Most of Johnson's poetry is political, dealing mainly with the experiences of being an African-Caribbean in Britain. However, he has also shown himself more than capable of writing about other issues, such as British foreign policy or the death of anti-racist marcher Blair Peach. His most celebrated poems were written during the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The poems contain graphic accounts of the often racist police brutality occurring at the time.
Johnson's best known albums include his debut "Dread Beat An' Blood", "Forces of Victory", "Bass Culture" and "Making History". Across these albums are spread classics of the dub poetry school of performance - and, indeed, of reggae itself - such as "Dread Beat An' Blood", "Sonny's Lettah, "Inglan Is A Bitch" and "Independant Intavenshan".
When written, Johnson's poetry makes clever use of the unstandardised transcription of Jamaican Creole.
Of late, Johnson has only performed live on an intermittent basis.
Johnson's record label LKJ Records is home to other reggae artists, some of whom made up The Dub Band, with whom Johnson mostly recorded, and other Dub Poets, such as Jean Binta Breeze.
www.lintonkwesijohnson.com
Sonny's Lettah
Linton Kwesi Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good day
I hope that when these few lines reach you they may
Find you in the best of health
I doun know how to tell ya dis
For I did mek a solemn promise
To tek care a lickle Jim
An try mi bes fi look out fi him
Mama, I really did try mi bes
But none a di less
Sorry fi tell ya seh, poor lickle Jim get arres
It was de miggle a di rush hour
Hevrybody jus a hustle and a bustle
To go home fi dem evenin shower
Mi an Jim stan up waitin pon a bus
Not causin no fuss
When all of a sudden a police van pull up
Out jump tree policemen
De whole a dem carryin baton
Dem walk straight up to me and Jim
One a dem hold on to Jim
Seh dem tekin him in
Jim tell him fi leggo a him
For him nah do nutt'n
And 'I'm nah t'ief, not even a but'n
Jim start to wriggle
De police start to giggle
Mama, mek I tell you wa dem do to Jim?
Mek I tell you wa dem do to 'I'm?
Dem thump him him in him belly and it turn to jelly
Dem lick 'I'm pon 'I'm back and 'I'm rib get pop
Dem thump him pon him head but it tough like lead
Dem kick 'I'm in 'I'm seed and it started to bleed
Mama, I jus couldn't stan up deh, nah do nuttin'
So mi jook one in him eye and him started fi cry
Me thump him pon him mout and him started fi shout
Me kick him pon him shin so him started fi spin
Me hit him pon him chin an him drop pon a bin
- an crash, an dead
More policeman come dung
Dem beat me to the grung
Dem charge Jim fi sus
Dem charge mi fi murdah
Mama, doan fret
Doan get depress an downhearted
Be of good courage-acap
The lyrics of Linton Kwesi Johnson's "Sonny's Lettah" describe the experience of a black man named Sonny who writes a letter to his mother after his brother, Jim, is arrested and brutally beaten by the police. The song begins with Sonny greeting his beloved mother and wishing her good health, but he soon gets to the heartbreaking part of his letter. Sonny tells his mother that he promised to care for Jim and do his best to protect him. Unfortunately, Jim was arrested in the middle of rush hour while waiting for a bus, without committing any crime. Three policemen beat him with batons, causing internal injuries, broken ribs, and bleeding. Sonny was unable to bear watching the injustice, so he struck one of the officers who was beating Jim, and that officer died as a result. Sonny is now charged with murder, while Jim is charged with suspicion, which Sonny advises their mother not to worry about.
The song highlights the racial discrimination and brutality that black people face in their everyday life, shedding light on how the police behave as if they have the authority to arrest anyone they choose. The lopsidedness in the criminal justice system is also evident here; the black people were easily criminalized and wrongly punished. The lyrics, written in a Jamaican English creole, emphasize the message of the song, and the combination of reggae and dub music, which are associated with rebellion and resistance, adds to the song's grittiness and urgency. In conclusion, "Sonny's Lettah" is a powerful protest song that calls for justice, equality, and an end to police brutality.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear mama
Beginning of the letter to the singer's mother.
Good day
Greeting to the mother.
I hope that when these few lines reach you they may /Find you in the best of health
Well wishes for the mother’s health.
I doun know how to tell ya dis
The artist is reluctant to share bad news.
For I did mek a solemn promise
The artist had made a promise to take care of someone.
To tek care a lickle Jim / An try mi bes fi look out fi him
The promise was to take care of a person named Jim.
Mama, I really did try mi bes / But none a di less
The singer tried their best.
Sorry fi tell ya seh, poor lickle Jim get arres
Unfortunately, Jim was arrested.
It was de miggle a di rush hour / Hevrybody jus a hustle and a bustle / To go home fi dem evenin shower
Jim was arrested during the busy evening rush hour.
Mi an Jim stan up waitin pon a bus / Not causin no fuss
The artist and Jim were waiting for a bus and not causing any trouble.
When all of a sudden a police van pull up / Out jump tree policemen / De whole a dem carryin baton
A police van arrived with three officers carrying batons.
Dem walk straight up to me and Jim / One a dem hold on to Jim / Seh dem tekin him in / Jim tell him fi leggo a him / For him nah do nutt'n / And 'I'm nah t'ief, not even a but'n / Jim start to wriggle / De police start to giggle
The police officers took Jim into custody even though he did nothing, and when he protested, they laughed.
Mama, mek I tell you wa dem do to Jim? / Mek I tell you wa dem do to 'I'm?
The singer is going to describe what happened to Jim while in custody.
Dem thump him him in him belly and it turn to jelly / Dem lick 'I'm pon 'I'm back and 'I'm rib get pop / Dem thump him pon him head but it tough like lead / Dem kick 'I'm in 'I'm seed and it started to bleed
The police officers physically abused Jim, causing injury to his head, ribs, belly, and genitals.
Mama, I jus couldn't stan up deh, nah do nuttin' / So mi jook one in him eye and him started fi cry / Me thump him pon him mout and him started fi shout / Me kick him pon him shin so him started fi spin / Me hit him pon him chin an him drop pon a bin - an crash, an dead
The singer couldn’t stand by and watch, so they physically fought back, causing the officer’s death.
More policeman come dung / Dem beat me to the grung / Dem charge Jim fi sus / Dem charge mi fi murdah
More police officers arrived, beat the artist, and charged Jim with a crime and the artist with murder.
Mama, doan fret / Doan get depress an downhearted / Be of good courage-acap
The end of the letter with reassurance to the mother to stay positive and be strong.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LINTON KWESI JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@greenkostia
I met the guy when in uni. He signed my book but I lost it. Very sincere, very funny and sadly he tells the truth. I’m a white guy, from Liverpool. But still have felt the prejudice from the long arm of the law a few times. Nothing like the poem but don’t let anyone tell you we live in an equal society. We must fight every day even when it feels like nothing you do matters. Everything matters! Peace and love xxx
@joshuaalby5136
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
@jasontinkler6505
I'm a white guy from Liverpool also - agree totally!
@francktagoe8539
The man who sacrificed his life to shame oppression. God bless you champion.❤❤❤
@waynebutfoy3759
Word mate !
@user-zy4go2qe6g
Jah me lord jesus Ini freedom
@webstermusandirire3285
I am 51 but first heard it when I was 15 and still fresh
@paulgreen9786
Webster Musandirire I was addicted soon as I heard dread beat nblood benny da white dread
@glenpierce777
Yeh man I'm 55 and LKJ has always been in my music collection since it was first released.
@kobked-x
same