the police might try to stop you
But they won't catch you on the scene
But they won't catch you in the act
No, no, no
Not at all
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, calm individual
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, calm individual
Cool as a mountaineer
As cool as someone climbing a mountain
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, calm individual
Cool as a dew at dawn
As cool as the dew on a new morning
What a cool, cool collie
What a cool, calm individual
Yeah, yeah
Yes, indeed
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network
Written by: Hopeton Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gravetje
'66 and that bassline is as pure as it can get.
Danny Brown
I can't believe I'm sat here blazing to a tune older than my mom 😂🔥
Dennis Pinnock
Rock Steady will never get old - Template!
Donald Edge
outrageously good
JAHNO71
One of the first examples of Rocksteady.
Dennis Pinnock
@Gabriel Re69ae Clarendonians 'Rudebwoy gone a jail' , Delroy Wilson 'Dancing Mood' and Hopeton kick off the era.
The syncopated bassline of 1967 was Rock Steady proper then 68' The genre got bouncier before giving way to Reggae as we know it today.
At least that's the way I experienced it as a schoolboy in 1967.
Fajar Zamratudl
This is a transition era dude , koool sound !
Gabriel Re69ae
@JAHNO71 make sense!
JAHNO71
@Gabriel Re69ae MMM sounds like Ska slowed down to me that makes a Rocksteady.
Gabriel Re69ae
between ska and rocksteady, i guess rocksteady start on 67