BIOGRAPHY
Shirley was born on July 18, 1944, and grew up in Trench Town, and began his career performing in talent contests. After early recordings for producer Simeon L. Smith went unreleased, he moved on to work with Leslie Kong, who released his debut single "Oh Shirley", co-arranged with his friend Jimmy Cliff, giving him a hit in 1965. Shirley then formed The Leaders along with Ken Boothe, Joe White, and Chuck Josephs. This group was unsuccessful, but Shirley went on to join Slim Smith and Franklyn White in the original line-up of The Uniques. When this line-up folded, Shirley recorded "Hold Them" in 1966, credited as one of the first rocksteady songs, and inspired by the beat from a Salvation Army band. Shirley attempted to perform "Hold Them" to a ska beat, but unable to make it work, slowed down the rhythm. He initially attempted to record the song with Slim Smith and Ken Boothe for producer Joe Gibbs, but it didn't work out, with the other singers struggling to break away from the ska style, and Gladstone Anderson suggested to Gibbs that Shirley perform the song solo. The song became a massive hit in Jamaica, and Shirley recorded several more singles for Gibbs, including "Dance The Arena", "The World Needs Love", and "Music Is The Key", but these failed to match the success of the first single. Shirley moved on to work with Bunny Lee giving the producer his first hit with "Music Field", which was followed by others such as "Get on the Ball". Shirley's style draws heavily from American soul singers such as Solomon Burke. He became renowned for his ecstatic stage performances, often performing wearing a long silver cape with a high collar, and was described by the Jamaica Observer as "perhaps the most comedic performer to evolve out of Jamaican popular music". In late 1968, Shirley set up his own Public label and began self-production, releasing tracks such as "Prophecy Fulfilling", "Flying Reggae", and "On Board".
Shirley had another big hit in 1971 with "A Sugar" for Randy's. He toured the United Kingdom in 1972 with U-Roy and Max Romeo, and became based in the UK from 1973, setting up his All Stars Artistic Federated Union in 1976, with the aim of helping other artists to avoid some of the pitfalls of the music business. He released his first album in 1976, with The Winner. He performed at Reggae Sunsplash in 1982, and was included on the album of performances from the festival. Shirley opened a record shop in Dalston, London, and in his later years he set up the British Universal Talent Development Association, with the aim of supporting talented but underprivileged youngsters. He continued to perform occasionally, and his last show was at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in June 2008.
Roy Shirley died at his home in Thamesmead, London in July 2008, aged 63. A memorial concert was held on 30 August, featuring performances from the likes of Derrick Morgan, Dennis Alcapone, BB Seaton, and Michael Prophet. His body was returned to Jamaica with the assistance of the Jamaican government, where he was buried and where a memorial service was held, attended by musicians including Ken Boothe and Dwight Pinkney and representatives of the government.
Feel Good
Roy Shirley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I move those feet
Feel good, feel good
My left and right, east and west
Believe me, believe me
Are we this close?
Believe me, believe me
I get in the groove
I move those feet
Feel good, feel good
I get in the groove
I move those feet
Feel good, feel good
Feel good, feel good, no
Believe me, believe me
No, no, no, no
No, no, no, no
Oh, your best friend is back in on again
To get you on your dancing feet
Hold them right and left now
Ma, ma, ma, ma, my-my-my-my
Oh, can't you see that I'm down on my knees?
I need your helping hand right now
Believe me, believe me
No, no, no, no
No, no, no, no
Oh, your best friend is back in on again
To get you on your dancing feet
No, no, no, no
Believe me, believe me
Feel good, feel good, feel good
Hold them, holding them
Hold them, hold them
Them, them, them, them
Them, them
Now, now, now
Hold them right now
Roy Shirley's song "Feel Good" exudes the joy and exhilaration that one feels when they are dancing to their favorite music. The song is all about getting in the groove and moving your feet to the beat of the music. Shirley uses his strong, emotive voice to convey the feeling of being fully immersed in the music, and how it can make you feel alive and connected to the world around you.
The lyrics reflect Shirley's deep understanding of how music can impact people on a primal level. He sings about the left and right, the east and west, and how the bass and song work together to create a feeling of unity and harmony. The repetition of the phrase "feel good" reinforces the idea that the act of dancing can be a transformative experience that brings pleasure and happiness to those who participate in it.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as Shirley repeats the phrase "believe me" several times. This is a plea to the listener to trust in the power of music and its ability to bring people together. By the end of the song, Shirley is practically shouting the words "feel good" in an effort to inspire his audience to let go of their inhibitions and fully embrace the moment.
Overall, "Feel Good" is a song that celebrates the power of music and how it can transform people's lives. It is a deeply emotional piece of music that speaks to the way that dancing and music can bring people together and create a sense of joy and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
I get in the groove
I find the rhythm and start to move accordingly
I move those feet
I dance with my feet to the beat of the music
Feel good, feel good
This experience brings me joy and happiness
My left and right, east and west
All parts of me (both physically and metaphorically) are in sync and going in the same direction
Believe me, believe me
Trust that what I am saying is true
Are we this close?
Do you feel the same way I do, are we connected?
The bass and song
The underlying, rhythmic structure of the music and accompanying melody
Oh, your best friend is back in on again
I am here once again to prompt and encourage you to dance
To get you on your dancing feet
I want you to join me in this joyful activity
Hold them right and left now
Move your feet and body in coordination with the music
Ma, ma, ma, ma, my-my-my-my
Expressing enthusiasm and enjoyment
Oh, can't you see that I'm down on my knees?
I am pleading with you to join me in this activity
I need your helping hand right now
I want your support and companionship in this shared, joyful experience
No, no, no, no
Expressing mild frustration or disappointment
Feel good, feel good, feel good
This activity and experience is so pleasurable and enjoyable that I experience it multiple times
Hold them, holding them
Continue to move in rhythm with the music
Them, them, them, them
Referring to the beat of the music or dance steps
Now, now, now
Implying a sense of immediacy; let's not waste any more time, let's dance together now
Hold them right now
Emphasizing the importance of continued, immediate movement to the beat
Writer(s): R. Shirley
Contributed by Jasmine M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Long Mout
on Bright Life
Seh dis
seh dis
seh dis
seh dis is what we got to learn
seh dis
seh dis
seh dis
seh dis is what we got to learn
spread your bed rough
you will lay down in hard bed
line it with something
that will make it a bed
a dis
a dis
a dis
a dis is what we got to learn
seh dis
seh dis
seh dis
seh dis is what we got to learn
now mankind
keep from troubles and danger
the good you do
you will find them someday
girls and boys
love your father and mother
life is something
only on time is given
a dis
a dis
a dis
a dis is what we got to learn
a dis
a dis
a dis
a dis is what we got to learn
girls and boys
love your father and mother
spread your bed rough
you will lay down in hard bed