Born Dalton Sinclair Bishop in Bridgetown, Barbados, Jackie Opel (1938–1970… Read Full Bio ↴Born Dalton Sinclair Bishop in Bridgetown, Barbados, Jackie Opel (1938–1970) possessed a rich, powerful voice with a six-octave range. He was known as the Jackie Wilson of Jamaica, and was a gifted dancer.

In the early 1960s, he was discovered by Byron Lee, the band master of the Dragonaires, who brought him to Jamaica. There, he started performing with the Skatalites as one of their lead singers. He recorded as a solo artist first on Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label, and afterwards on Justin Yap's Top Deck label and Edward Seaga's Wirl label. His styles included ska, R&B, soul, gospel, and calypso. He is credited with inventing spouge music, a fusion of ska, calypso, and R&B music. Opel performed duos with Doreen Schaffer and Hortense Ellis, and in 1964 was backed by Wailers Bob Marley and Peter Tosh on "Mill Man."

Opel eventually moved to Trinidad and then back to Barbados. In 1970, he died in a car crash in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Take Your Time
Jackie Opel Lyrics

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Give me time to explain
The way I feel about you.
Don't try to play too smart:
You'll end up breaking in two.
Why don't you take your time?
You better take your time.

The world wasn't made within a day,

So the Bible say.
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,
Some day you'll get your pay.
Why don't you take your time?
You better take your time.

You got what you want
And you think that's all.
Let me tell you something, brother:
Some day you've got to fall.
Don't play hypocrite with me, my friend,
Coz I know a long
The bull is going to overthrow
The fire will burn your hand.
Why don't you take your time?
You better take your time.

Don't try too hard, too hard,
And you think that's all,
Let me tell you something, brother:
Some day you're going to fall.
Don't play hypocrite with me, my friend,
Coz I know a long
The bull is going to overthrow
The fire will burn your hand.
Why don't you take your time?
You better take your time.
Why don't you take your time?

You better take your time.
Why don't you take your time?...

Overall Meaning

In Jackie Opel's song "Take Your Time," he advises the listener to slow down and not rush into things. He tells the listener to give him time to explain his feelings towards them, and not to be too smart or they will end up being hurt. The lyrics reference the idea that the world was not created in a day, and that what goes around comes around, implying that being patient and taking time will pay off in the end.

Opel warns the listener not to be hypocritical and try too hard because eventually, they will fall. He mentions a bull that will overthrow and a fire that will burn, which can be interpreted metaphorically as the consequences of rushing into things without considering the consequences. Opel concludes the song by repeating the phrase "why don't you take your time?" as a final plea for the listener to be patient and not rush into things.

Overall, "Take Your Time" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too hasty and not taking the time to consider the consequences of one's actions. It is a message that is still relevant today, as we live in a fast-paced world where people often rush into things without thinking them through.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me time to explain
I need time to tell you how I feel

The way I feel about you.
My emotions towards you

Don't try to play too smart:
Don't act overly intelligent

You'll end up breaking in two.
You will eventually fail

Why don't you take your time?
You should slow down and be patient

You better take your time.
It's in your best interest to slow down

The world wasn't made within a day,
Things take time to be created

So the Bible say.
That's what is mentioned in the Bible

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,
Retribution is fair punishment

Some day you'll get your pay.
You will eventually face the consequences of your actions

You got what you want
You have what you desired