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.
Low Down Dirty Girl
Laurel Aitken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why you make me feel ashamed
Low down dirty girl
Why you make me feel ashamed
Let me go to jail
Just couldn't get no bail
Now you know I love you baby
You know I love you baby
And you said you love me too
But you called the cops on me
Then you leave me misery
(Instrumental)
When the copper came
Why did you give me away
When the copper came
Why did you give me away
Cause you were high on wine
Having a real fine time
Now I'm out of jail
You can pack your things and go
Now I'm out of jail
You can pack your things and go
Find another fool
Cause I need your love no more
The song "Low Down Dirty Girl" by Laurel Aitken and Duke Reid And His Group speaks about a man who is in love with a woman, but she betrays him by calling the cops on him. The lyrics express the man's feelings of shame and misery as a result of her actions. The song conveys the frustration and disappointment of love gone wrong, where a woman who was thought to be trustworthy and faithful, turns out to be deceitful, leaving the man feeling betrayed and heartbroken.
The lyrics are powerful and display thoughtful imagery, describing the woman's actions as that of a "low down dirty girl" and how she "gave him away" by calling the police. The use of the phrase "couldn't get no bail" portrays the man as desperate and helpless, trapped in his own love for the same woman who has wronged him. The song speaks to the complexity of love and human relationships where trust, loyalty, and honesty are key, and when these attributes are lacking, it leads to pain and heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah you low down dirty girl
Addressing a woman as a shameless and dishonorable individual
Why you make me feel ashamed
Questioning the woman for making the singer feel shameful about something or themselves
Low down dirty girl
Repeating the description of the same woman as ignoble and filthy
Let me go to jail
Saying that they'd rather go to jail than stay with the woman
Just couldn't get no bail
Implying that they couldn't afford to bail themselves out of jail
Now you know I love you baby
Acknowledging that they have strong feelings of love for the woman
And you said you love me too
Remembering that the woman had also confessed her feelings of love for the singer
But you called the cops on me
Accusing the woman of reporting the artist to the police
Then you leave me misery
Expressing that the situation caused pain and suffering for the artist
(Instrumental)
There are no lyrics to this part. It's an instrumental break.
When the copper came
Referring to the arrival of law enforcement officers
Why did you give me away
Questioning why the woman reported the artist to the police
Cause you were high on wine
Suggesting that the woman was drunk and not in control of her actions
Having a real fine time
Insinuating that the woman was enjoying herself even though it resulted in negative consequences for the singer
Now I'm out of jail
Stating that the singer has been released from custody
You can pack your things and go
Telling the woman to leave the artist alone and remove their belongings from their shared space
Find another fool
Insulting the woman by calling her a 'fool' and telling her to look for someone else to take advantage of
Cause I need your love no more
Clarifying that the singer no longer has any desire for a romantic relationship with the woman
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAUREL AITKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind