Lorenzo Aitken (22 April 1927 – 17 July 2005), better known by the stage na… Read Full Bio ↴Lorenzo Aitken (22 April 1927 – 17 July 2005), better known by the stage name Laurel Aitken, was an influential Caribbean singer and one of the pioneers of Jamaican ska music. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Ska".

Born in Cuba of mixed Cuban and Jamaican descent, Aitken and his family settled in Jamaica in 1938. After an early career working for the Jamaican Tourist Board singing mento songs for visitors arriving at Kingston Harbour, he became a popular nightclub entertainer. His first recordings in the late 1950s were mento tunes such as "Nebuchnezer", "Sweet Chariot" (aka the gospel classic "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot") and "Baba Kill Me Goat". Aitken's 1958 single "Boogie in My Bones"/"Little Sheila" was one of the first records produced by Chris Blackwell and the first Jamaican popular music record to be released in the United Kingdom. Other more Jamaican rhythm and blues orientated singles from this period include "Low Down Dirty Girl" and "More Whisky" both produced by Duke Reid.

Aitken moved to Brixton, London, in 1960 and recorded for the Blue Beat label, releasing fifteen singles before returning to Jamaica in 1963. He recorded for Duke Reid, with backing from the Skatalites on tracks such as "Zion" and "Weary Wanderer", before returning to the UK, where he began working with Pama Records. He recorded hits such as "Fire in Mi Wire" and "Landlord and Tenants", which led to a wider recognition outside of Jamaica and the UK. This cemented his position as one of ska's leading artists and earned him the nicknames The Godfather of Ska, and later Boss Skinhead. He gained a loyal following not only among the West Indian community, but also among mods, skinheads and other ska fans. He had hit records in the United Kingdom and other countries in the 1950s through to the 1970s on labels such as Blue Beat, Pama, Trojan, Rio, Dr. Bird, Nu-Beat, Ska-Beat,Hot Lead and Dice. Some of his singles featured B-sides credited to his brother, guitarist Bobby Aitken. Aitken also recorded a few talk-over/deejay tracks under the guise of 'King Horror', such as "Loch Ness Monster", "Dracula, Prince of Darkness", and "The Hole". Aitken settled in Leicester with his wife in 1970. His output slowed in the 1970s and during this period he worked as an entertainer in nightclubs and restaurants in the area including the popular 'Costa Brava Restaurant' in Leicester under his real name Lorenzo. In 1980, with ska enjoying a resurgence in the wake of the 2 Tone movement, Aitken had his only success in the UK Singles Chart with "Rudi Got Married" (#60) released on I-Spy Records (the label created and managed by Secret Affair. Aitken's career took in mento/calypso, R&B, ska, rock steady, and reggae, and in the 1990s he even turned his talents to dancehall. He performed occasional concerts almost until his death from a heart attack in 2005. After a long campaign, a blue plaque in his honour was put up at his Leicester home in 2007. Punk band Rancid cover's Aitken's Everybody Suffering on their 2014 LP Honor Is All We Know

Laurel Aitken (April 22, 1927 - July 17, 2005) became famous as one of the originators of Jamaican ska music in the late 1950s.

Aitken was born as Lorenzo Aitken in Cuba, and is the brother of singer Bobby Aitken. He moved to England in the 1960s, and had a loyal following among Skinheads and other ska fans. He had massive hits in the 1950s through 1970s, while recording for Blue Beat Records, Pama Records and Trojan Records. He recorded one of the earliest ska records, the double A-sided Boogie in My Bones / Little Sheila (1958). It was the first record on producer Chris Blackwell's Island Records label.

Aitken, who is known as "The Godfather of Ska", made his home in Leicester UK and performed live almost until his death. He suffered from a serious illness following a heart attack about a year before he died. He died from a heart attack in Leicester, UK on July 17, 2005.

Baby Please Don't Go
Laurel Aitken Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You know i love you, baby, please don't go, well, well
You know i love you baby, please don't go
Oh, you know i love you, honey child
There's nothing that i wouldn't do for you right now
You know i love you, baby, please don't go, well, well

You know i need you, honey, please don't go, well, well
You know i love you baby, please don't go

And you know i love you, honey child
There's nothing that i wouldn't do for you right now
You know i love you, baby, please don't go

You know i want you, honey, please don't go, well
You know i want you baby, please don't go
You know i love you, honey child
There's nothing that i wouldn't do for you right now
You know i love you, baby, please don't go, well

You know i want you, honey, please don't go
You know i want you baby, please don't go
You know i want you, honey child

There's nothing that i wouldn't do for you right now
You know i love you, baby, please don't go, well

Overall Meaning

The song "Baby Please Don't Go" by Laurel Aitken is a classic love song about a man pleading with his lover to not leave him. Throughout the song, the man sings about his love for his partner and how he needs them to stay with him. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, but they convey a depth of emotion and longing that is universal in love songs.

The song begins by declaring the love the man has for his partner, and his desperate plea for them to stay with him. The repetition of the phrase "You know I love you baby, please don't go" reinforces the man's desperation and his fear of losing his lover. The man goes on to say that there's nothing he wouldn't do for his partner, emphasizing the depth of his love and commitment to their relationship.

As the song continues, the man sings about how much he needs his partner and how he wants them to stay with him. The repetition of the phrase "You know I want you baby, please don't go" echoes the desperation and need the man has for his lover. The song ends with the man once again pleading with his partner to stay with him, emphasizing the depth of his love and the importance of their relationship.

Overall, "Baby Please Don't Go" is a simple but powerful love song that expresses the universal emotions of love, longing, and desperation.

Line by Line Meaning

You know i love you, baby, please don't go, well, well
I deeply care for you and I am pleading with you to stay by my side.

You know i need you, honey, please don't go, well, well
I am dependent on you and I am scared of losing you, please do not leave.

You know i want you, honey, please don't go, well
You are everything to me and I cannot stomach the thought of you leaving me.

You know i want you, honey, please don't go
I have a strong desire to be with you and I am begging you to stay.

Writer(s): Laurel Aitken

Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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