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.
Come Back Jeannie
Laurel Aitken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eyes like moonlight too the trees
My love for Jeannie girl is pure and sweet
Oh my Jeannie, come back to me
Till ya been puntin ya not the same
And I'm da one who is to blame
Who bought my dinner girl come back to me
All your love girl he in vein
He said the words, right.
Come now Jeannie come back to me
Come and give me another chance
I need to come and go night and day
I know you're gunna, night to stay
Come back my Jeannie girl, come back to stay
I am guessin' what to say
I am guessin' what to say
My arms are aching the whole damn time
He said the words of flight
Come now Jeannie come back to me
Come and give me another chance
I need to come and go night and day
I know you're gunna, night to stay
Come back my Jeannie girl, come back to stay
I am guessin' what to say
I am guessin' what to say
The song "Come Back Jeannie" by Laurel Aitken tells the story of a man who longs for the return of a woman named Jeannie. The lyrics suggest that Jeannie and the man have had some sort of falling out, and the man deeply regrets his part in it. He describes Jeannie in poetic terms, saying that her eyes are like moonlight to the trees and that his love for her is pure and sweet. He pleads with her to come back to him, saying that he knows he is the one to blame for their separation.
As the song progresses, we learn that there is another man in the picture who is vying for Jeannie's attention. The man describes him as a "younger raver" who is trying to "hold [Jeannie] tight." The man pleads with Jeannie to give him another chance, promising that he will come and go night and day if she will just come back to him. The repetition of the line "I am guessin' what to say" suggests that the man is struggling to find the right words to express his love and regret.
Overall, "Come Back Jeannie" is a classic tale of lost love and regret. The man's desperation and longing are palpable in the lyrics, and the song is filled with vivid imagery that paints a picture of a beautiful, ethereal woman.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeannie is a girl I've been longing to see
The singer has missed seeing Jeannie
Eyes like moonlight too the trees
Jeannie has beautiful eyes that light up like the moon shining through the trees
My love for Jeannie girl is pure and sweet
The singer's love for Jeannie is genuine and innocent
Oh my Jeannie, come back to me
The singer wants Jeannie to return to him
Till ya been puntin ya not the same
Jeannie has changed since the last time they saw each other
And I'm da one who is to blame
The singer feels responsible for the way Jeannie has changed
Who bought my dinner girl come back to me
The singer is hoping to win Jeannie back by taking her out to dinner
All your love girl he in vein
The other man who is interested in Jeannie's love will not succeed
The younger raving to hold you tight
The younger man is eager to hold Jeannie closely
He said the words, right.
The younger man may have said something to Jeannie to try and win her over
Come now Jeannie come back to me
The singer is pleading for Jeannie to return
Come and give me another chance
The singer wants a second chance with Jeannie
I need to come and go night and day
The singer wants to be with Jeannie constantly, without interruption
I know you're gunna, night to stay
The singer believes Jeannie will stay with him for good
Come back my Jeannie girl, come back to stay
The singer wants Jeannie to return and stay with him forever
I am guessin' what to say
The singer is unsure of how to express his feelings to Jeannie
My arms are aching the whole damn time
The singer is longing to hold Jeannie in his arms
He said the words of flight
The younger man may have said something to Jeannie about leaving with him
I am guessin' what to say
The singer is still unsure of how to express his love to Jeannie
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAUREL AITKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind