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.
Perry in Dub
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Milte hi aankhein dil hua deewana kissi ka
Afsana mera ban gaya afsana kissi ka
Puchho na mohabbat ka asar, haay na puchho
Dam bhara mein koyi ho gaya, parwaana kisika
Afsaana mera ban gaya, afsaana kisika
Afsana mera ban gaya afsana kissi ka
Puchho na mohabbat ka asar, haay na puchho
Dam bhara mein koyi ho gaya, parwaana kisika
Afsaana mera ban gaya, afsaana kisika
The lyrics of "Bird in Hand" by Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters reflect on the emotions that arise when falling in love. The opening lines "Milte hi aankhein dil hua deewana kissi ka" translate to "As soon as our eyes met, my heart became crazy for someone". The singer becomes so enamored with this person that their story becomes intertwined, "Afsana mera ban gaya afsana kissi ka" meaning "My story has become someone else's story". The chorus urges listeners not to ask about the effects of love, as they are indescribable.
The second verse speaks on the transformation that love brings. "Dam bhara mein koyi ho gaya, parwaana kisika" can be interpreted as "Someone has become wealthy, like a moth attracted to the flame". The love story becomes all-consuming, so much that it causes a transformation in the person involved. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the unexplainable nature of love.
Overall, "Bird in Hand" tells the timeless story of falling in love and the indescribable feelings that come with it. The lyrics describe the transformation that happens in a person when they become consumed by love.
Line by Line Meaning
Milte hi aankhein dil hua deewana kissi ka
As soon as I met their gaze, my heart became infatuated with someone
Afsana mera ban gaya afsana kissi ka
My story has become the story of someone else
Puchho na mohabbat ka asar, haay na puchho
Don't ask about the effects of love, oh don't ask
Dam bhara mein koyi ho gaya, parwaana kisika
Someone has become fulfilled in this life, like a moth drawn to a flame
Afsaana mera ban gaya, afsaana kisika
My story has become someone else's story
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
eE coroNa
😔😪 esta canción me hizo llorar volver a escucharla, le gustaba mucho a mi padre que en paz descanse, se que desde el cielo está oyendo sus rolas favoritas, hasta siempre mi Rastaman. 🇬🇳
steven neirynck
Lo siento por tu padre , hermano. Mucha fuerza!
Lukáš Krtek
i am a metalhead, but i just love this
Nightwork7
You juss love good Music
Richard Williams
Uppp fully
Richard Williams
A mawd ting dont
S'fiso Magoso FistoFire
Lee perry he taught me great reggae sounds I love him rest in peace
S C I E N I D E 1995 [dEEP & dUB]
RIP the legend
Chu Konwea
Paying tribute to the great Scratch, the step-father of dub who passed away today. Here Scratch is dubbing Jimmy Riley's Give Thanks and Praise. Scratch may have been a superstitious eccentric, but the good news is that later in life he acknowledged Jah Jesus Christus. May he find rest with Jah.
Anglo Kiwi
@Oscuros You speak twaddle often?