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.
People Funny Boy
Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
why, why people funny bwoy
now that you reach the top
an' you turn big shot
all I have done for you
you not remember that
when you were down an' out
I used to help you out
you don't remember that
now that you turn big shot
bwoy you 'ave big chat
you're lucky, you're lucky,
you're lucky to have rice and peas a yard
but me, poor me don't have none at all
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
why, why people funny bwoy
why, why people funny bwoy
now that you reach the top
an' you turn big shot
all I have done for you
you not remember that
when you were down an' out
I used to help you out
but now that you win jackpot
you don't remember that
now that you turn big shot
bwoy you 'ave big chat
you're lucky, you're lucky,
you're lucky to have rice and peas a yard
but me, poor me don't have none at all
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
The lyrics of Lee "Scratch" Perry & The Upsetters's song People Funny Boy describe a common theme in reggae music - the idea of people changing as they become more successful, forgetting those who helped them when they were down and out. The song addresses an unnamed "funny bwoy" who has recently "reached the top" and become a "big shot", but who has forgotten the help that the singer provided when he was struggling. The chorus poses the question "why, why people funny bwoy", suggesting that this type of behavior is hard to understand or explain.
The verses go on to describe the singer's own situation - despite helping the funny bwoy, he is now without much food to eat, specifically "rice and peas", a staple dish in Jamaican cuisine. He longs to go back home, indicated by the repetition of "I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght", but it is unclear whether he is currently away from home or simply unable to afford the traditional meal. Perry's unique vocal style and the catchy rhythm of the song create a sense of urgency and frustration, underscoring the message that people should not forget their roots or the community that supported them on their way up.
Line by Line Meaning
why, why people funny bwoy
Questioning the behavior of those who have become arrogant after achieving success
why, why people funny bwoy
Repeating the question and expressing disbelief in their actions
now that you reach the top
an' you turn big shot
all I have done for you
you not remember that
Reminding the person who has become successful that they forget the people who helped them achieve success
when you were down an' out
I used to help you out
but now that you win jackpot
you don't remember that
Recalling the time when the person was in need and how they were helped, but now they refuse to remember
now that you turn big shot
bwoy you 'ave big chat
Observing how the person's arrogance has increased along with their success
you're lucky, you're lucky,
you're lucky to have rice and peas a yard
but me, poor me don't have none at all
Acknowledging the fortunate position of the successful person, while lamenting the personal struggles and lack of resources
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
Expressing the desire to have a peaceful and content evening at home
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
Reiterating the desire for a peaceful and content evening at home
I want-a, I want-a, I want-a, I want-a,
I want-a uh i-yah yard tonïght
Repeating the desire for a peaceful and content evening at home
Writer(s): LEE PERRY
Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FuntoWatchTV
RIP....a true legend. Keith Richards once said of him "More than a producer, he knows how to inspire the artist’s soul. Like Phil Spector, he has a gift of not only hearing sounds that come from nowhere else, but also translating those sounds to the musicians. Scratch is a shaman."
Ken Kovar
mercy keith
Tony Hughes
This is arguably the first reggae track . Post the rock steady period. Fantastic energy. Scratch . It all start from scratch
Justin Jefferson
True.
Matthias Bosshard
YES SIR !
Allan Taipalus
Some say this, others say "Nanny Goat by Larry Marshall"
ShivRoots
🙏🏾
Blair Sadewitz
The consensus among musicologists is "Nanny Goat" by Larry Marshall, but I wouldn't say that any one person invented it.
Henrik Bragge
He was a musical genius ❤️ his songs will always make me smile
Daniel Kharlukhi
I use to think that I might be the only person who listen to these music but there are still millions.....
Long Live Reggae.....Rastafari