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.
The Winkle Man
Judge Dread Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Winkle Man comes down the street
And serves all the ladys
What do you know, nine months on,
They've all got cramps and babys
"The funny thing about, he was right little shrimp!"
He used to sell them cellary
And according to the dirty talk
He asked them what they liked best:
The knob end, or the stalk!
"No wonder why a woman used to come in here with a smile on her face, I'll smash his face in!"
He'd go down to his local pub
For a pint and a packet of Brisk's
The barmaid's got a 48
And he always grabs her tits, like coconuts!
A girl he had was a noisy bird
She used to scream and moan
She shouted 'help!' He said 'you silly cow,
I can manage on me own'
"What, do you want to bring the neighbors in then? Oh what do you want, a gang bang then?"
She said 'I was a virgin,
Now I've been dumped twice in a day'
He said 'Twice?, But it's only once'
She said 'right, you gonna dash away?'
"Allright, be gentle with me, it's only my second time . . . today"
When he was young and in his prime
He'd have a woman any old time
Now he's old and getting gray
He seems to, like the, other way!
"Well I suppose there's no harm in him being a shirt-lifter, it just means there's more birds for all the fellows in the pub!"
[Winkle Man]: "Winkle, Winkle!"
[Judge Dread]: "Oh christ, here he comes again! Gay boys in bondage. Do you want a drink?"
[W. M.]: "Yes please sailor"
[J. D.]: "Who are you calling sailor? I'll smash you in the gut!"
[W. M.]: "Up your's, butch!"
[J. D.]: "I'll give you up your's! You, bum burgler! Take that!
[smacking sounds]
The lyrics of "The Winkle Man," by Judge Dread tell the story of a man named the Winkle Man, who sells seafood (specifically winkles) on the street. However, the lyrics reveal he is a sleazy and diabolical character. The song is essentially about the Winkle Man's sexual deviance and aggression towards women. He is a small man ("right little shrimp") but is seen as a crude and dirty stereotype of a hyper-sexualized man. The women in the song are characterized as his objects of lust and desire, and it is implied that he preys on them for his own pleasure.
The song is full of double entendres and puns, and although some might find it comedic, it also highlights the rampant and unspoken issue of sexual harassment and exploitation towards women. The Winkle Man's actions represent the negative and repulsive aspects of masculinity, and his behavior towards women is both unwanted and dangerous.
Overall, Judge Dread's song "The Winkle Man" is a scathing indictment of the predatory and abusive treatment of women by men. Through its lyrics, it highlights the problems of gender and power within a society that often leaves women at the mercy of men like the Winkle Man.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll tell you a story about a geezer called the Winkle Man, a right dirty sod!
Let me narrate an account about a man known as the Winkle Man who is a foul and immoral person.
The Winkle Man comes down the street
And serves all the ladys
What do you know, nine months on,
They've all got cramps and babys
The Winkle Man walks down the street and serves all the ladies who eventually end up with pregnancy and abdominal pain nine months later.
"The funny thing about, he was right little shrimp!"
The amusing part of this story is that the Winkle Man was quite short.
He used to sell them cellary
And according to the dirty talk
He asked them what they liked best:
The knob end, or the stalk!
The Winkle Man used to sell celery, but he would make inappropriate comments to the women he served by asking them which part of the vegetable they preferred, the top or the bottom.
"No wonder why a woman used to come in here with a smile on her face, I'll smash his face in!"
It's no surprise why a woman would leave with a grin on her face after visiting the Winkle Man, and I am so outraged that I would hit him in the face.
He'd go down to his local pub
For a pint and a packet of Brisk's
The barmaid's got a 48
And he always grabs her tits, like coconuts!
The Winkle Man would visit his pub to have a drink and snack, but he would take advantage of the barmaid by grabbing her large breasts like coconuts.
A girl he had was a noisy bird
She used to scream and moan
She shouted 'help!' He said 'you silly cow,
I can manage on me own'
One of the women he was with was very vocal during sex and needed assistance, but the Winkle Man ignored her plea for help and responded by calling her a foolish cow who is incapable of pleasing him.
"What, do you want to bring the neighbors in then? Oh what do you want, a gang bang then?"
You want to get more people involved in this sexual encounter? What, do you expect to have a group sex party?
"Allright, be gentle with me, it's only my second time . . . today"
Okay, take it easy on me, it's only my second sexual encounter today.
When he was young and in his prime
He'd have a woman any old time
Now he's old and getting gray
He seems to, like the, other way!
The Winkle Man used to attract women easily when he was young, but as he grows older and grayer, he seems to be more attracted to men.
"Winkle, Winkle!"
"Oh christ, here he comes again! Gay boys in bondage. Do you want a drink?"
"Yes please sailor"
"Who are you calling sailor? I'll smash you in the gut!"
"Up your's, butch!"
"I'll give you up your's! You, bum burgler! Take that!
[smacking sounds]
The Winkle Man approaches, and Judge Dread is annoyed by his habits. The Winkle Man makes inappropriate sexual references, and Judge Dread threatens him, which leads to physical violence.
Contributed by Harper Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cruise Control
no worries I'm glad you enjoyed it, yes his passing was a great loss to us all and shame the big man never lived to see the new century in but his music will always live on :)
DJ Moss ssomjd
This was posted a long time ago but Judge was brilliant. My mate and I loved playing his 'rude' stuff full bore! Still got a few of his recordings here on the PC...and PC is one thing Dread wasn't lol. RIP Alex and thanks for the laughs! :-)
Jay Roland
Not heard this in years.....excellent 😁
sdf356866
Personally in retrospect I'm glad that his death lived up to the legend of his life. It's a story that will be told for decades, and I think based on his humour he couldn't have imagined a better way to go (other than heart attack in bed with a half dozen women).
MedBudReviews
Such a legend
BenAndGone
Legend, he used to be my dad's mate
Patricia Fulcher
Beautiful
willy androbby
Well I never knew he had died. More than 20 years ago. I think he used to live in Snodland? And did discos in Woolwich in the 80s. Oldest brother bought Bedtime Stories LP when it came out "Oh come on, this is 1975". Funny chap.
LordPercy21
This is not the original version. the original version wasn't double tracked vocal ! (I was the recording engineer, Rick Norton T.M.C studios)
Cruise Control
Sorry my bad, title changed. Thanks