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.
Magic Touch
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or wake me up with a shove
I'm gonna knock you off your rocker, rocker
'Cause I think I'm in love
I tried to get a message to ya
But you walked the other way
I need your magic touch, don't you know
I've got a habit and I can't let go
You better get it while it's hot now babe
'Cause I can't let go
Don't need no wedding with a shotgun, shotgun
So don't you push me too far
Don't try to take me for a fool child, who child
Do you think that you are
You really got it coming to ya
It's gonna come as no surprise
I need your magic touch, don't you know
I'm after you and now I can't let go
Take it easy, take it slow
You better get it while it's hot now babe
'Cause I can't let go
You never know what you got
Till they take it away
I'm comin' ready or not
Gonna get you some day
I need your magic touch, don't you know
I'm after you and now I can't let go
Feel the fire, burnin' slow
I got a habit and I'm back for more
Your magic touch, don't you know
I'm after you and now I can't let go
Feel the fire, burnin' slow
You better get it while it's hot now babe
'Cause I can't, can't, can't let you go
The lyrics to Lee "Scratch" Perry's "Magic Touch" express the frustration and desire of someone who is desperately in love with another person but cannot seem to get their attention. The singer is pleading for this person's "magic touch," the kind of connection that makes them feel alive and addicted. The first stanza sets up a sense of urgency, with the singer feeling like they are going crazy and needing help to cope. They warn their love interest not to push them too far or take them for a fool, indicating that they are serious about getting what they want.
The refrain of the song emphasizes the singer's addiction to their love interest's touch, with the phrase "I need your magic touch, don't you know" repeated throughout. The lyrics suggest that this kind of connection is rare and valuable, and that the singer is willing to fight for it. However, the singer also acknowledges that they might lose this person, warning that "you never know what you've got till they take it away." In the end, they vow to keep pursuing their love interest until they get what they want.
Overall, "Magic Touch" is a passionate ode to the power of love and the intense emotions that come with it. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and longing that anyone who has been in love can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody better call a doctor, doctor
I need help fast because I'm in a dire situation.
Or wake me up with a shove
Do whatever it takes to get my attention.
I'm gonna knock you off your rocker, rocker
I'm going to sweep you off your feet.
'Cause I think I'm in love
I believe I have fallen deeply in love with you.
I tried to get a message to ya
I have attempted to reach out to you.
But you walked the other way
You ignored my attempts to communicate with you.
I need your magic touch, don't you know
I need your affection, your love, your attention.
I've got a habit and I can't let go
I am addicted to your love and can't imagine living without it.
Feel the fire burnin' slow
There is a simmering passion between us that needs to be addressed.
You better get it while it's hot now babe
Don't wait too long to reciprocate my feelings because the opportunity might pass us by.
'Cause I can't let go
I can't live without you.
Don't need no wedding with a shotgun, shotgun
I am not looking to force you into a relationship or marriage.
So don't you push me too far
Don't take advantage of my love for you or betray me in any way.
Don't try to take me for a fool child, who child
Don't underestimate my intelligence or ability to recognize what you are doing.
Do you think that you are
Do you honestly believe you can deceive me?
You really got it coming to ya
You will receive the consequences of your actions.
It's gonna come as no surprise
You will have no excuse to claim that you didn't see it coming.
Take it easy, take it slow
Let's work things out at a pace that works for both of us.
You never know what you got
Sometimes you only realize how much you value something when it's taken away from you.
Till they take it away
Only when it's gone do you realize how much you appreciated it.
I'm comin' ready or not
I am not giving up on you.
Gonna get you some day
I will eventually win your heart over.
I got a habit and I'm back for more
I can't resist your love and I keep coming back for more.
Your magic touch, don't you know
Your love and attention are powerful and alluring.
Feel the fire, burnin' slow
The passion between us is growing stronger every day.
You better get it while it's hot now babe
Seize the moment and embrace our love while it's still burning hot.
'Cause I can't, can't, can't let you go
I can't bear the thought of living without you and losing your love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEE PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Original Donovan
Glen delivers a magical instrumental.
Planetanitaac
lee perry vivió de 1976 a 1979? qué prolífico para haber sido tan bebé,....
jimi hendrix
Oh, may we....
Timothy Morris
Music