"Junior was a good artiste. We produced two songs for him, Merry Go Round and Fort Augustus. He was a talented songwriter and a very cool person. I actually spoke to him three weeks ago when he called from London," producer and musician Sly Dunbar recalled.
Born Oscar Hibbert August 25, 1958, in Kingston, Delgado began singing in his teens as Junior Hibbert, with the vocal group Time Unlimited. In 1975, Delgado decided to pursue a solo career and opted to change his name to Junior Delgado. Delgado was his long-time nickname, taken from the Spanish word for skinny.
His debut album, Taste of the Young Heart was released in 1978. The following year, the singer started his own label, Incredible Jux, on which he released his follow-up album Effort. Among the producers whom he recorded for were Prince Jammy, Joe Gibbs, Augustus Pablo and Earl 'Çhinna' Smith.
Throughout the early 1990s Delgado spent most of his time between recording and touring Britain where he had a strong fan base. The More She Love It and Disco Style Showcase albums were both released in 1981 and saw Junior experimenting with the new dancehall style.
However, Delgado had not entirely deserted his roots style.
After a forced hiatus, during which time Delgado spent 18 months in prison; in 1985 he recorded Broadwater Farm in London, a fiery single inspired by the crime-ridden and poverty-stricken north London housing estate of the same name. Coincidentally enough, soon after the album's release, the estate itself made headlines in England upon suffering the most violent and vicious rioting England had ever experienced in then recent times.
Following the death of long-time friend Dennis Brown, Delgado recorded his own personal tribute to the singer, simply titled Junior Delgado Sings Dennis Brown. During this time, the singer continued performing live to appreciative crowds on both sides of the Atlantic. Delgado spent over 25 years in the business, yet his music still connects with the generation of today.
He died at his home in London during April 2005.
Fort Augustus
Junior Delgado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The prisoners they must be free
Yeah now Lord
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, now Lord
Fort Augustus
They're saying it's for Dreadlocks and me
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, now Lord
Fort Augustus
In the middle of the sea
They're saying it's for you and for me
Down a Spanish Town
A them a shoot you like a camera
Down a Spanish Town, now Lord
Them a shoot you like a camera
And that's the way man way
And that's the way downtown
Down at Tamarind Farm
If you should make an alarm
The bosuns beat you to scorn
Down a GP
Those that jump the back
A them a end up in a close combat
Help now
Down a GP
Those that jump the back
A them a end up in a close combat
A them a end up in a close combat, but
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus
In the middle of the sea
They're saying it's for you and for me
(.)
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, now Lord
Fort Augustus
In the middle of the sea
They're saying it's for herbman and me
Fort Augustus, Lord
Fort Augustus
In the middle of the sea
They're saying it's for you and for me, yeah!
I and I nah go
I and I nah go a
I and I nah go a
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, now Lord
Fort Augustus
In the middle of the sea.
The lyrics of Junior Delgado's "Fort Augustus" describe the struggles that prisoners face in Jamaica, specifically in the Fort Augustus prison. The song begins with a simile that compares the prisoners to birds in trees that should be free. The repetition of the refrain "Fort Augustus" emphasizes the significance of the prison, a location that is in the middle of the sea, implying a sense of detachment and isolation from the world. The line "They're saying it's for Dreadlocks and me" highlights the idea that the imprisonment is not just about the crimes committed by the prisoners, but also their cultural and social identity.
The second half of the song describes the violence and brutality that prisoners face when they are in other prison facilities in Jamaica, such as the Tamarind Farm and GP. The line "Down a Spanish Town, now Lord, them a shoot you like a camera" suggests that prisoners are not safe even when they are outside of the prison walls. The use of the term "bosuns" refers to the prison wardens who are responsible for maintaining order, but often end up using excessive force to do so.
The lyrics of "Fort Augustus" give voice to the experiences of the prisoners in Jamaica and their struggle for freedom and justice. The song speaks to the larger issue of the prison system in Jamaica, where overcrowding and harsh conditions are prevalent.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the birds in the trees
The prisoners are just like birds in the trees who deserve freedom
The prisoners they must be free
It's necessary to set the prisoners free
Fort Augustus Fort Augustus, now Lord Fort Augustus
The song is about Fort Augustus
In the middle of the sea
Fort Augustus is situated in the sea
They're saying it's for Dreadlocks and me
The prisoners are told that they are imprisoned because of their hair or ethnicity
They're saying it's for you and for me
Everyone is affected by the unjust imprisonment at Fort Augustus
Down a Spanish Town
The song shifts its focus to Spanish Town
A them a shoot you like a camera
People are shot on sight without any consideration, just like taking a photograph
And that's the way man way And that's the way downtown
This is how things are done in Spanish Town
Down at Tamarind Farm
The song shifts its focus to Tamarind Farm
If you should make an alarm
If you make any noise, you will be punished
The bosuns beat you to scorn
The people in charge will beat you mercilessly
Down a GP
The song shifts its focus to GP (General Penitentiary)
Those that jump the back A them a end up in a close combat
Those who try to escape are engaging in a physical fight with the authorities
Help now
Asking for help as the situation is severe
A them a end up in a close combat, but
Even though they fight, they will not succeed
Fort Augustus Fort Augustus, now Lord Fort Augustus
The song comes back to its main subject
They're saying it's for herbman and me
The imprisonment is also due to the usage of herbs
In the middle of the sea
The location of Fort Augustus is established again
I and I nah go I and I nah go a I and I nah go a Fort Augustus Fort Augustus, now Lord Fort Augustus In the middle of the sea.
The singer repeats that he will not go to Fort Augustus
Writer(s): Hibbert Junior Delgado
Contributed by Mila O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Don Jhonny's
I need lyrics
@bongoeshebantu6713
Music to fortify our Black Souls ... Soothe our battle wounds - 500 years of it ❤🖤💚
@WayneDunkley-fn2xe
Banging tune, old but gold!! An absolute classic, about Fort Augustus prison, & like Alcatraz it's in the middle of the Caribbean sea. Used to be a men's prison but I'm now told that it's a women's jail. Either way, a real hell hole of a place. Y'know what? THIS tune here is timeless, just totally ageless & always gets a big forward when played in the dance, for sure!! RIP Mr. Junior Delgado sir. Peace & love ❤️💯 everytime Iyah. Bless up 💯🇬🇭🇪🇹🇨🇬🇧🇴🇬🇳🇬🇾🇬🇼🇯🇲🇸🇳☪️☯️🌍✊👊💯
@jetblakink
All I can say... this tune... Jah Shaka... Brixton Town Hall... late 70's... surprised the place is still standing. Nuff said!
@kimdodd6677
Shaka Shaka Warrior 💥🙏🕊🌹
@Madcash67
Some big tunes in 1980, this was one of them. Steppers delight. RIP Jux
@tonjm8567
Inconfondibile sound Sly and Robbie ⭐️
@JohnnyBoat
40+ years and still heavy
@fablover78
Dis ya riddim i-ney rasta!!!
@simeonstarr8254
No lie...Jah Shaka...🙏🏾❤🙏🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥🇬🇧🇯🇲