Career
Perry's musical career began in the late 1950s as a record seller for Clement Coxsone Dodd's ska oriented sound system. As his sometimes turbulent relationship with Dodd developed, he found himself performing a variety of important tasks at Dodd's Studio One hit factory, going on to record nearly 30 songs for the label. Disagreements between the pair due to personality and financial conflicts, a recurring theme throughout Perry's career, led him to leave the studio and seek new musical outlets. He soon found a new home at Joe Gibbs's Wirl records.
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). From 1968 until 1972 he worked with his studio band The Upsetters. 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 UK. 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 due to 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.
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Perry now lives in Switzerland with his wife Mireille and two children. Although he celebrated his 70th birthday in 2006, he continues recording and performing to enthusiastic audiences in Europe and North America. His modern music is a far cry from his reggae days in Jamaica; many now see Perry as more of a performance artist in several respects. In 2003, Perry won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album with the album Jamaican E.T.. More recently, he teamed up with a group of Swiss musicians and performed under the name Lee Perry and the White Belly Rats, and made a brief visit to the United States using the New York City based group Dub Is A Weapon as his backing band. The definitive feature length film about his life story entitled "The Upsetter" is currently being made by filmmakers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough.
Bird in Hand
Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters 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
@newweaponsdc
Lyrics:
milte hi aankhe dil hua divaana kisika
milte hi aankhe dil hua divaana kisika
afsana mera ban gayaa, afsana kisika
afsana mera ban gayaa, afsana kisika
puchho naa mohabbat ka asar
haay naa puchho haay naa puchho
puchho naa mohabbat ka asar
haay naa puchho haay naa puchho
dam bhara me koi ho gaya, parvana kisika
dam bhara me koi ho gaya, parvana kisika
afsana mera ban gayaa, afsana kisika
milte hi aankhe dil hua divaana kisika
haste hi naa aa jaaye kahi, aankho me aansu aankho me aansu
haste hi naa aa jaaye kahi, aankho me aansu aankho me aansu
bharte hi chhalak jaaye naa, paimana kisika
bharte hi chhalak jaaye naa, paimana kisika
afsana mera ban gayaa, afsana kisika
milte hi aankhe dil hua divaana kisika
@chomoi1389
This song sung by Sam Carty and is in Hindi.
Translation:
As soon as eyes met, somebody's heart went mad,
As soon as eyes met, somebody's heart went mad,
My tale has happened, somebody's tale,
Don't ask me love's effect, oh! Don't ask,
I took a breath and somebody happened, somebody's lover.
My tale has happened, somebody's tale.
@strappazoot
Sung this to my son when he was born. But he turned out ok 😅 RIP Scratch!
@aaqilian5.085
😁awesome!
@possiblykombuchaslim9339
“Hey bro can you play this again after it’s over”
@i_and_i_78
8/29/2021 - it’s never over.. long live the Upsetter !
@cyclonnb
@@i_and_i_78 +++++
@bsg75husker
the beginning of this somg never gets old.. timeless.. i love the newer versions more then the original i found. But bless them all for making this lil gem.
@Leopoldo0490
Jesus Cristo de Nazaré obrigado por existir música Reggae...
@RedGoldGreen-Dub
Beautiful tune and layers 🥰🟥🟨🟩🔥🔥🔥🔊 King Perry Lee
@bongodread6383
I n I bethren Scratch dread is a most spiritual rastafarian make it music. Enjoy mi idrens and dance is music foreva. Thanks lee scratch. Fly high bongo natty
@icarus6712
The original is a love song from the Hindi film Babul, in 1950. The music was by Naushad.