He left home at the age of 14 and worked on a sugar plantation outside Clarendon, cleaning out irrigation ditches, before winning a local talent competition when he was 18; prompting a move to the capital, Kingston, in order to achieve a successful musical career.
In 1965 he joined up with Kenneth Knight and Lloyd Shakespeare in The Emotions, whilst also working as a record plugger for Ken Lack's Caltone label. The group were unsuccessful in auditions for other producers, but Lack offered them an audition after overhearing Smith singing to himself as he worked one day. In 1966, the group had their first hit, with the Lack-produced, "Buy You a Rainbow". The Emotions went on to have several hit singles and by 1968, the singer, by this point known as Max Romeo, felt confident enough to launch a solo career. Working with producer Bunny Lee, the young star recorded a number of pop songs, mainly love ballads, but they failed to be popular and so he returned to The Emotions, now recording for Phil Pratt. During this time he began work as a sales representative for Bunny Lee and did some recording with The Hippy Boys, which would later became The Upsetters.
Later on in 1968, Romeo wrote new lyrics for the rhythm track of Derrick Morgan's "Hold You Jack" and handed them over to Lee. Morgan, who was due to add his vocals to the track, ultimately gave it a miss, as did several other vocalists (including John Holt and Slim Smith), leading the producer to turn to Romeo to sing the lyrics he had written. The result, "Wet Dream", was an instant hit in Jamaica, although in the UK it was met with a BBC Radio ban, despite Romeo's somewhat-disingenuous claim that the song was actually about a roof that has a leak. Still, the ban only made it more popular and the single charted in the Top Ten, in the UK Singles Chart, spending almost six months therein, before featuring on his LP, A Dream, which included several follow-up singles in a similar vein, such as "Mini Skirt Version", "Fish in the Pot", "Belly Woman", and "Wine Her Goosie". A UK tour also met with Romeo being banned from performing at several venues, although many allowed him to play, the singer staying in the UK for eighteen months.
In 1970, Romeo returned to Jamaica and set-up Romax, an unsuccessful record label and sound system. Following which, he recorded several singles, mainly with old producer Bunny Lee, before going on to work a host of other producers including Niney Holness. This was followed by a period of which saw the release of a series of politically charged singles, most advocating the democratic socialist People's National Party (PNP), which chose his song, "Let The Power Fall On I", as their campaign theme for the 1972 Jamaican general election. Romeo joined the PNP Musical Bandwagon, travelling around Jamaica, playing on the back of a truck. After this, Romeo recorded a number of religious songs, until he worked with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, producing the classic singles "Three Blind Mice" (an adaptation of the nursery rhyme with lyrics about a police raid on a party), "Sipple Out Deh", and "Chase the Devil". A remixed version of "Sipple Out Deh", entitled "War Ina Babylon", was another popular track in the UK, the first fruits of his deal with Island Records, and was followed by an album of the same name, and a follow-up single "One Step Forward". Shortly after this the pair fell out, leaving Romeo to self-produce his follow-up album, Reconstruction, which could not match the success of its predecessor. Perry's animosity towards Romeo was demonstrated by his single "White Belly Rat", with Perry also writing the word 'Judas' over a photograph of Romeo on the wall of his Black Ark studio.
He moved to New York City in 1978, where he co-wrote (with Hair producer Michael Butler) the musical, Reggae, which he also starred in. In 1980 he appeared as a backing vocalist on "Dance" on The Rolling Stones album Emotional Rescue. In 1981, the favour was returned when Keith Richards (of The Rolling Stones) co-produced and played on Romeo's album, Holding Out My Love to You. The rest of his output during the decade went practically unnoticed, with Romeo finding work at a New York electronics store. He returned to Jamaica in 1990, and began touring and recording more regularly.
He visited the UK again in 1992, recording the albums Far I Captain of My Ship and Our Rights with Jah Shaka. In 1995 he recorded Cross of the Gun with Tappa Zukie, and he joined up with UK rhythm section/production team Mafia & Fluxy in 1999 for the album Selassie I Forever.
His music has been sampled by other artists; The Prodigy sampled his track "Chase the Devil" for their 1992 UK Top Ten hit "Out of Space". Kanye West has also used samples from it to produce Jay-Z's hit song "Lucifer", which appeared on Jay-Z's 2003 release - The Black Album.
"Chase the Devil" is featured on the reggae radio station K-JAH Radio West in a popular videogame Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, released in October 2004. Romeo's single "Sipple Out Deh" appeared in John Peel's Record Box.
- Albums:
A Dream (1970) Trojan
Let The Power Fall (1972) Dynamic
Revelation Time (1975) Black World
War Ina Babylon (1976) Island
Reconstruction (1979) Island
I Love My Music (1979) Wackies
Rondos (1980) King Kong
Holding Out My Love to You (1981) Shanachie
Transition (1989) Rohit
Fari - Captain of My Ship (1992) Jah Shaka
Our Rights (1992) Jah Shaka
Cross or the Gun (1995) Tappa Zukie
Selassie I Forever (1999) Mafia & Fluxy
Love Message (1999) Warriors
Something is Wrong (1999) Warriors
In This Time (2001) 3D (Max Romeo & Tribu Acustica)
Pocomania Songs (2007) Ariwa Sounds
- Compilations:
Max Romeo Meets Owen Gray At King Tubby's Studio (1984) Culture Press (with Owen Gray)
Max Romeo and the Upsetters (1989)
Wet Dream (1993) Crocodisc
McCabee Version (1995) Sonic Sounds
Open The Iron Gate (1999) Blood & Fire
The Many Moods of Max Romeo (1999) Jamaican Gold
Pray For Me: The Best of Max Romeo 1967-73 (2000) Trojan Records
Perilous Times (2000) Charmax
On The Beach (2001) Culture Press
The Coming of Jah (2002) Trojan
Ultimate Collection (2003) (compiled by David Katz)
Holy Zion (2003) Burning Bush
Wet Dream: The Best of Max Romeo (2004) Trojan
Crazy World of Dub (2005) Jamaican Recordings
One of Jamaica's most provocative lyricists, a singer who gave us such enduring songs as 'Chase The Devil' (which was sampled in the song 'Out of Space' by The Prodigy and the song 'Lucifer' by Jay-Z), 'Public Enemy Number One', 'One Step Forward' and 'Three Blind Mice'. It was Romeo who first introduced Britain to the concept of rude reggae with 'Wet Dream', which, despite a total radio ban, reached number 10 in the UK charts in May 1969.
In 1972 Romeo began working with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. 'Babylon Burning', 'Three Blind Mice' and 'The Coming Of Jah' all maintained his star status in Jamaica between 1972 and 1975. Revelation Time was one of the best albums of 1975, and 1976's War Ina Babylon was hailed by the rock press as an all-time classic reggae album. Two outstanding contributions that will remain classic recordings from the so-called ‘golden age’ of Jamaican reggae music.
Rent Man
Max Romeo Lyrics
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A me, "Nine-finger the rentie Idren?
Woy, what a pressure
Landlord a pressure tenants
Woy, what a pressure
Landlord a pressure tenant
You hear people saying house rent too high
Yes, everywhere you can turn in town
The poor people crying house rent too high
Your rent one this month for fifty dollars
You live there two months it raise to sixty dollars
If you have any children, you can't get it
No matter what the price, you have to gladly take it
Every three weeks the rent man come
With him bodyguard and him big, long gun
You can't tell him, ?Seh, you no have it?
Anyway deh you have to try to find it
Or else him coming back with the bailiff man
Coming in a van with two police men
And one thing you must understand
If you even get drop him you not get no wrong
Woy, what a pressure
Landlord, a pressure tenant
Woy, woy, woy, what a pressure, hey
Landlord, dem a pressure tenants
My landlord is a cruel man
A man that no one can understand
Every time the rent near fe due
That is the time when my landlord screw
And when him collect, him smile again
That's the only time me and him are friend
But that friendship only lasts for three weeks
'Cause three weeks time the rent drew again
Woy, what a pressure, hey
Landlord, dem a pressure tenants
Woy, woy, woy, what a pressure
Landlord, a pressure tenants
Woy, woy, woy, what a pressure
The lyrics of Max Romeo's song "Rent Man" depict the struggle of poor people who can't afford to pay their high house rent. The song starts with the landlord's knock at the door, and the singer asking who it is. The landlord identifies himself as 'Nine-finger the rentie Idren,' and the singer realizes that he has to pay the rent, which has become a major pressure for him. The song reflects the circumstances of people who are being exploited by heartless landlords and how they have no choice but to pay the high rent even if they can hardly afford it.
The song reflects how the rent man comes every three weeks with his bodyguard and gun, and the tenant has no option but to pay. The lyrics also highlight how the rent keeps increasing every month, and if the tenant has any children to feed, it becomes an even more difficult situation for them. The song's chorus, "Woy, what a pressure, landlord dem a pressure tenants," signifies the tremendous burden that the tenants have to carry due to high rent prices.
Furthermore, the song portrays how landlords collect rent from their tenants without any mercy, and when they receive it, they become happy again. However, this happiness doesn't last long as three weeks later, the rent man comes knocking at the door again, and the cycle repeats itself, highlighting the constant pressure on the tenants.
Overall, "Rent Man" is a powerful and insightful commentary on urban poverty and the exploitative housing system that leaves people with little agency over their homes and lives.
Line by Line Meaning
A who dat a knock so early, sir?
Who could be knocking so early? Oh wait, it's the rent man, come to collect his due.
A me, "Nine-finger the rentie Idren?
It's me, Nine-finger, the rent-paying friend. Are you here to collect my rent?
Woy, what a pressure
What a stressful situation this is!
Landlord a pressure tenants
The landlords are putting too much pressure on the tenants.
Everywhere you can turn in town
No matter where you go in town,
You hear people saying house rent too high
You'll hear poor people complain that the cost of rent is too much.
Yes, everywhere you can turn in town
Absolutely everywhere you might look in town,
The poor people crying house rent too high
The poor people complain that the cost of rent is too much.
Your rent one this month for fifty dollars
You pay fifty dollars in rent for this month,
You live there two months it raise to sixty dollars
And after two months, it jumps up to sixty dollars.
If you have any children, you can't get it
Even if you have children, there's no negotiation.
No matter what the price, you have to gladly take it
No matter the cost, tenants will have to accept it willingly.
Every three weeks the rent man come
The rent man comes every three weeks like clockwork.
With him bodyguard and him big, long gun
He comes with a bodyguard and a big gun to intimidate the tenants.
You can't tell him, ?Seh, you no have it?
You can't tell him that you don't have the funds to pay for the rent.
Anyway deh you have to try to find it
You have to find a way to make the rent payment regardless of the difficulties it may bring.
Or else him coming back with the bailiff man
Otherwise, he'll return with the bailiff man.
Coming in a van with two police men
They arrive in a van with two police officers enforcing the law.
And one thing you must understand
One thing you need to comprehend
If you even get drop him you not get no wrong
Even if you manage to tackle him, you're not getting away scot-free.
My landlord is a cruel man
My landlord is a cruel person.
A man that no one can understand
No one can seem to get a proper read on him.
Every time the rent near fe due
As soon as the rent's due date approaches,
That is the time when my landlord screw
That's when my landlord starts to apply pressure on me.
And when him collect, him smile again
When he collects the rent, he suddenly becomes pleasant again.
That's the only time me and him are friend
That's the only time he's willing to be on friendly terms with me.
But that friendship only lasts for three weeks
That so-called friendship doesn't last for more than three weeks.
'Cause three weeks time the rent drew again
Because in just three weeks, the cycle starts all over again.
Woy, woy, woy, what a pressure
Oh dear, what a stressful situation this is.
Landlord, dem a pressure tenants
Landlords are pressuring their tenants.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TREVOR SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Africansoundboy
A real Jah'mbo Sounds tune and version, respect to all Nairobi Kenya massive and crew RIP Pattie Ranks, big up Jack Malle Israel, Suppa Rabba, the whole Jambo Rebels Crew and Club Hollywood Moktah Dadah St, not forgetting King Lion Sounds and Shashamane Int'l, special mention, Omega One Sound.