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.

Bad Minded Woman
Laurel Aitken Lyrics

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Unknown
Miscellaneous
Truck Driving Woman
Truck Driving Woman
(Si Kahn)

You see me on the highway
And you nearly shift your load;

You take another look, good buddy
And you nearly leave the road.

Ain't you never seen a truck-drivin' woman
Ninety pounds of fire in a five-foot frame.
And you'd better move on over
'Cause I'm right behind you in the left hand lane/

When you see me in the truck stop
And my long hair hangs in curIs
Don't you try to buy my coffee
'Cause I ain't no good time girl.

No, I'm a truck drivin' momma
Five children waiting when I end my run
And I got to get movin'
Got to be in Georgia with the rising sun.

So when you see me on the highway
And you hear my diesel moan
Don't you whistle at me buddy
'Cause you know I'm not alone.

I got my good friend'* beside me
Working together, it's the way we feel
Yeah I'm a truck drivin'woman
Night haul from Pittsburgh with a load of steel.

Repeat first verse

* or "my old man" or "my woman"
Copyright Joe Hill Music
@feminist @work @truck
filename[ TRUCKWMN

play.exe TRUCKWMN
RG

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Laurel Aitken's song Bad Minded Woman tell the story of a woman who is not afraid to take on a traditionally male-dominated job, that of a truck driver. The song challenges gender stereotypes and celebrates the strength and independence of women. The woman described in the song is not only a truck driver but also a mother of five children, who is determined to get her job done and provide for her family. The lyrics also speak to the harassment and condescension the woman faces from other drivers, who are surprised to see a woman behind the wheel of a big rig. Despite this, she remains confident and assertive, letting those who underestimate her know that she is not to be trifled with.

The song Bad Minded Woman was written by Laurel Aitken, also known as the "Godfather of Ska." Aitken was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and musician who played a key role in the development of ska music in the 1960s. He was known for his socially conscious lyrics and his ability to fuse different musical genres, including reggae, rock, and ska. Bad Minded Woman was originally released in 1969 and has since become a classic of the ska genre. The song has been covered by various artists over the years, including The Selecter and The Simmertones.

Line by Line Meaning

You see me on the highway And you nearly shift your load; You take another look, good buddy And you nearly leave the road.
I am a truck-driving woman, and when other drivers see me on the highway, they are surprised because they don't expect a woman to be driving a big rig. Sometimes, they get so distracted that it affects their driving, which could be dangerous.

Ain't you never seen a truck-drivin' woman Ninety pounds of fire in a five-foot frame. And you'd better move on over 'Cause I'm right behind you in the left hand lane/
Some people are surprised that a small woman like me is driving a truck, but I know what I'm doing, so you better get out of my way. I'm in the left lane and ready to pass you.

When you see me in the truck stop And my long hair hangs in curIs Don't you try to buy my coffee 'Cause I ain't no good time girl.
Just because I'm a woman, it doesn't mean I'm going to flirt with you or be your entertainment. I'm at the truck stop to do my job, not to have a good time. So don't try to buy me coffee like you would with other women.

No, I'm a truck drivin' momma Five children waiting when I end my run And I got to get movin' Got to be in Georgia with the rising sun.
I have five children waiting for me when I get back from my run, so I need to keep moving to get my job done and get home to them. I have a schedule to keep and a family to support.

So when you see me on the highway And you hear my diesel moan Don't you whistle at me buddy 'Cause you know I'm not alone.
If you see me driving down the highway, don't try to flirt or whistle at me, because I'm not alone. My partner, who is also a truck driver, is with me, and we work together as a team to get the job done.

I got my good friend'* beside me Working together, it's the way we feel Yeah I'm a truck drivin'woman Night haul from Pittsburgh with a load of steel.
My partner is not only my coworker but also my friend. We work well together and support each other to make sure we get the job done right. Right now, we're hauling a load of steel from Pittsburgh on a night run.

Repeat first verse
This verse is repeated to emphasize that even though people may be surprised to see a woman driving a truck, I am confident and capable of doing my job, and I won't let anyone get in my way.

Writer(s): Laurel Aitken Copyright: Cherry Red Songs

Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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