An explosive celebration of music unfolds on stage with some of Australia’s… Read Full Bio ↴An explosive celebration of music unfolds on stage with some of Australia’s finest musicians, when the 30 od piece orchestra hit the stage. Imagine the force of an 18 piece horn section, a mean rhythm section, percussionist, organist and 3 singers and you may only begin to understand the life force that is the Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Fronted by Nicky Bomba (Bomba, John Butler Trio), with his professional, fun and impulsive conducting style, Melbourne Ska Orchestra (MSO) is a fun-loving big band experience with music from the golden ska period of 1963 through to modern day classics. A massive hit at festivals everywhere, the MSO is fast becoming a must-see institution with members hailing from some of the best ska and reggae bands in Australia. Founded in 2003 as a way of celebrating this uplifting music, the MSO is dedicated to educating and entertaining audiences with the sweet sounds of ska – and dancing is compulsory!

The MSO’s repertoire covers tracks from 1963 (Skatalites, Wailers) through to the British Two Tone craze (Madness, Specials etc) and anything positive or significant in between. With original tunes, reggae, rocksteady classics and Latin-based ska in the mix, the MSO energises audiences.

MSO members hail from some of Australia’s leading ska and reggae bands, with past shows featuring special guests including Joe Camilleri, Jali Buba Kuyateh, Dereb Desalegn, Nadee and international reggae greats such as Carlos Malcolm, Dawn Penn and Stranger Cole. The MSO’s first international invitation was to Jamaican singing legend Owen Gray, resulting in a massive sold-out show. As a result Nicky and Owen recorded the track “Inna One Yard” (featured on the “Weekend Sessions 2” CD compilation).

First started in 2003 by musical dynamo and John Butler Trio drummer, Nicky Bomba and PBS FM announcer / Jamaican music historian Mohair Slim, MSO is dedicated to educating and entertaining audiences to the sweet sounds of Jamaican ska and roots music and the evolution of the genre. MSO is fast becoming an institution in the Australian music scene with recent performances at the Byron Bay Blues Festival proving without a doubt, the international calibre of this mighty orchestra.

Sly Boots
Melbourne Ska Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

First time that I saw them they were walking out the door
She noticed that I noticed and she knew I wanted more
I stumbled and I fumbled -Too late to say hello
Then I had the visions everywhere I'd go

I'd see them in a café -Supermarket aisle
Up the escalator-On the river Nile
I'd see them in the morning-Way too late at night

I'm thinking we could set the world alight

Search every day Game that I play
for those sly sly boots tonight
willing to say You make me day
In those sly sly boots alright

It got so much I followed up on every single lead
Led me to an address and my senses they took leave
Spontaneous suggestion made me knock upon the door
The boots they had convinced me but the vision it was more

You must think that I'm crazy – To follow someone's shoes
But as the story turned out – She didn't hurl abuse

Fact is we're together – 10 years to the day
I have to thank those booties – For leading me a

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Melbourne Ska Orchestra's song "Sly Boots" tell a story about a person who falls in love with someone they only saw once, wearing a pair of distinctive boots. Despite not having spoken to the person, the singer begins to see visions of them everywhere they go, from a café to the river Nile. The song captures the feeling of infatuation and the singer's desire to find the person again. The chorus emphasizes this desire, stating that the singer is "searching every day" and playing a game to find "sly sly boots tonight." The song is about the joy of being in love and the spontaneous and unexpected ways in which we find it.

The song's upbeat and catchy melody, along with its lyrics, bring out the sense of longing and the innocence of the singer's quest for love. The song's use of ska music – a Jamaican genre characterized by a fast tempo and prominent rhythm section – is a nod to the 1960s era when ska was popular. Melbourne Ska Orchestra has updated the genre with a modern twist, melding traditional horns and percussion with contemporary electric instruments.

Line by Line Meaning

First time that I saw them they were walking out the door
I first saw the person wearing those fashionable boots leaving a place.

She noticed that I noticed and she knew I wanted more
The person wearing the boots realised that I was interested in them.

I stumbled and I fumbled -Too late to say hello
I didn't have the chance to introduce myself because I was too nervous.

Then I had the visions everywhere I'd go
I couldn't stop thinking about the person and kept imagining seeing them everywhere I went.

I'd see them in a café -Supermarket aisle
I would see the person in random places like cafes and in supermarket aisles.

Up the escalator-On the river Nile
I even imagined seeing them in unlikely places like on a river Nile and going up an escalator.

I'd see them in the morning-Way too late at night
I would see them at all times of the day, even in the early morning or very late at night.

I'm thinking we could set the world alight
I believe the two of us could make a big impact together.

Search every day Game that I play
Every day I am searching for the person with those sly boots, as if it's a game.

for those sly sly boots tonight
I am determined to find the person wearing those fashionable boots tonight.

willing to say You make me day
I am willing to tell the person that they brighten up my day.

In those sly sly boots alright
I find the person attractive because of their stylish boots.

It got so much I followed up on every single lead
My obsession with finding the person got so strong that I followed up on every possible clue.

Led me to an address and my senses they took leave
I found an address that I thought might lead me to the person, but I was so overwhelmed that I lost my sense of judgement.

Spontaneous suggestion made me knock upon the door
I impulsively decided to knock on the door of the address I found to see if the person was there.

The boots they had convinced me but the vision it was more
I was initially drawn to the boots that the person was wearing, but ultimately it was the person themselves who captured my attention.

You must think that I'm crazy – To follow someone's shoes
You might think I'm crazy for being so fixated on someone's footwear.

But as the story turned out – She didn't hurl abuse
The person didn't react negatively when I approached them, which turned out to be a good thing.

Fact is we're together – 10 years to the day
The crazy obsession that started with those boots led to a long-term relationship that has lasted 10 years.

I have to thank those booties – For leading me a
I am thankful for those boots because they led me to the love of my life.

Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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