Queen Ifrica joined the Flames Production camp in 1998 when, at a show in honour of the late Garnett Silk, Tony Rebel hearing the clean vocals and the unmistakable quality of her performance, asked her to join the Flames camp. Since then, she has worked her way up to being one of the premier female cultural reggae artists in the business. Queen’s stage craft, her repertoire, and her total artist development have bloomed over the years, ultimately making her into a staple in cultural reggae events around the world.
Queen has had several of her recordings become a staple on the airwaves, from the ever popular “Randy” to “Boxers and Stockings”. Queen Ifrica’s music resonates with conscious, purifying energy. She remains grounded in her way of life, her community and her children. She has a strong social consciousness, supporting her words with actions by being an active participant in several community outreach activities. Included in this is her work on the Committee for Community in the heart of Kingston’s inner-city, particularly the S-Corner community in Kingston 13. The United Nations’ celebration of the Year of the Volunteers in 2001 saw her teaming with Tony Rebel and others to deliver a song recognized by the United Nations as a gem.
With her haunting melodies, clear sound and fluid delivery, Queen Ifrica sets out to be a force to be reckoned with, creating timeless rebel music in the ilk of her father Derrick Morgan, Garnett Silk, Nina Simone and Miriam Mackeba. Her aspiration is to make music that lives on.
Keep It to Yourself
Queen Ifrica Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yu got to make it better
Fi the youths dem future yu know
Wi can sit down an a gawn
Like say wi nuh si say
Someting kind a go wrong still
And wi nah talk, to the world
Got to make it better again, hey
Chorus:
Yu feel like a bad man (Keep it to yu self)
Doan bring it to Jamaican (Keep it to yu self)
We nuh want dat a jamrock (Keep it to yu self)
Wi can't tek no more slackness (hear dis)
Verse 1:
Yu can change di laws of man
But yu can't change di laws of god
So if dem nocking a big glass dem glad
Wan wi fi change a must mad dem mad
Somebody tell mi what is happening
A don't want no fish inna mi Ital dish
To see mi son become a father
Mi greatest wish
Di situation kinda very ticklish
But everybody fed up from parish to parish
(Yes) and to whom it may concern
A nuh dat deh way wi want di table fi turn
As a citizen wi got a lot of concern
Di truth is a nuh dat. Wi want wi chrilden dem, fi learn
Chorus
Verse 2:
Yu fi multiply an replenish di Earth
An dats why di woman labor inna child birth
Mi nuh want si mi brother Dress up inna no skirt
An mi sister nuh fi mek lift up her skirt
As a nation nuh matter what wi put god first
If yu pass eighteen issa blessing not a curse
Lighting an thunder Bown fi mek di cloud burse
A just di water from
Di Sugar Cane can quench nany thirst
(Yes) and to whome it may concern
A nuh dat deh way wi want di table fi turn
As a citizen wi got a lot of concern
Di truth is a nuh dat. Wi want wi chrilden dem, fi learn
Chorus
Verse 1
Chorus
Verse 2
Chorus
Queen Ifrica's song "Keep It To Yourself" is a plea for individuals to keep their negative actions to themselves and not bring them to Jamaica. The song specifically references the need to improve conditions for youth in Jamaica and to ensure a better future for them. The intro sets the tone for the song by stating that something is going wrong, and it needs to be fixed.
The song then moves into a chorus that repeatedly urges individuals to keep their negativity to themselves. The message is that Jamaica cannot take any more slackness, and the people need to work together to make it a better place.
The first verse explores the idea that laws can be changed but that the laws of God cannot. The lyrics suggest that people are glad to break the law and that it is madness. Queen Ifrica then goes on to state that they don't want fish in their food and that seeing their son become a father is their greatest wish. The verse concludes with the idea that everyone is fed up, and it's time for citizens to have a lot of concern and teach their children.
The second verse explains that individuals need to multiply and replenish the earth and that women should be respected during labor. The lyrics discuss the importance of putting God first and that passing eighteen is a blessing. Queen Ifrica then highlights that the water from the sugar cane can quench any thirst. The verse concludes with the same message as the first verse, stating that citizens want their children to learn and that the table needs to turn.
Line by Line Meaning
Yu got to make it better
It is essential to improve the current situation
Fi the youths dem future yu know
This is for the benefit of future generations
Wi can sit down an a gawn
We shouldn't be passive and indifferent
Like say wi nuh si say
We can't ignore what's going on around us
Someting kind a go wrong still
Something is not right
And wi nah talk, to the world
We are not expressing our concerns to others
Got to make it better again, hey
We have to address and fix the problems
Yu feel like a bad man (Keep it to yu self)
If you have negative thoughts or actions, don't spread them
Doan bring it to Jamaican (Keep it to yu self)
Jamaica doesn't need negativity
We nuh want dat a jamrock (Keep it to yu self)
We don't welcome negativity in our country
Wi can't tek no more slackness (hear dis)
We cannot tolerate any more foolishness
Yu can change di laws of man
Human laws can be altered
But yu can't change di laws of god
God's laws are unchangeable
So if dem nocking a big glass dem glad
If they are breaking the rules and getting away with it, they will continue
Wan wi fi change a must mad dem mad
If we try to make a change, they will resist
Somebody tell mi what is happening
Please explain the current situation
A don't want no fish inna mi Ital dish
I don't want any contamination or impurity in my food
To see mi son become a father
My greatest wish is to witness my son becoming a parent
Mi greatest wish
The thing I want most
Di situation kinda very ticklish
The situation is very delicate and challenging
But everybody fed up from parish to parish
People are tired and frustrated everywhere
(Yes) and to whom it may concern
This is addressed to those who need to hear it
A nuh dat deh way wi want di table fi turn
This is not the direction we want to go in
As a citizen wi got a lot of concern
As residents, we have many worries
Di truth is a nuh dat.
The reality is not that
Wi want wi chrilden dem, fi learn
We want our children to learn better things
Yu fi multiply an replenish di Earth
We should populate the earth
An dats why di woman labor inna child birth
That's why women give birth
Mi nuh want si mi brother Dress up inna no skirt
I don't want to see my brother wearing clothes meant for women
An mi sister nuh fi mek lift up her skirt
And my sister shouldn't let anyone take advantage of her
As a nation nuh matter what wi put god first
As a country, we should give priority to our belief in God
If yu pass eighteen issa blessing not a curse
Turning eighteen should be seen as a positive thing
Lighting an thunder Bown fi mek di cloud burse
Thunder and lighting will make it rain
A just di water from Di Sugar Cane can quench nany thirst
We have the natural resources to meet our needs
Contributed by Daniel H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.