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.
Judgement Day
Laurel Aitken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What ya gonna do on judgement day
All I do on the judgement day is rock n roll roll on see more way
What ya gonna do on judgement day
What ya gonna do on judgement day
What ya gonna do on judgement day
You can rock on roll all the day
All you guna do is leave and pray
All I do on the judgement day is rock n roll roll on see more way
What ya gonna do on judgement day
In this song, Laurel Aitken contemplates the actions one might take on judgement day, a day which signifies the end of the world and the final judgement of humanity. He poses the question, "What ya gonna do on judgement day?" multiple times in the song, as if to ask the listener to assess their own actions and intentions. He suggests that all he wants to do on that day is "rock n roll roll on see more way," choosing to enjoy life and dance through the end of times rather than worrying about the consequences of his past actions.
The upbeat and joyful nature of the music contrasts with the themes of death and judgement, and perhaps speaks to the idea that death and destruction can happen at any moment, so it is important to live life to the fullest while we can. The repeated line "All you guna do is leave and pray" acknowledges the inevitability of death, but also suggests that prayer may offer some solace or hope in the face of judgement.
Line by Line Meaning
What ya gonna do on judgement day
What are your plans for the day of reckoning?
What ya gonna do on judgement day
What do you intend to do when the judgement day finally arrives?
All I do on the judgement day is rock n roll roll on see more way
I will celebrate and enjoy the day with music by rocking and rolling on my own terms.
What ya gonna do on judgement day
Again, what actions do you have planned for the day of judgement?
What ya gonna do on judgement day
How do you expect to carry yourself in front of your maker when you meet him on judgement day?
What ya gonna do on judgement day
What are your expectations for the day of reckoning?
You can rock on roll all the day
You have the freedom to enjoy yourself as much as possible the whole day long through whatever means possible
All you guna do is leave and pray
You are only going to pray and hope for the best outcome on this day.
What ya gonna do on judgement day
One more time, what are your plans for the ultimate day of judgement?
All I do on the judgement day is rock n roll roll on see more way
Reiterating that despite the importance of the day, I will still revel in its celebration by rocking and rolling on my own terms.
What ya gonna do on judgement day
In conclusion, what preparations have you set in place for the eventual day of reckoning?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAUREL AITKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Maul
House of Lies brought me here. What a great song.
Hipster Hotdog
killer