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.
Duppy Conqueror
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Dem set me free again
Yes, me friend, me friend
Me deh 'pon street again
The bars could not hold me;
Force could not control me now.
They try to keep me down
Yes, I've been accused
Wrongly abused now
But through the powers of the Most High
They've got to turn me loose
So don't try to cold me up on this bridge, now.
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The highest region.
So if you a bull-bucka,
Let me tell you this:
I'm a duppy conqueror - conqueror.
Yes, me friend, me good friend
Dem set me free again, mm
Yes, me friend
Dem turn me loose again
Don't try to show off
You make your friend dem laugh
For I will cut you off
And I will take the laughs off
I'm crying
Yes, me friend
We deh a street again
Yes, me friend, me friend, me friend
Dem set me free again
Bars could not hold me
The song "Duppy Conqueror" by Lee "Scratch" Perry is a celebration of freedom and triumph over injustice. The first lines of the song "Yes, me friend, me friend / Dem set me free again / Yes, me friend, me friend / Me deh 'pon street again" suggest that the singer has been released from prison or captivity and is now free to roam the streets once more. The word "Duppy" in the chorus, which is repeated multiple times throughout the song, is a Jamaican Patois term for a ghost or evil spirit. The singer refers to himself as a "Duppy Conqueror," suggesting that he has overcome the forces that once held him captive and is now a powerful force to be reckoned with.
The second verse of the song describes the singer's resilience in the face of adversity. He sings "The bars could not hold me; / Force could not control me now. / They try to keep me down / But God put me around. Yeah!" These lines suggest that the singer's release from captivity was not due to any external force or intervention, but rather a result of his own strength and determination. The line "But through the powers of the Most High / They've got to turn me loose" reinforces this idea, suggesting that the singer's release was ultimately a result of divine intervention.
The third verse of the song takes a more confrontational tone, with the singer warning his detractors not to mess with him. He sings "So don't try to cold me up on this bridge, now. / I've got to reach Mount Zion / The highest region. / So if you a bull-bucka, / Let me tell you this: / I'm a duppy conqueror - conqueror." These lines show that the singer is determined to reach his goals, no matter what obstacles stand in his way, and that he is not afraid to stand up to anyone who tries to stop him. Overall, "Duppy Conqueror" is a powerful anthem of freedom and perseverance that has resonated with generations of listeners.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind