Born in Kent, Judge Dread was the first White British recording artist to get a reggae hit in Jamaica. He got his stage name from a Prince Buster song, and his first hits were inspired by Prince Buster's single, "Big Five".
The Guinness Book of World Records credits Judge Dread for having the most banned songs of all time. Many of his lyrics have sexual connotations, with one song "Big Five" using rhyme to suggest lewd words while not actually saying them. A series of songs with "Big" followed by a number were some of his most notable hits — all of them featuring sexual and humorous lyrics. It is unlikely that you will ever hear his music on mainstream radio because of the nature of his lyrics.
Judge Dread died on stage in The Penny Theatre, Canterbury. At first, his collapse was thought to be part of his humorous and lively stage act, but it was quickly discovered that he was really dead.
In the 1970s, tabloid newspapers expressed concerns that young fans of the comic character Judge Dredd might buy Judge Dread's records by mistake, and hear things that may corrupt their minds.
Guilty
Judge Dread Lyrics
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There is no mind more open than a child's
But teach a child prejudice, hatred
And that mind begins to close until a racist is born
Evil is not innate, no child knows color
Teaching their children to lie, prejudge and be close-minded
Sometimes what we don't teach our children is more important than what we do
It's relentless
It has come to be what we expect
Perpetuated by years of ignorance
Passed on through the generations
But we won't be deceived
Why are we born with blood on our hands and sin on our minds
Why are we born with guilt and a blade hanging over our heads
Evil seems instinctual, what's right must be pursued
Why are the tools no longer given to us
Why have we rights to abuse
We refuse to be guilty
The song "Guilty" by Judge Dread speaks against racial prejudice and hate. The lyrics indicate that no one is brought into the world with a biased mentality; however, it is through our interactions with others that we pick up prejudices. We start learning from our parents and those around us how to be divided along ethnic and racial lines. In time, these behaviors become ingrained in our minds, and it becomes challenging to get rid of them. The song further argues that ignorance is the root of all racial prejudice problems. The many years of ignorance passed on from one generation to another have made such prejudices to continue, making it the norm to expect other races always to be at fault. However, the singer hopes that they will not be deceived and instead encourages listeners to seek out what is right and fight against evil.
In conclusion, "Guilty" is a passionate plea against the racial bias spread through ignorance and prejudice. The lyrics are primarily grounded on the notion that prejudice is not an inherent quality, rather a learned behavior. The song argues that we ought to be more cautious about what we teach our kids, reminding us that what we do not teach them can often be more critical than what we do. The ultimate message of the song is that people should search for the truth and speak out, rather than blindly following societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
No one is born a bigot
A person is not naturally a bigot, their upbringing and surroundings shape their beliefs.
There is no mind more open than a child's
Children are naturally curious and accepting, their minds are not tainted by biases or prejudices.
But teach a child prejudice, hatred
If a child is taught to have negative feelings towards certain groups of people, they will grow up with that same bigotry.
And that mind begins to close until a racist is born
When a child is taught to hate, their mind becomes closed off to accepting other ways of thinking and racism can be born.
Evil is not innate, no child knows color
Children are not born knowing about skin color, they learn it through their environment.
Teaching their children to lie, prejudge and be close-minded
Parents can have a negative impact on their children by teaching them to be deceitful and narrow-minded.
Sometimes what we don't teach our children is more important than what we do
As important as teaching is, sometimes it's just as crucial to avoid passing on harmful beliefs and behaviors to our children.
It's relentless
The spread of ignorance and prejudice can be unceasing and never-ending.
This ignorance that infects us all
Ignorance that leads to bigotry can be pervasive and present in all parts of society.
It has come to be what we expect
Because of how widespread prejudice is, it has unfortunately become the norm for many people.
Perpetuated by years of ignorance
Prejudice is often deeply ingrained within people due to years of ignorance and conditioning.
Passed on through the generations
Bigotry can be passed down from one generation to the next, continuing the cycle of ignorance and hate.
But we won't be deceived
Despite the prevalence of prejudice, some people actively choose to avoid being blinded by ignorance and hate.
Why are we born with blood on our hands and sin on our minds
This line questions why we are seemingly innately tied to violence and wrongdoing, suggesting that it's not necessarily our nature but rather a learned behavior.
Why are we born with guilt and a blade hanging over our heads
This line suggests that from birth, humans may feel a sense of guilt or impending danger - perhaps stemming from the wrongs of our predecessors.
Evil seems instinctual, what's right must be pursued
Although evil may sometimes feel natural or inherent, it's important to actively strive towards doing what's right.
Why are the tools no longer given to us
This line may refer to a lack of resources or education, reducing people's ability to combat ignorance and prejudice.
Why have we rights to abuse
This line may be asking why humanity is given the capability of abusing others, and why some choose to do so.
We refuse to be guilty
This final line suggests that even though humans may have a troubled past, it's possible to move forward by refusing to continue being blind to prejudice and hate.
Writer(s): Judie Tzuke, Colman Gota Thompson
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.