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.
Stay Red
Lee "Scratch" Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No lie, boost on me chanser
And all he had to do is glance up
In VIP he was lookin like a fanster
To get a dance usually pay for
Dollar bills like a fill, gotta get a rank for it
He wanna come speak, I gave him one wink
Walked up, whispered and he told me some things
Wanna share your world but I kinda feel outta place
I know they wanna win you but it's not a race
So many get at you when I know you runnin out of mace
A bad boy but I can tell you like me by the Buy the drink, badda bing, hop out the club
But girl you got me in this singing how to love
Let me hold your phone, put my number in and dial it up
Out of all the girls I've seen you're the one (you're the one)
Baby what you're showin me
I'm in love, I'm in love
Stay here forever, stay here forever
I rather stay here forever, stay here forever
How did I fall in love? How did I fall in love?
Fall in love in the club like this
Black beauty, body like a stallion
Want me to wear his chain, he offering medallions
VIP in the club, fly with a dove
Run this in his cape 'cause I'm singing how to love
You see I got a table, he's in the case ace
My friends drink it up but I don't really like the taste
The thrill in the chase, so I make him wait
'Cause it's better when late, unless a mistake
Should I let him up in my world?
Can he sore with a fly girl?
Paparazzi on me heavy now
Tryna put your hand with me for a couple hundred thou
He say he found love when he found me
And we can find the exit, valet bring the V
At ease, don't fall and break your heart boy
Before we end up on the tabloid, cool it now
Out of all the girls I've seen you're the one (you're the one)
Baby what you're showin me
I'm in love, I'm in love
Stay here forever, stay here forever
I rather stay here forever, stay here forever
How did I fall in love? How did I fall in love?
Fall in love in the club like this
Apart from the poppin party, the people parlay in lobbies
Reviewing all of my options, this all a part of my hobby
The bosses poppin they bottles, the hustlers swim with they dollas
We tweeting, they all follow
Whisper his for my holla
Thinkin bout what he told me, believe it more if he showed me
Paying my tab like he owe me
Hold up, you see this bag? It got cash in it
So I ain't really throwed by your fast biny
The speakers loud like spin it
You talkin bout the club when you say that you could spend the whole night in it?
Hear the night going for the weekend
And love for the night but next week we ain't speakin
So tell me, should I canvel the art?
Should I take you the moon and introduce you to stars?
Hmm nah, I got a flight to make
So catch me in another club for another day
Out of all the girls I've seen you're the one (you're the one)
Baby what you're showin me
I'm in love, I'm in love
Stay here forever, stay here forever
I rather stay here forever, stay here forever
How did I fall in love? How did I fall in love?
Fall in love in the club like this
Tell the waiter keep it comin
We're gonna be here to the morning
Infatuated, so ain't ya going crazy?
I am, I am
You're always lighting up the club
Girl you're everybody's favorite
I'm nervous, I can't control it
Pull a string out your puppet
Imagine we in VIP
It's you and me
Where I can taste your body
This feeling is wild
I want, I want
Stay here forever, stay here forever
Stay here forever, stay here forever
How did I fall in love? How did I? How did I?
How did I fall in love? How did I? How did I?
I, yea...
The lyrics to "Stay Red" by Lee "Scratch" Perry are very different compared to the ones of the same name by Roscoe Dash. This song is all about a man who spotted a girl in the dance club and became smitten with her. He observed that she was a beautiful black beauty, with a body like a stallion. Initially, the man thought he had to pay for a dance using dollar bills, but instead, he gave her a group wink, and they furtively started talking. According to the man, the woman was out of this world, and he wanted to share her world, although it seemed like he didn't quite belong. Although he realized that many men try to win her, he didn't see it as a race since he genuinely liked her. Although he was a bad boy, he could tell that the girl liked him as well. They decided to leave the club, and he wanted her number since he had fallen in love with her.
The second verse is more about the woman's thoughts instead of the man's. She admits that she is enjoying VIP in the club and being offered jewels and other things by the man. However, she isn't entirely sure if she should let him into her world or simply wait for him. Paparazzi snaps pictures of her, and she's afraid that being with the wrong person could land her in a bad spot. Despite all of this, she enjoys her time with him and can't help being impressed with the man's wealth. Although she knows it's just for one night, she can't help but fall in love with him.
Line by Line Meaning
When I seen him in the dance club
When I saw him dancing in the club
No lie, boost on me chanser
I was excited and thrilled to see him there
And all he had to do is glance up
He only needed to look at me for me to swoon
In VIP he was lookin like a fanster
He was excited and enthusiastic in the VIP area
To get a dance usually pay for
I would usually have to pay for the opportunity to dance with him
Dollar bills like a fill, gotta get a rank for it
I had to have money and status to even have a chance with him
He wanna come speak, I gave him one wink
He wanted to talk to me and I showed interest with just one wink
Walked up, whispered and he told me some things
I approached him and he whispered some things to me
You out this world, shorty outer space
He thinks I am unique and special, a rare find
Wanna share your world but I kinda feel outta place
He wants to be a part of my world, but feels like he doesn't belong
I know they wanna win you but it's not a race
He knows other guys are interested in me, but it's not a competition
So many get at you when I know you runnin out of mace
So many guys come after me that I'm running out of options
A bad boy but I can tell you like me by the Buy the drink, badda bing, hop out the club
He may be a bad boy, but he can tell I like him because he bought me a drink and we left the club together
But girl you got me in this singing how to love
But I'm falling in love with you and I can't help but sing about it
Let me hold your phone, put my number in and dial it up
Let me take your phone, put my number in it, and call myself to make sure I have your number
Black beauty, body like a stallion
She is a beautiful woman with a curvy body
Want me to wear his chain, he offering medallions
He wants me to wear his jewelry, such as chains and medallions
VIP in the club, fly with a dove
She's a VIP in the club, and she feels free and confident
Run this in his cape 'cause I'm singing how to love
She's running the show and calling the shots because she's in love
You see I got a table, he's in the case ace
She has a table in the club, and he's trying to impress her with his cards
My friends drink it up but I don't really like the taste
Her friends are drinking and having fun, but she's not enjoying it
The thrill in the chase, so I make him wait
She enjoys the game of chasing and being chased, so she makes him wait for her attention
'Cause it's better when late, unless a mistake
It's better to wait for the right moment, rather than making a mistake by rushing into things
Should I let him up in my world?
She's questioning whether she should let him into her life
Can he sore with a fly girl?
She wants to know if he can keep up with her, as well as maintain his swagger
Paparazzi on me heavy now
She's attracting a lot of attention and media coverage
Tryna put your hand with me for a couple hundred thou
People are trying to associate themselves with her because she's popular, wealthy, and successful
He say he found love when he found me
He says he's in love with her and she's the reason for it
And we can find the exit, valet bring the V
They can leave the club and go on a ride together, and valet will bring the car to them
At ease, don't fall and break your heart boy
She's telling him to relax and not get too emotional or invested so quickly, as it could lead to heartbreak
Before we end up on the tabloid, cool it now
Before they become gossip fodder for the media, they need to be more discreet and chill
Apart from the poppin party, the people parlay in lobbies
The party is lively, and people are socializing and hanging out in the hotel lobby
Reviewing all of my options, this all a part of my hobby
She's considering all of her options regarding dating and relationships, and finds it to be an interesting pastime or hobby
The bosses poppin they bottles, the hustlers swim with they dollas
The VIPs are partying and drinking, while the business people are making deals and counting their money
We tweeting, they all follow
She's tweeting and sharing her experiences, and people are interested in following her
Whisper his for my holla
She's whispering to someone for their attention
Thinkin bout what he told me, believe it more if he showed me
She's thinking about what he said, and would believe it more if he proved it through his actions
Paying my tab like he owe me
He's paying for her expenses as if he owes her something
Hold up, you see this bag? It got cash in it
She's showing off her money and possessions
So I ain't really throwed by your fast biny
She's not impressed or swayed by his fast talk or behavior
The speakers loud like spin it
The music is so loud that it's hard to hear anything else
You talkin bout the club when you say that you could spend the whole night in it?
He's asking if she's just talking about enjoying the club or if she's willing to spend the entire night there with him
Hear the night going for the weekend
The night is young and they have a whole weekend to spend together
And love for the night but next week we ain't speakin
They might have a good time together for one night, but they won't be talking or seeing each other the following week
So tell me, should I canvel the art?
She's asking if she should end the relationship
Should I take you the moon and introduce you to stars?
She's asking if she should take him to new heights and introduce him to new things
Hmm nah, I got a flight to make
She's deciding against taking him to new heights and instead taking a flight somewhere else
So catch me in another club for another day
She's inviting him to catch up with her at another club some other day
Tell the waiter keep it comin
She's telling the waiter to keep the drinks and food coming
We're gonna be here to the morning
They plan on staying in the club all night until the morning
Infatuated, so ain't ya going crazy?
They're infatuated with each other, and it's driving them wild
You're always lighting up the club
She's always the life of the party and the center of attention
Girl you're everybody's favorite
Everyone loves her and wants to be around her
I'm nervous, I can't control it
He's nervous around her and can't control his emotions
Pull a string out your puppet
He wants to have control over her and manipulate her
Imagine we in VIP
He's imagining them together in the VIP area
It's you and me, where I can taste your body
He's picturing them alone where he can be intimate with her
This feeling is wild, I want, I want
He's overwhelmed with desire and wants to be with her
Stay here forever, stay here forever
He wants to stay with her forever in that moment
How did I fall in love? How did I fall in love?
He's questioning how he fell in love so quickly
Fall in love in the club like this
He can't believe he fell in love with her in the club like this
Contributed by Sophie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.