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.
Police and Thieves
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
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Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah)
Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah)
Scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition
From Genesis to Revelation yeah
All the crimes committed day by day
No one try to stop it in any way
All the peacemakers turn war officers
Hear what I say
Hehehehehehehey
Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah)
Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah)
Scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition
Oh yeah
All the crimes committed day by day
No one try to stop it in any way
All the peacemakers turn war officers
Hear what I say
Hehehehehehehey
Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah)
Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah)
Scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves
Police
and thieves in the street, the classic song performed by Lee "Scratch" Perry, is a powerful statement on police brutality and the social conditions that lead to it. Perry's lyrics are direct and uncompromising. He uses strong imagery to describe the tension and conflict between police and civilians. The repetition of the line "police and thieves in the street" creates a sense of urgency and danger. The use of the phrase "guns and ammunition" highlights the deadly nature of the conflict.
Perry suggests that this conflict has been going on "from Genesis to Revelation" and that it will continue into the "next generation." This reflects the idea that police brutality is a persistent problem that has been present throughout history and will not disappear overnight. Perry's lyrics emphasize the need for action and change, as the crimes committed by both police and civilians continue to go unpunished. The line "All the peacemakers turn war officers" suggests that even those who seek to promote peace are drawn into the cycle of violence.
Overall, Police and Thieves in the Street is a powerful and thought-provoking song that highlights the social and political issues of police brutality and systemic violence. The song urges listeners to take action and demand change, rather than accepting the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Police and thieves in the street (oh yeah)
Law enforcement and criminals are both on the streets,
Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition
Engaging in violence against each other and causing harm to the country,
Scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition
Causing fear and terror among the people with their weapons,
From Genesis to Revelation yeah
From the beginning of time to the end of it,
And next generation will be hear me
Even the future generations will hear my message,
All the crimes committed day by day
Crimes and violence happen every day,
No one try to stop it in any way
Nobody does anything to prevent or stop these crimes,
All the peacemakers turn war officers
Even the peacekeepers become violent in this situation,
Hear what I say
Listen to my message,
Police and thieves
Law enforcement and criminals,
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JUNIOR MURVIN, LEE PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind