Perry began his career in the late 1950s working with Clement Coxsone Dodd's sound system. He eventually performed a variety of important tasks at Studio One as well as recording about thirty songs, but the pair eventually stopped working together due to personality and financial conflicts.
Working with Joe Gibbs, Perry continued his recording career, but once again, financial problems caused conflict. Perry broke ranks with Gibbs and formed his own label, Upsetter, in 1968. His first single "People Funny Boy", which was an insult directed at Gibbs, sold very well. It is notable for its innovative use of a sample (a crying baby) as well as a fast, chugging beat that would soon become identifiable as "reggae" (the new sound did not really have a name at this time). During the 1970s, Perry released numerous recordings on a variety of record labels that he controlled, and many of his songs were popular in both Jamaica and the U.K. He soon became known for his innovative production techniques as well as his eccentric character.
In the early 1970s, Perry was one of the producers whose mixing board experiments resulted in the creation of dub. In 1973, Perry built a studio in his back yard, The Black Ark, to have more control over his productions and continued to produce notable musicians such as Bob Marley & the Wailers, Junior Byles, The Heptones, and Max Romeo. With his own studio at his disposal, Perry's productions became more lavish, as the energetic producer was able to spend as much time as he wanted on the music he produced. It is important to note that virtually everything Perry recorded in The Black Ark was done using rather basic recording equipment; through sonic sleight-of-hand, Perry made it sound completely unique. Perry remained behind the mixing desk for many years, producing songs and albums that stand out as a high point in reggae history. By 1978, stress and unwanted outside influences began to take their toll: both Perry and The Black Ark quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Eventually, the studio burned to the ground. Perry has constantly insisted that he burned the Black Ark himself in a fit of rage, but it was most likely an accident caused by faulty wiring. After the demise of the Black Ark in the early 1980s, Perry spent time in England and the United States, performing live and making erratic records with a variety of collaborators. It was not until the late 1980s that Perry's career began to get back on solid ground again, after working with British producers Adrian Sherwood and Neil Fraser, better known as Mad Professor.
Perry lived in Switzerland for a while with his wife Mireille Campbell-Rüegg and two children. He continued to record and perform to enthusiastic audiences in Europe and North America late into his life. His later music is a far cry from his reggae days in Jamaica; many saw this part of Perry's career as more of a performance artist in several respects. In 2003, Perry won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album with the album Jamaican ET. He teamed up with a group of Swiss musicians and perform under the name Lee Perry and the White Belly Rats. in 2015, Perry’s recording studio in Switzerland was damaged by a fire that destroyed various unreleased recordings and some of his stage gear. In 2020 Perry moved with his wife to Jamaica, where he died on 29 August 2021.
Brand New Second Hand
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
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You are somebody
But i don't no say
You know nobody
You're only a show off
Your painted face, yeah
But underneath that face
You're just a brand new second hand gal
No man no wan' no
Brand new second hand gal
You better go back around so
You're just a brand new second hand gal
You think it's the dress you wear
That make you a lady
Get that out of your mind gal
You must be crazy
Mama used to tell me
Long time ago yeah
Not everything you see glitter is gold
You're just a brand new second hand gal
No man no wan' no
Brand new second hand gal
You better go back around so
You're just a brand new second hand gal
See you watch them pass i
Well hidy-tidy
But them no-no say
You very nasty
Look 'pon you footback
Look how them tough, yeah
And you chaw bone favor
Spanish town handcuff
You're just a brand new second hand gal
No man no wan' no
Brand new second hand gal
You better go back around so
You're just a brand new second hand gal
Dick know 'bout you
And tom do
And harry just 'round the corner
Know 'bout you too
He got a police buk
And take it for fun, yeah
Them must see no-no say
You judge two gun
You're just a brand new second hand gal
No man no wan' no
Brand new second hand gal
You better go back around so
You're just a brand new second hand gal
That man fe idiot
You're just a brand new second hand, you're wicked
Fool ya, you fool ya
The song Brand New Second Hand by Lee "Scratch" Perry is a critique of a woman who tries to present herself as someone she is not. The lyrics suggest that the woman is pretending to be of a higher social standing than she actually is, perhaps by wearing expensive clothing. However, despite her attempts at appearing refined, she is ultimately revealed to be a disappointment. The song highlights the theme of social hypocrisy and the dangers of being deceitful. The lyrics warn against the dangers of trying to be someone you're not and the importance of staying true to oneself.
The repetition of the phrase "brand new second hand" emphasizes the view that the woman is nothing more than a copy of something that has already been used. The lyrics suggest that people are not impressed with those who try to put on airs and that the woman would fare better being true to herself. The song's message is particularly harsh, calling the woman a "disgrace" and a "show-off." In Perry's view, there's no room for deceitful behavior, and the woman would be better off if she acted more honestly.
In summary, the lyrics of Lee "Scratch" Perry's song Brand New Second Hand are a direct critique of a woman who tries to be something she is not. The song's message warns against the dangers of pretending to be someone else for social gain and emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
You're only acting like
You're pretending to be someone else
You are somebody
But you're really not special
But i don't no say
But I don't know if you realize
You know nobody
That you don't really know anyone important
You're only a show off
You're just showing off
Your painted face, yeah
But you're hiding behind a fake appearance
But underneath that face
Beneath your façade
Your just a disgrace
You're a disappointment
You're just a brand new second hand gal
You're not original, just like a second-hand item
No man no wan' no
No man wants a
Brand new second hand gal
Girl who is not genuine
You better go back around so
You should just go away
You think it's the dress you wear
You believe that the dress is what makes you a lady
That make you a lady
But you're wrong
Get that out of your mind gal
Stop thinking that way
You must be crazy
Because you're not thinking clearly
Mama used to tell me
My mom used to say
Long time ago yeah
A long time ago
Not everything you see glitter is gold
Not everything that shines is valuable
See you watch them pass i
You watch people walk by
Well hidy-tidy
But they don't know
But them no-no say
They don't know
You very nasty
You're not very nice
Look 'pon you footback
Look at your shoes
Look how them tough, yeah
They are very worn out
And you chaw bone favor
Your appearance is similar
Spanish town handcuff
To someone who has been arrested in Spanish Town
Dick know 'bout you
Dick knows about you
And tom do
And Tom does
And harry just 'round the corner
And Harry is nearby
Know 'bout you too
Also knows about you
He got a police buk
He has a police record
And take it for fun, yeah
And he doesn't take it seriously
Them must see no-no say
They probably know
You judge two gun
You're seen as someone dangerous
That man fe idiot
That man is foolish
You're just a brand new second hand, you're wicked
You're a bad person, just like a second-hand item
Fool ya, you fool ya
You're being fooled by yourself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER TOSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind