Wallace Wilson AKA Red Rat was born January 17th into a musical family in t… Read Full Bio ↴Wallace Wilson AKA Red Rat was born January 17th into a musical family in tourist area of St. Anns Bay, Jamaica. Incredibly, his first performance was at the age of four, "My brothers used to play in the hotels. They called me onstage and I started singing a Michael Jackson song, yeah 'ABC!' The audience went wild and Red Rat was hooked.
Red Rat's recording debut "Can't Live Without You" with his brother's band brought him to the attention of Danny Browne the producer/musician CEO of Main Street Records. Impressed by the young performer's musical abilities and natural stage charisma, Browne mentored Red Rat allowing him to nurture his talent and gain valuable experience alongside Main Street artists such as General Degree, Buccaneer and Papa San.

While still in school Red Rat recorded his first single "Itsy Bitsy" for Browne's Main Street Records, however on his father's insistence he decided to put his career on hold until completing his education. In 1996 after graduating from Meadowbrook High Red Rat under the watchful eye of Browne moved full steam ahead releasing a string of hit singles including "Shelly-Ann" and "Dwayne" that catapulted him to the top of Reggae charts Worldwide while showcasing his unmistakable voice, unique sense of humor and his unforgettable trademark "Oh-No!"
Red Rat's debut album "Oh No....It's Red Rat!" quickly became one of Greensleeves Records greatest selling with hits such as "Tight Up Skirt", "Cruise" (featured in the movie 'The Big Hit') and "Big Man Little Yute" with fellow Main Street artist Goofy. The album's success, steady radio play and demand for his outrageous live performances led to shows all over the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and beyond.

"I'm a Big Kid Now" followed in 1999 with yet more hits and critical acclaim. His musical diversity and mainstream popularity led to a series of collaborations with artists such as Treach of Naughty by Nature, Kele Le Roc, Renee from Zhane, NEXT and British icons Groove Armada. Especially close to Red Rat's heart was a poem by Tupac that he arranged and performed for a tribute CD. Following the success of his sophomore album Red Rat decided to take a break from recording to spend time with his daughter Taiye while producing other artists.
The buzz from fans anticipating a new album inspired Red Rat to return to the studio where he hit upon a winning formula, combining dancehall flavors with a more commercial sound. Red Rat and manager Delroy Escoffery of D'Empire Management formed Rat-A-Kastle Records and immediately began recording new tracks in The Netherlands, Germany, the U.K., Jamaica and the U.S. with chart-topping producers including Salaam Remi, Kay Gee, Cool and Dre and Curtis Lynch Jnr. Red Rat has once again redefined his style with a new chic look, a crisp attitude, and a sizzling new website redrat.com ·

Shelly Ann
Red Rat Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You see that girl Shelly Ann
Yes, that same one with the big forehead
Duck foot, cock bottom, dry head gyal

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon

Oh no, oh no

Me hear seh man ah meet her, ever out inna car
Slam her fi 7 Up, Buckingham, and Pep Up
Me hear she love roam, go blow nuff trombone
If you have her inna night, well a instant light
Lord, it's a sin, dem call her clothes pin
Just squeeze her head and her legs dem open
You know Buccaneer, don't have no fear
You will get Shelly Ann, anytime, anywhere
Oh no

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon

Me hear she stay certain way, ah tek ten man a day
All 'ductor in there a collect dem bus fare
You nuh haffi go far if you wan fi get her
Don't worry, buy her a Tastee's patty
From she ah go school she ah say, ah she rule
And she just ah tek man and ah go through
'Til man all ah chat, ah wonder what she got
Every damn day she ah catch flu
Oh no, oh no

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon
Oh no, oh no

Unuh don't laugh, enuh?
Because Shelly Ann was a nice likkle girl
Weh go school, and study her book, and go church
If her mother did ever know, she'd ah beat her
Oh no

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon
Oh no

She go ah dance with Tom and lef' with Dick
And inna di morning she wake up Harry
Now Tom, and Dick, and Harry, don't sorry
'Cause she lef' the likkle jacket with Barry
Don't laugh, don't laugh

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon
Oh no

Me hear say man ah meet her ever out inna car
Slam her fi 7 Up, Buckingham, and Pep Up
Me hear she love roam, go blow nuff trombone
If you have her inna night, well a instant light
Lord, it's a sin, dem call her clothes pin
Just squeeze her head and her legs dem open
You know Buccaneer, don't have no fear
Inna yuh bedroom, she shall be there
That girl you see

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Oh no, oh no

Don't laugh after her y'ah people
She's a nice girl

But, she stay certain way, ah tek ten man a day
All 'ductor in there a collect dem bus fare
You nuh haffi go far if you wan fi get her
Don't worry, buy her a Tastee's patty
From she ah go school she ah say, ah she rule
And she just ah tek man and ah go through
'Til man all ah chat, ah wonder what she got
Every damn day she ah catch flu

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Bleach at night time and nuh have no bed fi sleep on
That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Woii people, mi voice tired like di gyal Shelly Ann
Ne-ne, woii

Next time me'll tell unnuh 'bout her again, bye-bye
That girl

Overall Meaning

Red Rat's song "Shelly Ann" is a controversial dancehall track that focuses on the character of a young woman named Shelly Ann. Red Rat talks about Shelly Ann's physical features like her big forehead, cock bottom, and dry head gyal in the first verse of the song. He also mentions that she behaves like she's nice and has a lot of men. In the second verse, he goes on to tell the story of how men meet her outside and pay her with soft drinks like 7 Up, Buckingham, and Pep Up.

Red Rat accuses Shelly Ann of having multiple partners and sleeping with transport conductors for bus fare. He claims that she has no real job and survives by accepting gifts and food from men. He also goes on to say that Shelly Ann goes to school but still goes through men like they're nothing. The chorus of the song repeats the phrases, "that girl Shelly Ann, she gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man, bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon." Red Rat ends the song by asking people not to laugh at Shelly Ann because she's a nice girl, despite her behavior.

Line by Line Meaning

You see that girl Shelly Ann
Red Rat is drawing attention to Shelly Ann and directing the listener's focus to her.

Yes, that same one with the big forehead
This line provides a description of Shelly Ann's physical appearance, specifically emphasizing her large forehead.

Duck foot, cock bottom, dry head gyal
These lines add to Shelly Ann's physical description using derogatory language that suggests she is unattractive.

That girl, that girl Shelly Ann
Red Rat repeats Shelly Ann's name to reinforce who he is talking about.

She gwan like she nice and have one bag ah man
Red Rat is accusing Shelly Ann of being arrogant and promiscuous.

Bleach ah nighttime and nuh have no bed fi sleep pon
This line implies that Shelly Ann spends her nights bleaching her skin and doesn't have anywhere to sleep.

Me hear seh man ah meet her, ever out inna car
Red Rat has heard that Shelly Ann meets men in cars.

Slam her fi 7 Up, Buckingham, and Pep Up
Red Rat is using code language to say that Shelly Ann engages in sexual activity with men in cars.

Me hear she love roam, go blow nuff trombone
This line implies that Shelly Ann is promiscuous and sleeps around a lot.

If you have her inna night, well a instant light
Red Rat is suggesting that Shelly Ann is quick to engage in sexual activity with men at night.

Lord, it's a sin, dem call her clothes pin
Red Rat is using derogatory language to suggest that Shelly Ann is promiscuous and has loose morals.

Just squeeze her head and her legs dem open
Red Rat is making another derogatory comment about Shelly Ann's sexual behavior and suggesting that she is easy to seduce.

You know Buccaneer, don't have no fear
Red Rat is suggesting that Shelly Ann is easy to seduce and that even someone like Buccaneer shouldn't be intimidated by her.

She go ah dance with Tom and lef' with Dick
This line implies that Shelly Ann is promiscuous and sleeps around a lot.

And inna di morning she wake up Harry
Red Rat is making a pun with Harry's name to suggest that Shelly Ann sleeps around a lot and wakes up next to different men.

Don't laugh after her y'ah people
Red Rat is urging his listeners not to mock or judge Shelly Ann.

She's a nice girl
Red Rat is contradicting everything he said before and suggesting that Shelly Ann is actually a good person despite rumors about her behavior.

But, she stay certain way, ah tek ten man a day
After previously saying Shelly Ann is a good person, Red Rat reverts back to accusing her of promiscuity.

All 'ductor in there a collect dem bus fare
This line implies that Shelly Ann is so promiscuous that even bus drivers have slept with her.

You nuh haffi go far if you wan fi get her
Red Rat is suggesting that Shelly Ann is easy to seduce and that men don't need to go far to find her.

Don't worry, buy her a Tastee's patty
This is a sarcastic comment on how easy it is to get with Shelly Ann.

From she ah go school she ah say, ah she rule
This line implies that Shelly Ann thinks she is superior to others and that she dominates those around her.

And she just ah tek man and ah go through
Red Rat is accusing Shelly Ann of being promiscuous and having multiple sexual partners.

'Til man all ah chat, ah wonder what she got
This line implies that Shelly Ann has a reputation for being promiscuous and that men speculate about her sexual health.

Every damn day she ah catch flu
Red Rat is using a metaphor to imply that Shelly Ann is constantly engaging in sexual activity and exposing herself to sexually transmitted diseases.

Woii people, mi voice tired like di gyal Shelly Ann
Red Rat is making a joke that his voice is tired from singing about Shelly Ann, implying that she is notorious and well-known in the community.

Next time me'll tell unnuh 'bout her again, bye-bye
Red Rat is ending the song by suggesting that he will continue to talk about Shelly Ann in his music.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Haldane Wayne Browne, Lucien Dixon, Wallace Whigfield Wilson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS