Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle was formed 1968 by Ian and Roger Lewis. T… Read Full Bio ↴Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle was formed 1968 by Ian and Roger Lewis. The band gained success through the front-man and lead singer Jacob Miller, who was killed in a car crash 1980. 1978-80 Inner Circle was more popular in Jamaica than Bob Marley. The band also appeared in the reggae film Rockers in 1978. The album Everything Is Great reached top 20 in the UK 1979. In 1989 the hit 'Bad Boys' was released with Charlton Coffie as lead singer. Another international hit was 'Sweat (A La La La La Long)' 1993.
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The reggae group Inner Circle was formed in 1968 by the brothers Ian and Roger Lewis in Jamaica. At first they covered soul and R&B hits from the United States, and then also a few reggae songs, predominantly from Bob Marley.

The band released two albums as The Inner Circle in 1974 for jamaican label "Starapple"(and they were distributed by "Trojan" in UK), and resigned to Capitol Records in 1976, and Island Records(where the internationally successful album "Everything Is Great" originated. This album reached top 20 in the UK and preceded their other chart success by some years) in 1979.

Inner Circle was decidedly influenced through the original member Jacob Miller, the frontman and lead singer who was killed in a car crash on March 23, 1980. At the end of the 1970s Inner Circle with Jacob "Killer" Miller was more popular in Jamaica than Bob Marley. The band also appeared in the reggae cult film Rockers in 1978.

After the loss of Jacob Miller, Inner Circle broke up, but in 1982 another album called Something So Good was released. In 1986 Ian and Roger Lewis reestablished Inner Circle with the singer Carlton Coffie, and the band experienced a comeback with the album Black Roses.

In 1989, Inner Circle released the song "Bad Boys." Since then, the band calls itself "The Bad Boys of Reggae". They had another big hit with the 1993 song "Sweat (A La La La La Long)."

The lead singer Carlton Coffie was ill for a long period in 1995 and decided after his recuperation to start a solo career. The current singer Kris Bentley took his place.

Reggae Dancer
Inner Circle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know a reggae dancer
From Kingston Jamaica

She knows how to bump
Knows how to grind this little girl
She ruft all the time
She knows how to sing she don't
Drink gin, knock three times

She'll let you into her world
Of sweet reggae music

This irie crisp sister
This ruft reggae dancer
Her musical magic
Just got to have it

Better get ready to hold on steady
Don't distress it just respect it
Gone too far to turn back now

You made the right move you're in the groove
In her world of sweet reggae music

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Inner Circle's "Reggae Dancer" describe the charismatic prowess of an exotic, reggae-loving woman from Kingston, Jamaica. The song starts by introducing this enigmatic woman, a skilled reggae dancer who knows how to bump and grind. She is also a singer, yet eschews drinking gin, knock three times and she will let you into her world of sweet reggae music.

As the song progresses, the lyrics describe this woman as irie crisp and ruft (rough), which suggests a sense of rawness and energy. Her musical talent is described as magical and irresistible, making you want to have some of it too. The song then urges the listener to get ready to hold on tight as they enter the world of this reggae dancer, advising that they respect, not distress, the experience as they have come too far to turn back.

Overall, the lyrics to "Reggae Dancer" evoke a sense of adventure and lust, with the singer portraying this woman as mysterious and marvelous, and an irresistible force to be reckoned with.

Line by Line Meaning

I know a reggae dancer
I am familiar with a woman who is a skilled dancer of reggae music

From Kingston Jamaica
She is from the city of Kingston located in the country of Jamaica

She knows how to bump
She is adept at rhythmically and gracefully moving her hips in time with the music

Knows how to grind this little girl
She can smoothly and sensually engage in the dance move called 'grinding' with a male partner

She ruft all the time
She frequently enjoys smoking marijuana, which is called 'ruft' in Jamaican slang

She knows how to sing she don't
Although she is capable of singing, she chooses not to do so

Drink gin, knock three times
In order to enter her world of reggae music, one must knock on her door three times after proving that they do not drink gin

She'll let you into her world
Once you have met her entry requirements, she will welcome you into her world of music and dance

Of sweet reggae music
The style of music that she enjoys and performs is the reggae genre, known for its laid-back rhythms and positive messages

This irie crisp sister
She is a woman who emanates a sense of well-being and contentment with herself and her life

This ruft reggae dancer
Her skills in dance are complemented by her fondness for marijuana use

Her musical magic
The combination of her dance moves, musical tastes, and welcoming attitude creates an enchanting experience for those who enter her world

Just got to have it
One can't resist the allure of being part of her unique and positive musical community

Better get ready to hold on steady
Before entering her world, one should be prepared to embrace the relaxed, steady pace of reggae music and dance

Don't distress it just respect it
One should appreciate and value the culture of reggae music and dance, without feeling anxious or overwhelmed by it

Gone too far to turn back now
Once one has entered her world, it would be difficult to leave without feeling a sense of loss

You made the right move you're in the groove
By accepting and adopting the lifestyle of reggae music and dance, one has made a positive change and is now 'in sync' with this culture

In her world of sweet reggae music
The woman creates and nurtures a community centered around the enjoyment of reggae music, and those who enter feel welcome and satisfied in this environment

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CALTON COFFIE, BERNARD HARVEY, IAN LEWIS, ROGER MELVILLE LEWIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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