Born Clifford Smith in Kingston, Jamaica, he was given the nickname Mr. Vegas by his cousin for the neon pink shorts he wore on the football field; in addition to his athletic skills Mr. Vegas also demonstrated musical talents early on. However an unfortunate dispute over the ownership of a DAT resulted in Vegas being hit in the jaw with an iron pipe; after the assault Vegas' mouth was wired shut so he was forced to create a unique method of vocalizing through his teeth. That style was first heard on "Nike Air", the song that initially positioned Vegas on the dancehall charts. Characterized by uplifting lyrics aimed (especially) at young women, he followed "Nike Air" with another affirming and very appealing tune "Heads High" which reached number one in Jamaica, hit the British Top Ten and found its way onto several urban stations across America.
Vegas' 1997 debut album "Heads High" (Greensleeves Records) further displayed his captivating vocal capabilities on songs like "Jacket", "Sweet Pineapple" and "Everywhere I Go"; it also earned him a British Mobo Award as Best Reggae artist, while establishing his fan base beyond the Jamaican dancehall.
However Vegas demonstrated even greater versatility on his 2001 sophomore release "Damn Right" (Greensleeves) which featured a stronger R&B and hip-hop flavor on the hits "Girls Time" and "She's A Ho", sensitive singing on the roots rocking "Rise" and a sensational duet with Sean Paul "Hot Gal Today".
With his move to the Los Angeles based independent label Delicious Vinyl Vegas released his third CD "Pull Up". The title track was recorded on Scatta Burrell's wildly popular Coolie Dance riddim, entered the Billboard charts and took Vegas' music into previously uncharted territory. Another single from "Pull Up" "Tamale" also did well, particularly in Europe.
Vegas has just completed his fourth and finest CD so far "Constant Spring" which presents an amalgam of styles including reggaeton productions by the red hot duo Luny/Tunes on the tracks "Johnny" and "Papito" and Latin tinged duets with Don Omar ("Pobre Diablo") and El Medico ("Penicilin"). Another scorching combination "Burnin" features soca sensation Kevin Lyttle. Vegas' long time associate Jamaica's Richard "Shams" Browne produced several tracks including "Million Dollar Baby" and "Slow Wine" while veteran dancehall hit makers Steely and Clevie's Sleepy Dog riddim scampers under Vegas' current Jamaican chart topper, the CDs title track "Constant Spring". Another Jamaican hit that is currently finding popularity throughout Europe is Vegas' self-produced, uncharacteristically contemplative "More Love", his emotive singing lamenting Jamaica's upwardly spiraling crime rate but the song's lyrics are applicable to many troubled territories throughout the world:
"I walk these Kingston streets, everyday a bare a beat/I can't get no sleep all I hear is AKs when they speak/ I walk Spanish town all I hear is people get gunned down, when I look around all I see is bodies on the ground. My shadow's afraid to even walk beside me, my shadow's afraid to even walk this city gun dawg and his friend full the morgue in Kingston city/too many guns in town."
"Crime, violence, war, it affects everyone," Vegas says, "and there is nothing in that song that doesn't relate to what is going on everywhere, especially Kingston. We want this album to be versatile so a Latino person a hip hop person, urban kids or all nationalities will listen to it."
Reflecting the ongoing changes within the music industry, Vegas and his manager Leslie Cooney of the Los Angeles based company Addict Management will be taking a very different approach regarding the release of "Constant Spring": they will not be signing to just one label. "We have found that as an independent artist Vegas can better exploit his appeal in every territory without the expectations and limitations of being signed to one label," says Ms. Cooney. "Instead, we will directly supply his fans with music worldwide and will seek licenses with different labels in their respective territories. Whether by an actual record or digital distribution, if there is a demand for Vegas it can now be met without waiting for the record label machinery to spring into action. We are taking matters in our own hands and Vegas is planning his own future."
And for Mr. Vegas the future appears to be shining even brighter than the flashing neon lights that abound in the Nevada city that is his namesake. www.mr-vegas.com
Haffi Git Da Gal Yah
Mr. Vegas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shut up yuh mouth
Ah my gyal dat, my yute (my boo)
Yow, ah w'appen to you?
Sean Da Paul and Mr. Vegas again
Dutty yo
Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
Well, competition haffi gwan cah me fus
Sight da gyal yah, Jah know seh a war bus
Between Sean Da Paul and Mr. Vegas
Ah which one ah pour di coffee dung in her thermos?
Me haffi get da gyal yah now (man ah gyow, you deh gyow)
She leggo her number pon me (would be di wrong number, yo)
Me beg her for a date (and den she kill you wid di, "No")
Seh, but she still know man ah nuh bait, and man nuh ol' poppy show
Because me haffi make a try, haffi get a bligh
Get the needle eye
I and I nah go romp with no guy
and me haffi make a cruise inna mi rubber shoes
Gyal ah get bruise
Sean Da Paul win and Vegas ah lose
Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay
I and I buck a hot gyal today
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
Ah me alone have the key to her apartment
She only wan' use Vegas fi pay rent
She say she love mi body scent and mi accent
She nuh wan' no likkle bwoy weh jooks with him parents
But you nuh see ah me have the gyal weak?
Woman want a man weh can dweet
She want the loving right trough the weeek
And she nuh wan' no man weh love sleeep
Could you be telling me that I man is a punk?
When seven days ah di week and you nuh stop from get drunk?
Well, I man bun up the chronic ah di highest grade skunk
And charge up mi body 'cause Jah know me nah flunk, hey
Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay
I and I buck a hot gyal today
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay
I and I buck a hot gyal today
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
Well, competition haffi gwan cah me fus
Sight da gyal yah, Jah know seh a war bus
Between Sean Da Paul and Mr. Vegas
Ah which one ah pour di coffee dung in her thermos?
Me haffi get da gyal yah now (man ah gyow, you deh gyow)
She leggo her number pon me (would be di wrong number, yo)
Me beg her for a date (and den she kill you wid di, "No")
But she still know man ah nuh bait, and man nuh ol' poppy show
cah me haffi get a bligh, haffi make a try
Get the needle eye
I and I nah go romp with no guy
and me haffi make a cruise inna mi rubber shoes
Gyal ah get bruise
Sean Da Paul win and Vegas ah lose
Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay
me nuh cater weh you wan' say
La-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
La-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-lay
I and I buck a hot gyal today
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
Ah me alone ah get di keys to her apartment
She only wan' use Vegas fi pay rent
She say she love mi body scent and mi accent
She nuh wan' no likkle bwoy
The song "Haffi Git Da Gal Yah" by Mr. Vegas is about two men, Mr. Vegas and Sean Paul, who are competing for the attention of a woman. The lyrics show the determination of the men to win the woman's heart, through various means such as trying to make her laugh, impressing her with their personality, and making her feel special. The song features a catchy chorus consisting of repeated “Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay” which emphasizes the competition to win the woman. Despite their competition, the men come to realize that the woman cannot be won over by material things or by trying to outdo each other, but rather by being genuine and demonstrating true affection.
The lyrics also highlight some social issues that the artist wants to address. The line "she nuh wan' no likkle bwoy weh jooks with him parents" is a critique of young men who are not independent and rely on their parents for everything. The song implies that women prefer men who can stand on their own two feet and take care of themselves without relying on their parents.
Overall, "Haffi Git Da Gal Yah" is a fun and playful dancehall track with humorous lyrics that addresses issues of love, competition, and independence.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey me and you cyaan' go nowhere, enuh
We can't go anywhere together, stop talking.
Shut up yuh mouth
Be quiet.
Ah my gyal dat, my yute (my boo)
That's my woman, my love.
Yow, ah w'appen to you?
Hey, what's going on with you?
Sean Da Paul and Mr. Vegas again
Sean Paul and Mr. Vegas are back.
Dutty yo
Dirty, you know.
Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay
Sing-song melody to say I met a hot girl.
I and I buck a hot gyal today
I met a hot girl today.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
Sing-song melody to say I need to get that girl.
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
I need to get that girl.
Well, competition haffi gwan cah me fus
Competition has to go because I come first.
Sight da gyal yah, Jah know seh a war bus
Seeing that girl means it's a war.
Between Sean Da Paul and Mr. Vegas
Between Sean Paul and Mr. Vegas.
Ah which one ah pour di coffee dung in her thermos?
Who got the girl first?
Me haffi get da gyal yah now (man ah gyow, you deh gyow)
I need to get that girl now.
She leggo her number pon me (would be di wrong number, yo)
She gave me her number (which would be the wrong number).
Me beg her for a date (and den she kill you wid di, 'No')
I asked her for a date (and then she rejected me with a no).
Seh, but she still know man ah nuh bait, and man nuh ol' poppy show
But she knows I'm not fake, and I don't show off.
Because me haffi make a try, haffi get a bligh
Because I have to try, I have to get a chance.
Get the needle eye
To aim precisely.
I and I nah go romp with no guy
I won't hang out with any guys.
and me haffi make a cruise inna mi rubber shoes
And I have to walk the streets in my sneakers.
Gyal ah get bruise
Girls may get hurt.
Sean Da Paul win and Vegas ah lose
Sean Paul wins and Mr. Vegas loses.
Ah me alone have the key to her apartment
Only I have the key to her apartment.
She only wan' use Vegas fi pay rent
She only wants to use Mr. Vegas to pay her rent.
She say she love mi body scent and mi accent
She says she loves my smell and accent.
She nuh wan' no likkle bwoy weh jooks with him parents
She doesn't want a boy who lives with his parents.
But you nuh see ah me have the gyal weak?
Don't you see that I have her wrapped around my finger?
Woman want a man weh can dweet
A woman wants a man who can handle her.
She want the loving right trough the weeek
She wants loving all week long.
And she nuh wan' no man weh love sleeep
And she doesn't want a man who loves to sleep.
Could you be telling me that I man is a punk?
Are you saying that I am a coward?
When seven days ah di week and you nuh stop from get drunk?
When there are seven days in a week and you never stop drinking?
Well, I man bun up the chronic ah di highest grade skunk
Well, I smoke the best marijuana.
And charge up mi body 'cause Jah know me nah flunk, hey
And it charges up my body because I don't fail.
Tri-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she lay
Sing-song melody to say I met a hot girl.
me nuh cater weh you wan' say
I don't care about what you want to say.
La-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
Sing-song melody to say I need to get that girl.
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
I need to get that girl.
La-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-lay
Sing-song melody to say I met a hot girl.
I and I buck a hot gyal today
I met a hot girl today.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la, boom-boom, she-la
Sing-song melody to say I need to get that girl.
I and I man haffi get da gyal yah
I need to get that girl.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cleveland Browne, Clifford Smith, Sean Henriques, Wycliffe Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind