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.

Nebuchadnezzar
Laurel Aitken Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
He was the king of babylon
Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
He was the king of babylon

He build a wall to stand tall
That people stand under and shout
Told all the people to worship him

for he will wash away their sins

Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
He was the king of babylon

?
Believing it would save his soul
But after all was said and done
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Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
He was the king of babylon
Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
He was the king of babylon

He had a very wicked dream
He didn't know what that dream mean
Then he called for an interpretator
But when he heard he was so sick

Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
He was the king of babylon
Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
He was the king of babylon

He build a wall to stand tall
That people stand under and shout

Told all the people to worship him
for he will wash away their sins

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Laurel Aitken's song Nebuchadnezzar convey the story of the ancient bible character King Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled over Babylon in the 6th century BC. The track presents a harsh judgment of the king who is depicted as a bad ruler. The chorus repeats the line "Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king" to establish this point. Throughout the verses, the song calls out Nebuchadnezzar's most damning actions. First, he built a tall wall intended to symbolize his power and greatness. People would gather under the wall to lavish adoration on the tyrant. The second point of criticism is the king's self-aggrandizement. Nebuchadnezzar commanded his people to worship him to have their sins forgiven, a blasphemous claim that the song denounces. The third verse tells the story of the king's infamous dream, which he could not understand. Despite seeking an interpreter, the king ultimately fell ill and seemingly never prized the interpretation given to him.

Laurel Aitken's Nebuchadnezzar is a scathing critique of an autocratic ruler who placed himself above his people and God. The song's message is one that warns against the pitfalls of power and the dangers of tyranny. The crux of the song lies in the chorus, which reinforces the idea that even the most powerful people are fallible and hold responsibility for their actions. It shows that Nebuchadnezzar's vanity and ego had led him to a downfall, a lesson that rings true across time and cultures.

Line by Line Meaning

Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
Nebuchadnezzar was not a good ruler

He was the king of babylon
He had great power over Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar was a bad king
Nebuchadnezzar was not a good ruler

He build a wall to stand tall
He erected a large fortification

That people stand under and shout
People gathered under it and cheered

Told all the people to worship him
He demanded that everyone worship him

for he will wash away their sins
He claimed he could absolve people of their wrongdoing

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Laurel Aitken does not provide a specific meaning in this line

Believing it would save his soul
Nebuchadnezzar believed it would redeem him

But after all was said and done
Despite his efforts

?
Laurel Aitken does not provide a specific meaning in this line