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.
Reggae
Judge Dread Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're playing ska, come on and sing along.
Grab a Rude Girl, shuffle down
Ska is the sound that's going down.
Sing Reggae, and Ska,
Sing Reggae, and Ska
Sing Reggae, and Ska
I danced to that the beat that's really hot
Show the Rude Girl what you got
We're gonna shuffle the night away
To the rhythm and ska, Jamaica way
Sing Reggae, and Ska,
Sing Reggae, and Ska
Sing Reggae, and Ska
When the rhythm drums, it'll take you far
From the early morning, 'til late at night
You can shuffle to the rhythm, really tight
You can't get away from the shuffle beat
Come on, everybody, and move your feet
Sing Reggae, and Ska,
Sing Reggae, and Ska
Sing Reggae, and Ska
When the rhythm drums, it'll take you far
Sing Reggae, and Ska,
Sing Reggae, and Ska
Sing Reggae, and Ska
When the rhythm drums, it'll take you far
The song "Reggae & Ska" by Judge Dread is an invitation to listeners to join in on the fun of dancing to the infectious beat of ska music. The lyrics encourage everyone to sing along and grab a partner, specifically a Rude Girl, to shuffle and dance the night away. The song highlights the importance of the rhythms of drums, which help transport you to another world. Judge Dread sings about the appeal of the shuffle beat and the Jamaican way of dancing their cares away.
The message of the song is clear - let loose and enjoy life through the power of music and dance. It's an ode to the roots of reggae and ska and the cultures that created these genres. It's not just about the music, but it's also about the sense of community and joy that comes from dancing together. This song has the power to bring people together and make them forget their worries, if only for a little while.
Overall, "Reggae & Ska" is a tribute to the transcendental power of music to unite people from all walks of life. It's a perfect party song that encourages everyone to let their hair down and lose themselves in the rhythm of the drums.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on everybody, join in our song
Let's all gather together and sing along to the music
We're playing ska, come on and sing along.
We're performing a ska song, so join in and sing with us
Grab a Rude Girl, shuffle down
Find a partner and dance the shuffle together
Ska is the sound that's going down.
Ska music is popular and being played everywhere
Sing Reggae, and Ska,
Sing both reggae and ska music
When the rhythm drums, it'll take you far
The beat of the drums will transport you somewhere else
I danced to that the beat that's really hot
I moved my body to the rhythm that's really exciting
Show the Rude Girl what you got
Demonstrate your dancing skills to your partner
We're gonna shuffle the night away
We will continue dancing the shuffle all night
To the rhythm and ska, Jamaica way
Dancing to the rhythm and ska music in the typical Jamaica style
From the early morning, 'til late at night
We can shuffle and dance to the music all day and night
You can shuffle to the rhythm, really tight
You can dance the shuffle with precise and tight movements
You can't get away from the shuffle beat
The rhythm and beat of the shuffle music is irresistible
Come on, everybody, and move your feet
Let's all dance together and move our feet to the music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ElisavetSchina
You're rough, you're tough, you're rough, you're tough
You're rough, you're tough, you're rough, you're tough
Order, now my court is in session, will you please stand?
First, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Judge Hundredyears
Some people call me Judge Dread
Now, I have come here to whoop you,
To try all you rudeboys for shooting black people
In my court only we talk, cause I'm vexed, and I am the rudeboy today
Hugo Hicks?
Yes, sir
Rudeboy Adolfus James?
Yes, sir
Rudeboy Emmanuel Zechariah Zechipaul?
Present
George Grabandflee?
Present
Hmm Adolfus James, I see here you have been charged with
Ten shooting attempts
Five murder charge
Six grab and flee charge
But your honor, I didn't
Hush up, guilty or not guilty?
Not guilty, sir
I don't care what you say, take four hundred years
Stand down
Emmanuel Zechariah Zechipaul?
Yes, sir?
You've been charged with fifteen charge of shooting attempts
Fifteen murder charge
And I heard that you was the one there on Sutton Street
Who tell the judge, 'rudeboys don't care'
Well, this is King Street, and my name is Judge Dread, and I don't care
Now take four hundred years
But ya don't know what I would say, your good honor
Hush up What you trying to do, shoot me, too?
No, your honor, but I
Quiet Four hundred more years for you
George Grabandflee?
Yes, sir?
Stop your crying, rudeboys don't cry, that's what I hear
But I didn't do that, dem frame me, and I don't deserve that
I don't care, hush up, this is my court
You're charged for robbing schoolchildren
Rob with aggravation
Hush up, order
Adolfus James?
Yes sir?
You rob schoolchildren
You foam the peoples' house
You shot black people
But your honor, I didn't
Hush up! Just for talking, I now charge you for contempt
And that is a separate hundred years
I hereby sentence you to four hundred years
I said hush up, hush up
You're sentenced to four hundred years and five hundred lashes
I am going to set an example, I rudeboys don't cry, don't cry
When I was in harbor, I hear you were tough
Court adjourned, take them away
@ponderouspanda8266
To the dislikes, take 100 years!
@altheasyewart8616
Indeed
@anxiousmofo6673
400 years, and 500 lashes!
@jb1135
My Father use to Play this Record when I was young, I ended up Singing it to my Son, He is An Adult with his Own Son Now… He Sent me this Utube Video in August 2022 ( Amazing) Good Song indeed, Being Passed on From Generation TO Generation 😊👍🏽❤️❤️❤️🆙🆙🆙🆙 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
@officialnattydonn360
❤ I love it and am 25 .....an it's the year 2023🎉🎉🎉
@vadimaxyt
@@officialnattydonn360I'm 17 and I'm so glad I discovered ska
@andreabeckford782
I am the rude boy today. 400 more years for you.😂😂😂🇯🇲.
@lcbeatz14
RIP Prince Buster... Your seeds have bore a lot of fruits for our little Island and flourished all over the world. Thank you sir and rest easy
@kobalt77
beautiful words, One Love
@johnnyb8825
@@kobalt77
Prince Buster will always be The King and The Man as far as I'm concerned. One love.