His output is mostly representative of soca styled reggae, and over the years Shervington gained a reputation as a talented bass guitarist, as well as for his fine vocal interpretations. His output was briefly popular in the UK, despite the fact that his 'patois' was largely unintelligible to most of the British population.
He is remembered for his single "Dat" - about a Rastafarian with a secret liking for pork, contrary to his faith - which achieved considerable chart success internationally in 1976. He got into the Top Twenty in the UK Singles Chart again some six years later, with another best selling cut, entitled "Your Honour". This song dealt with a prisoner's courtroom pleas of innocence, in the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary. The song's somewhat racy nature, and comical styling is in the best traditions of calypso, and many elements of reggae.
In 1974 Shervington engineered Little Roy's album, Tafari Earth Uprising.
Shervington moved from his West Indian homeland in the 1980s, to Miami, Florida. Nevertheless he returned to his roots periodically to perform. He appeared at the St. Kitts Music Festival on Friday 22 June 2007, sharing the bill with Steel Pulse and Sean Paul amongst others. In 2018, when not on tour, Shervington could be found performing solo multiple times a week at the Bahama Breeze restaurant near his home.
Ram Goat Liver
Pluto Shervington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really late but it's not my fault
And when we nearly reach by the terminus
I feel de bus come to a halt
Ee lick a ram goat down a de round-about
but just as if that could not suffice
A bredda run through the bus and start to shout
Ram goat liver good fi mek mannish water
Billy goat teeth mek the earring for you daughter
Curried goat lunch put de bite in your bark
It mek you daughter ... It mek you daughter walk and talk
Well the news spread fast like a telegram
Nobody know whey de goat come from
We raise a pot and a pan from an I-aman
Who sit down dey all along
Two twos and the pot a boil
A head a yam and banana tip
Meanwhile quarters a gwan
Lick me goat and a meeeh tek me sip
Ram goat liver good fi mek mannish water
Billy goat teeth mek the earring for you daughter
Curried goat lunch put de bite in your bark
It mek you daughter ... It mek you daughter walk and talk
Well I pop two belch and never sighed
I tek a walk go outta street
But while I waitin down de road fi bum a ride
I feel a gripe and start I feel very weak
Before too long you no ha fi ask
A runny belly like a judgement day
A everybody in the road a dead wid laugh
Its then I know that crime will never pay
Ram goat liver good fi mek mannish water
Billy goat teeth mek the earring for you daughter
Curried goat lunch put de bite in your bark
It mek you daughter ... It mek you daughter walk and talk
Ram goat liver good fi mek mannish water
Billy goat teeth mek the earring for you daughter
Curried goat lunch put de bite in your bark
It mek you daughter ... It mek you daughter walk and talk
Ram goat liver good fi mek mannish water
Billy goat teeth mek the earring for you daughter
Curried goat lunch put de bite in your bark
It mek you daughter ... It mek you daughter walk and talk
The lyrics in Pluto Shervington's "Ram Goat Liver" portray a scene where the singer is late for his destination but goes on a bus, only for the bus to stop suddenly. The reason for the halt was the goat slaughter on the roundabout. A man goes through the bus and urges others to contribute to buying a pound of rice. The song then transitions to the idea of cooking and consuming the goat meat, with the lyrics mentioning how ram goat liver is good for making mannish water, how billy goat teeth can make earrings, and how curried goat makes one's bark/speech more forceful.
The song reflects Jamaican culture in its emphasis on food and its unique way of cooking goat. Goat meat is a staple in Jamaican cuisine, and dishes such as curried goat and mannish water are popular. The song also touches on the poverty present in the country, with the man urging others to contribute to buying rice. It's an interesting take on how food can bring people together, even in difficult times.
Overall, the song is a fun and lighthearted one that reflects the Jamaican culture and way of life. It's a catchy tune that celebrates the simple pleasures of life, such as good food and good company.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunday gone I jump on a mini bus
I boarded a minibus on Sunday
I really late but it's not my fault
I was running late but it wasn't my fault
And when we nearly reach by the terminus
As we were almost reaching the end of the route
I feel de bus come to a halt
The bus suddenly stopped
Ee lick a ram goat down a de round-about
A ram goat was hit by a car on a roundabout
but just as if that could not suffice
As if that wasn't enough
A bredda run through the bus and start to shout
Someone ran through the bus and started shouting
You shoulda dead mek we buy a pound a rice
We should have been able to buy a pound of rice with the goat's meat
Well the news spread fast like a telegram
The news of what happened spread quickly
Nobody know whey de goat come from
No one knows where the goat came from
We raise a pot and a pan from an I-aman
We borrowed a cooking pot and pan from a Rastafarian
Who sit down dey all along
Who was sitting there the whole time
Two twos and the pot a boil
Soon after, the pot started boiling
A head a yam and banana tip
We had some yam and banana
Meanwhile quarters a gwan
We were cooking the goat's meat
Lick me goat and a meeeh tek me sip
I was sipping a drink while the goat was being cooked
Well I pop two belch and never sighed
I burped twice without any discomfort
I tek a walk go outta street
I took a walk outside
But while I waitin down de road fi bum a ride
While I was waiting by the road to hitchhike
I feel a gripe and start I feel very weak
I suddenly felt a stomach ache and weakness
Before too long you no ha fi ask
It didn't take long for the inevitable to happen
A runny belly like a judgement day
I had diarrhea like it was judgment day
A everybody in the road a dead wid laugh
Everyone on the road was laughing out loud
Its then I know that crime will never pay
That's when I realized that taking something that doesn't belong to you will never end well
Ram goat liver good fi mek mannish water
Ram goat liver is good for making mannish water (a spicy soup)
Billy goat teeth mek the earring for you daughter
You can make earrings out of Billy goat's teeth for your daughter
Curried goat lunch put de bite in your bark
Curried goat lunch is so delicious it will make you speak confidently
It mek you daughter ... It mek you daughter walk and talk
It will even make your daughter walk and talk with confidence
Contributed by Elena I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chukkachick1879
Still, after so many decades, I cannot listen to the lyrics without collapsing with laughter. 😂😂😂💙💙🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
@karlhenry9031
R.I.P Pluto Shervington ! You were one of Jamaica’s most talented songwriters. Your play with words were legendary.
@christine85571
R.I.P. Pluto. இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—
Leighton Shervington. ❤💛💚
13 August 1950 - 19 January 2024.
@Dee3Jay
Condolences to you and your family and friends!
@oshanegrant8494
This song will live on long after his passing RIP
@brendonshaw5881
He just passed today. R.I.P. Pluto.
@justincredible1990
RIP to a true legend
@mikeandrews5335
RIP to Pluto. He was such a bright spot with his performances in Miami and South Florida.
@jacquelinehall6293
Hear how dem song ya mix...
How we can't forget them...2023🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
@anjee.3261
Thank you for your service to reggae music..... Rest in Peace Mr Shervington🙏🏿❤️