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Horace Andy is a legendary roots reggae singer, notable for such tracks as Government Land, You Are My Angel and Skylarking.
Born Horace Hinds on 19 February 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica, he made his earliest recordings in the late 1960s. Known for his distinctive falsetto vocal style, he sung on many classic production for reggae producers, including Phil Pratt, King Tubby and Prince Jammy. He is a devout Rastafari and, like many reggae singers, much of his material deals with themes of religion and social justice.
Andy found a new generation of fans in the 1990s, thanks to his work with trip hop pioneers Massive Attack. He continues to record new music, with an album called Living in the Flood released in 1999 on Massive Attack's Melankolic record label.
Spying Glass
Horace Andy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You stay by yourself
You evade all wickedness
Still some people they brand you yeah
Just because you are rasta
You move to the country
You live in the hills
You evade all company
They want to know all your business
You live in the city
You mind your own business
What you see you don't see
But some people they always see
They never mind their own business
You move to the country
You live in the hills
You think you're far from the weak
When you check it in your spying glass
They want to know rasta business
Spying glass!
Spying glass, yeah
Horace Andy's song, Spying Glass, is a powerful commentary on the challenges that Rastafarians face in their daily lives. The lyrics speak of a Rastafarian who has moved from the city to the country in order to evade the wickedness of society, only to find that he is still being watched and judged by those around him. The first verse talks about how despite the Rastafarian's efforts to avoid trouble and stay true to himself, he is still being branded by others who don't understand or respect his beliefs. This is a common issue for Rastafarians who are often misunderstood and unfairly judged by society.
The second verse reflects on the Rastafarian's move to the countryside, where he seeks to live a quieter life away from prying eyes. However, even in this new environment, he is unable to escape the scrutiny of others. The reference to the "spying glass" suggests that he is using some sort of device to keep an eye on his surroundings, but even this precaution is not enough to protect him from the curiosity and judgement of others.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the challenges that Rastafarians face in society, and the ways in which they must constantly be vigilant and aware of the perceptions of those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
You live in the city
You reside within city limits
You stay by yourself
You prefer solitude
You evade all wickedness
You steer clear of wrongdoing
Still some people they brand you yeah
Despite your actions, some label you
Just because you are rasta
Merely because of your Rastafarian beliefs
You move to the country
You relocate to rural areas
You live in the hills
You reside among the mountains
You evade all company
You avoid social interaction
When you check them in the new spying glass
When you observe others through your telescope
They want to know all your business
They desire information about your life
You mind your own business
You focus on your own affairs
What you see you don't see
You ignore what you witness
But some people they always see
However, some individuals are always observant
They never mind their own business
They have a habit of involving themselves in others' affairs
You think you're far from the weak
You believe you are distant from the vulnerable
When you check it in your spying glass
When you observe them through your telescope
They want to know rasta business
They crave details about Rasta life
Spying glass!
Exclamation - spying device!
Spying glass, yeah
Repetition of previous exclamation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nellee Hooper, Robert Del Naja, Andrew Vowles, Grantley Marshall, Horace Andy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alain Daumer
Voix céleste de douceur, j'adore comme il semble "chevroter", il m'émeut autant que Klaus Nomi, pour d'autres raisons artistiques ! Merci Monsieur de ses talentueuses émotions que vous nous offrez !
ReggaeDub Culture
the best version . classic tune 💚💛❤️
kristophe simms
i like this song,the backgroundi is well composed,horace andy is fe me superstar,i also love cus cus stop the fuss,a very classy artist
lilieth cameron
That bass line.
Joe Roberts
wicked dub
vasilis spandagos
this is so much better than the massive attack version , same with Angel, don't get me wrong i love massive attack they are also the reason i had the chance to see Horace Andy live in my country.
noelephantitis
Me too, only chance to see him live in NYC in 1998
DoctorFurioso
vasilis spandagos agreed. very different vibe and feel, but in a good way.
Iuri Almeida
Attention! Mandatory helmet use! (Brazil - Bahia - Salvador)
Lawrence Njawe
A classic.