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.
Small Axe
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing smart and-a not being clever!
I said you're working iniquity
To achieve vanity (if a-so, a-so),
But the goodness of Jah - Jah
Endureth for ever
So if you are the big tree,
Ready to cut you down, (well sharp)
To cut you down
These are the words of my master
Keep on tellin' me: no weak out shall prosper
Eh! Whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it - fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it (fall in it)
If you are the big tree,
Let me tell you that: we are the small axe
Sharpened ready ready to cut you down, (well sharp)
To cut you down.
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, to cut you down,
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, to cut you down)
These are the words of my master
Tellin' me that: no weak out shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, uh! bury in it!
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, uh! (bury in it)
If you are the big, big tree,
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down, (well sharp)
To cut you down
If you are the big, big tree,
Let me tell you that: we are the small axe
Ready to cut you down, (well sharp)
To cut you down
The lyrics of Lee "Scratch" Perry's song Small Axe convey a powerful message of resistance and rebellion against those who use their power and influence to oppress others. The chorus, "If you are the big tree, we are the small axe, ready to cut you down" is a metaphorical reminder that even the most powerful can be brought down by those who are smaller and seemingly weaker. The verses refer to the "evil men" who are playing smart but not being clever, working iniquity to achieve vanity. Perry acknowledges that their power may be great, but the goodness of Jah, or God, endures forever. He reminds us that those who dig a pit for others will ultimately fall into it themselves, as the oppressed rise up against their oppressors.
The use of metaphor in the song is particularly striking. The image of the small axe taking down the big tree is a powerful one, evoking ideas of rebellion, resistance, and revolution. Similarly, the idea of the pit that oppressors dig for others ultimately becoming their own downfall can be seen as a warning against tyranny and oppression. The words "no weak out shall prosper" repeat throughout the song, reinforcing the idea that the oppressed may be small and seemingly weak, but they will ultimately triumph over those who seek to keep them down.
Line by Line Meaning
Why boasteth thyself, O evil men
Why are you proud, O wicked people
Playing smart and-a not being clever!
You're trying to be clever but you're not actually smart
I said you're working iniquity
I'm saying you're doing evil
To achieve vanity (if a-so, a-so),
To accomplish nothing important
But the goodness of Jah - Jah
But God's goodness
Endureth for ever
Lasts forever
So if you are the big tree,
If you're powerful and important
We are the small axe
We are a small but effective tool
Ready to cut you down, (well sharp)
Ready to bring you down
These are the words of my master
This is what my teacher has taught me
Keep on tellin' me: no weak out shall prosper
They keep telling me that the weak won't succeed
Eh! Whosoever diggeth a pit
Whoever creates a trap
Shall fall in it - fall in it
Will themselves become trapped
And whosoever diggeth a pit
And whoever creates a trap
Shall fall in it (fall in it)
Will themselves become trapped
If you are the big tree,
If you're powerful and important
Let me tell you that: we are the small axe
We are the underdog with the power to bring you down
Sharpened ready ready to cut you down, (well sharp)
Fully prepared and equipped to defeat you
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, to cut you down,
Vocals that emphasize the message of bringing down the powerful
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, to cut you down)
Continued vocals that emphasize the message of bringing down the powerful
And whosoever diggeth a pit
And whoever creates a trap
Shall fall in it, uh! bury in it!
Will themselves become trapped and buried
If you are the big, big tree,
If you're powerful and important
We are the small axe
We are the underdog with the power to bring you down
Ready to cut you down, (well sharp)
Fully prepared and equipped to defeat you
To cut you down
To bring you down
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind