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.
I Chase The Devil
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
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I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase Satan out of earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of earth
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
Satan is an evilous man
So when I check him my lassing hand
And if him slip, I gaan with him hand
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase Satan out of earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of earth
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race, oh yeah
Him haffi drop him fork and run
Him can't stand up to jah jah son
Him haffi lef' ya with him gun
Dig off with him bomb
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase Satan out of earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of earth
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
Satan is a evilous man
But him can't chocks it on I-man
So when I check him my lassing hand
And if him slip, I gaan with him hand
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase Satan out of earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of earth
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
Move ya with your gun
Mi sey fe lef' ya with your bomb, oh yeah
Move ya with your gun
Mi sey fe lef' ya with your bomb
The lyrics to Lee "Scratch" Perry's song "I Chase The Devil" present a battle between the singer and Satan, with the singer determined to chase the devil out of Earth. In the first few lines, the singer directs his message towards Lucifer, referring to him as the "son of the mourning" and declaring his intention to remove him from Earth. He believes that by putting on an iron shirt, he can chase Satan out of Earth and send him to space to find another race. The lyricist regards Satan as an evil man who can't match his power, and he describes his determination to defeat the devil.
The next verse speaks about how the singer is not afraid of Satan, although he is a terrifying character. He asserts that when he confronts Satan, he'll use his last hand to take him to task. The singer declares that Satan will run away because he cannot stand up to Jah (Jehovah) Son and will leave his gun and bomb behind.
The final verse repeats the message from the first verse that Satan is evil and the singer can't put up with him. The lyrics end with a repetition of the chorus.
In summary, this song presents a message of courage and determination to fight against evil, symbolized by Satan. The singer represents a higher power that will overcome Satan's power and send him to another race.
Line by Line Meaning
Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out of earth
Addressing Satan, I will use my power to drive you out of this world
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase Satan out of earth
I will protect myself and confront Satan to push him away from this planet
I'm gonna send him to out of space, to find another race
I'll force him into exile in space, searching for another civilization to torment
Him haffi drop him fork and run
He will put down his weapon and flee in fear of me
Him can't stand up to jah jah son
He can't resist the power of God's son (Jah Jah)
Him haffi lef' ya with him gun
He will abandon his gun and escape
Dig off with him bomb
He'll grab his explosives and make a getaway
Move ya with your gun
Try to intimidate someone with your gun
Mi sey fe lef' ya with your bomb, oh yeah
I advise you to leave with your bomb, oh yeah
Contributed by Adeline Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.