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.

SAHARA
Laurel Aitken Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I knew a little girl
And she was born in the ghetto

I knew her so well
She had stories to tell

A mother and a fatherless child
And she was always running wild

She danced for all the men
Every night in the caravan

She was a mother and a fatherless child
And she was always running wild

Sahara! Sahara!

I knew a little girl
And she was born in the ghetto

I knew her so well
She had stories to tell

A mother and a fatherless child
And she was always running wild

She danced for all the men
Every night in the caravan

She was a mother and fatherless child
Always running wild

Sahara! Sahara!

Sahara! Sahara!

I knew a little girl
And she was born in the ghetto

I knew her so well
She had stories to tell

A mother and a fatherless child
And she was always running wild

She danced for all the men
Every night in the caravan

She was a mother and a fatherless child
Always running wild

Sahara! Sahara!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Laurel Aitken's song "Sahara" depict a little girl who was born in the ghetto and is motherless and fatherless. The girl is always running wild and dances for all the men every night in the caravan. The repetition of the phrase "Sahara! Sahara!" seems to be an expression of the girl's longing for a better life, possibly to escape the poverty and difficulties of her current situation.

The lyrics evoke a sense of sadness and desperation for the little girl and her circumstances. The mention of her dancing for all the men could suggest that she is forced to participate in adult activities for survival or to support herself. The line "she had stories to tell" could imply that the little girl has experienced many hardships and struggles already in her young life.

The song highlights a common theme in music, literature, and art - the struggle of disenfranchised individuals and their yearning for a better life. Aitken's portrayal of the little girl is vivid and empathetic, and the haunting tune of "Sahara" adds to the song's power in conveying the message of hopelessness and longing.

Line by Line Meaning

I knew a little girl
The singer knew a young woman intimately

And she was born in the ghetto
The girl was born and raised in an area known for poverty and crime

I knew her so well
The singer was familiar with the girl's life and struggles

She had stories to tell
The girl had lived through experiences worth sharing

A mother and a fatherless child
The girl had no parents to rely upon

And she was always running wild
The girl was rebellious and difficult to control

She danced for all the men
The girl's only means of survival was to entertain men

Every night in the caravan
The girl put on performances in a traveling group of performers

Always running wild
The girl was constantly defying expectations and pushing boundaries

Sahara! Sahara!
The girl's name or the location where she performs

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAUREL AITKEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind