A little known figure outside of reggae's deep roots circles, Little Roy co… Read Full Bio ↴A little known figure outside of reggae's deep roots circles, Little Roy contributed a handful of undeniable classics to the genre during the 1970s: populace-pleasing hits that were also vehicles for his Rastafari-inspired message. Born during the early years of the 1950s (dates range from 1950-1953) in the Witfield Town area of Kingston, Jamaica, Earl Lowe (aka Little Roy) was inspired at an early age by the songwriting efforts of his older brother Campbell. Though he soon began composing his own material, it was his brother's "I'm Going to Cool It," that a 13-year-old Earl Lowe auditioned for Jackie Mittoo in the mid-'60s, earning him a session at the legendary Studio One. The single failed to "hit" however, and Lowe quickly moved on to rival producer Prince Buster. Newly dubbed Little Roy, the singer only voiced a pair of tracks for Buster before moving on again to the stable of Lloyd "Matador" Daley. Backed by the Hippy Boys, Roy scored his first hit with "Bongo Nyah" in 1969, a song that held the number one slot of the Jamaican record charts during the weeks that followed.

By this time, Roy had begun exploring the teachings of Rastafari, having become acquainted with followers in the Washington Gardens area. This turning point led to the crucial decision to seek complete creative control over his music. Deeming the Jamaican recording establishment too conservative for his choice of subject matter, Roy formed his own Tafari and Earth labels with the help of Munchie Jackson and Lloyd Barnes. In 1974, he came knocking on the door of the Black Ark, the studio run by Washington Gardens resident Lee "Scratch" Perry, an eclectic producer known to be sympathetic to the Rastas. Perry set aside studio time for the recording of both "Black Bird" and "Tribal War." The latter proved to be a hit; its status as a roots classic was later assured through the host of versions that followed. Among them were readings by singers John Holt, Junior Reid, and Freddy McKay and DJ cuts on the rhythm by Dillinger, Trinity, and Prince Far I. Roy responded with a string of excellent, Rasta-informed singles for his new imprints that maintained the standards. Lacking the backing of a big producer, however, songs as excellent as "Prophesy," "Christopher Columbus," "Earth," and "Jah Can Count on I" eventually receded from view, and Roy's full-length Tribal War LP was given a limited release in the U.S. Roy's finest efforts then were largely forgotten until Pressure Sounds released the Tafari Earth Uprising and Packin' House sets during the second half of the 1990s.

Roy continued to record into the early '80s. While "Long Time Rock Steady" and "Skanking on the Banking," a pair of late-'70s 12"s cut for Herman Chin-Loy, found him adopting dancehall techniques, he returned to roots flavors with 1981's Columbus Ship (recorded at Channel One and mixed by Scientist). Laying low for the remainder of the decade, the singer returned with Prophesy in 1989, a collection of his '70s material in old and new guises. Roy was vaunted into the spotlight once again when Victory Dance, a one-rhythm album based around "Prophesy," was compiled at the start of the '90s. Following the release of Live On (1990) and a European tour with Gregory Isaacs, Pressure Sounds owner Adrian Sherwood brought Little Roy into a London studio for the recording of Longtime, ensuring that the singer's vision would live on into the 21st century.

Biography by Nathan Bush (AMG - All Media Guide)

Without My Love
Little Roy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Said you want to and i gave my heart away
Say you love me and my baby i said i do
We used to be so much in love now ur are alone with out my love
when you were out i staid by your side
We used to be so much in love now you're alone without my love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Little Roy's song "Without My Love" seem to be about a failed relationship. The singer gave their heart away to someone who said they wanted it, and they both committed to each other by saying "I do". However, the relationship seems to have fallen apart and the singer is now alone without their love. Despite the singer staying by their partner's side when they were out, the love they had for each other seems to have disappeared.

It's possible that the song is about the difficulties of maintaining love in a long-term relationship. Even when two people commit to each other, it's possible for their feelings to change over time. The singer seems to feel the loss of their love keenly, as they repeat the phrase "we used to be so much in love". They may be struggling to come to terms with the end of their relationship.

Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of sadness and regret over what could have been. The singer seems to have loved their partner deeply, but now they are left alone without them.

Line by Line Meaning

Said you want to and i gave my heart away
You expressed a desire to be with me and I wholeheartedly gave myself to you.

Say you love me and my baby i said i do
You professed your love for me and my child, and I reciprocated by committing to you.

We used to be so much in love now ur are alone with out my love
We had a strong love for each other in the past, but now you're by yourself without my love.

when you were out i staid by your side
During the times when you were away, I remained dedicated and loyal to you.

We used to be so much in love now you're alone without my love
Our love was once a significant part of our lives, but now you're living without the love that we shared.

Contributed by Lucas S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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