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Tall, dreadlocked Junior Kelly is a devout Rastafarian and its Bobo Shanti mansion, on a serious musical mission which is manifested through the quality of his contemplative lyrics, the diversity of his substantial subject matter and his inspirational delivery. "Rasta Should Be Deeper". His βIf love So Nice (Why Do It Hurt So Bad)β took a detour through Europe along its route to the top of the Jamaican charts, a position which it securely held for 15 weeks, Born in St Thomas, Jamaica 1970, Junior was raised in nearby Spanish Town. Throughout his childhood, he was surrounded by music, his grandfather and father both played banjo, his mother sang in the Church and his oldest brother Jim was a popular Deejay[rapper] with the Kilamanjaro Sound
There was a sense of comfort and security within the family; Despite their poor economic status they were rich in other ways. βIf itβs soup today, weβre happy, if itβs crackers tomorrow, weβre still happy,β relates Junior, βbecause we knew we had each other to lean on.β
The family was plummeted into depression with the murder of juniorβs oldest brother Jim. A part time caterer, Jim was the familyβs principal breadwinner and a role model for Junior ; Jim regularly practiced his lyrical toasts in the family living room, greatly influencing the career path of his youngest brother.
After Jimβs death, to help support his family Junior followed soundsystems all over the island just for the opportunity to demonstrate his vocal and lyrical talents. He also began auditioning for several of the Producers comprising Kingstonβs crowded music circuit, attempting to record songs. Adhering to his principled Rastafarian lifestyle, he refused to compromise his lyrical content by writing lewd lyrics or songs disrespecting women.
Juniorβs career pace accelerated in late 1995 with appearances at major Jamaican stage shows including Reggae Sunsplash and Sting as well as shows in several northeastern American cities. While in America, he also recorded two songs, βHungry Daysβ and βGood Tidingsβ for Willie Carsonβs Front Page label. He returned to Jamaica to concentrate on his song writing and met Michael Stanford of M Rush Records for whom he recorded several singles including βBlack Womanβ and βIf Love So Niceβ.
βIf love So Niceβ took a detour through Europe along its route to the top of the Jamaican charts, a position which it securely held for 15 weeks, making it the longest charting number one tune on the island for the year 2000.
βIf love so Niceβ, one of, if not the most impressive Reggae song, impacted upon Jamaica with a force not experienced since hurricane Gilbert, posing a question every man and woman has asked at least once in a lifetime: βIf love so nice, tell me why it hurt so bad?β Utilizing the forceful bass line played by Aston βFamilymanβ Barrettβ on Bob Marleyβs timeless tune βStir It Upβ gave βIf Love So Niceβ a familiar underpinning even though the vocalist Junior Kelly, delivering classic Jamaican blend of precision deejay timing and lovers rock crooning, was unknown to most Reggae fans.
Despite his seemingly sudden rise to success, Junior Kelly, also the writer of βIf Love So Niceβ, has been assiduously toiling in the music industry since 1985. βSome say this is a lucky break, I say no, itβs a result of hard work,β explains the affable sing-jay Kelly who cut his first single βOver Her Bodyβ in 1985 for Neco Records. βSome say that culture in the music is a dying art form but itβs not. You have artists like myself who try to uplift the nation with words you can live by, thereβs just less attention given to us by radio disc jockeys.β
Despite the attention β IF LOVE SO NICEβ has deservingly received, Junior Kelly is more than a one hit wonder ; A listen to his Jet Star albums βRiseβ and βJuvenileβ, not to mention his VP Records debut album of the same name βIf love so niceβ
Juvenile
Junior Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To all a' di juvenile
Gwarn till di soil
Woah-oh juvenile [?]
And all di hardship yuh face
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun today
Watch out fi di trap dem and di sneer
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun today
I hope dem yah words a' give yuh strength when yuh weak
And help yuh find di courage mek yuh search and mek yuh seek
Fi find a better place fi you and us
From outta di slum you fi come
Remember visualise and then it will materialise
Wan' good just do good mi tell dem yute man be wise
And this is what di doctor recommend and Kelly prescribe
Is more love, so hear me gov
Woah-oh juvenile [?]
And all di hardship yuh face
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun today
Woah-oh juvenile hear mi aim for so high
Watch out fi di trap dem and di sneer
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun to...
Someone has been there for me some gonna be there for you
Yute nuh join dem bad company and dem crew
And go do weh yuh nuh suppose to do
And rob and loot, fi wear a suit
Nuh sit down like di rest and tu'n pest
To every drugslord weh pass tru dis yah nest
Me wan' yuh work hard push on so relentless
For betterment, save every cent
Woah-oh juvenile [?]
And all di hardship yuh face
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun today
Woah-oh juvenile hear mi aim for so high
Watch out fi di trap dem and di sneer
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
No buss no gun to...
From Porthouse to jailhouse, madhouse to Almshouse
And dem deh limited existence mi hear dem talk about
It's like dem nuh wan' fi see di juvenile a'
Sprout from all different road, so dem cut dem out
And trample dem existence from di inception
It's like everyt'ing bad 'appen a' juvenile dem put it 'pon
Don't [?] tombstone
As soldiers we're unknown but juvenile you're not alone
'Cause juvenile [?]
And all di hardship yuh face
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun today
Woah-oh juvenile hear mi aim for so high
Watch out fi di trap dem and di sneer
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun today
Hope dem yah words a' give yuh strength when yuh weak
And help yuh find di courage mek yuh search and mek yuh seek
Fi find a better place fi you and us
From out a' di slum you fi come
Remember visualise and then it will materialise
Wan' good just do good mi tell dem yute man be wise
And this is what di doctor recommend and Kelly prescribe
Is more love, so hear me gov
Woah-oh juvenile [?]
And all di hardship yuh face
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
And buss no gun today
The lyrics to Junior Kelly's song Juvenile carry an inspiring message for all the youth facing hardship and trauma while growing up. The chorus repeats throughout the song, urging the juvenile to steer clear of violence and crime, asking them to stay vigilant against the traps and snares laid out for them. Kelly hopes that his words can provide strength and courage to those who are struggling and motivate them to strive for a brighter future. Kelly acknowledges the systemic limitation and bias that the youth face, but he wants them to focus on visualizing and striving towards a better life. He encourages them to be wise and make the right choices, to work hard, and save money through honest means.
The song has a gentle beat, and Kelly's voice flows smoothly, creating a motivational atmosphere for the audience. The chorus "Woah-oh juvenile" carries a soothing vibe, a reminder that there is hope and a way out, even in the most challenging situations. Kelly sees the youth as soldiers, unrecognized and forgotten by society, but they are not alone.
Overall, Junior Kelly's song, Juvenile, speaks about hope and is a call for change, urging the youth to stay strong, persevere through hardship, and choose the path of righteousness.
Line by Line Meaning
Woah woah woah woah woah oh
Introduction to the song
To all a' di juvenile
Addressing all the young people
Gwarn till di soil
Encouraging the youth to work hard
Woah-oh juvenile [?]
Repeating the title and hook of the song
And all di hardship yuh face
Acknowledging the struggles faced by young people
Woah-oh juvenile please no get so [?]
Asking the youth not to resort to violence
And buss no gun today
Encouraging non-violent solutions to problems
Woah-oh juvenile hear mi aim for so high
Encouraging the youth to have high goals and aspirations
Watch out fi di trap dem and di sneer
Warning against negative influences and bad company
I hope dem yah words a' give yuh strength when yuh weak
Expressing hope that the song will provide motivation
And help yuh find di courage mek yuh search and mek yuh seek
Encouraging young people to search for better opportunities
Fi find a better place fi you and us
Encouraging the youth to strive for a better future for everyone
From outta di slum you fi come
Encouraging young people to overcome their circumstances
Remember visualise and then it will materialise
Believing in the power of positive visualization
Wan' good just do good mi tell dem yute man be wise
Encouraging the youth to make wise decisions
And this is what di doctor recommend and Kelly prescribe
Advocating for a message of love and positivity
Is more love, so hear me gov
Reinforcing the message of love and positivity
Someone has been there for me some gonna be there for you
Acknowledging the support received from others
Yute nuh join dem bad company and dem crew
Advising against joining negative crowds
And go do weh yuh nuh suppose to do
Encouraging young people to make positive choices
And rob and loot, fi wear a suit
Challenging the notion that crime is the only path to success
Nuh sit down like di rest and tu'n pest
Encouraging young people to be proactive
To every drugslord weh pass tru dis yah nest
Speaking out against drug culture
Me wan' yuh work hard push on so relentless
Encouraging hard work and perseverance
For betterment, save every cent
Encouraging young people to save money and invest in their future
From Porthouse to jailhouse, madhouse to Almshouse
Acknowledging the different challenges faced by young people
And dem deh limited existence mi hear dem talk about
Speaking out against limiting beliefs
It's like dem nuh wan' fi see di juvenile a'
Commenting on societal attitudes towards young people
Sprout from all different road, so dem cut dem out
Noticing how young people are often not given a chance to succeed
And trample dem existence from di inception
Pointing out how young people are often not taken seriously
It's like everyt'ing bad 'appen a' juvenile dem put it 'pon
Commenting on societal blame towards young people
Don't [?] tombstone
Encouraging young people to not give up hope
As soldiers we're unknown but juvenile you're not alone
Acknowledging the unity of young people
Writer(s): K. Morgan
Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RootyFari
Loving it !!!!!who else with me.....
@RootyFari
This sound make my pours open ,,,,letting u all no these sound dnt die just so.....Εastafariπ§π«π§π―π§π―π§π»π§π»β€TRINI IN THE HUSE BIG UP THE MALONEY
@metcalfhottie6305
2022
@rbaamo7194
The bassline and the BPM is Just fine βΌοΈπ―
@fidelitybattles7933
Whaooo ( JUVENILE ) ah man you so high and all the hardship you face - big tune respect
@christopherweekes7506
Hey yu dunn knooh...irie vibez πππ»π πππ₯₯
@michaelkilolo6776
Still a tune in 2021.
@christopherweekes7506
Watch.. seetya now ...luv ..respekt ..dunn noooh...π₯₯ππ ππ»ππ
@stevenjumba2543
One of my big chune still in 2019 kaboooom
@judahchapman7936
Sure right