Island Lover
Shaggy Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

A man don't know what him have until him lose it
And when she gone it's like he don't know what lick him
She get a Island lover, fi kiss her up under cover
What Shaggy tell them

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover
Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover

Man have him woman from oh so long
She give him whole heap of loving and satisfaction
She never ever set eye pon a next man
Support you when you down and even held your hand
Well she is the mother of your child and the lady in your life
With the ring upon her finger represents that she is your wife
Why you want to mistreat her and torment her life
Like you really don't believe she leave you for another guy
She wants a

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover
Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover

She cannot take it no more she's got one foot trough the door
Need some time by herself she feeling so insecure
She decide she's gonna venture on an island tour
Jamaica! Island of the sunny outdoors
So she could walk along the beach and relax along the shore
With her sun baked skin, but her heart was sore
Stumbled on an island lover wita coconut cure
Put a smile on her face and let her feelings pour
She wants a

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover
Island lover (mm)
To kiss and caress her under cover

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover (he, he)
Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover

Now what's his name? Dexter St. Jack
A Joe Grin with a funky dread locks
"Hello!" with that real low tone
And a raw Jamaican accent make her poor heart foam
She forgot about the problems that she had at home
The night was young it was eight o' four
Reggae music it a lick and she was bored no more
All what de pan her mind she hope to God that she score
She get love sick and island lover was the cure
She wants a

Island lover (uh)
To kiss and caress her under cover (rub a dub style)
Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover

A man don't know what he has until that glorious day
When she says she's gonna leave him and he says "no way"
Take a vacation be back in a few days
You a think 'bout all the girls you'll have while she is away
What is it one, or two, or three, or four, or five in a day
Is it Suzi, Beverly, or is it Angie or Faye
Well I'm your island lover upon your girl's parkway
Inside my love canoe she spends her night and day
You think she getting played but she is getting laid
And now the both of us together damn we got it made
We are a

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover (hey)
Island lover (mm)
To kiss and caress her under cover

Now what a beautiful girl like you doing in a place all alone like this
If I was your man I'd be making love to you constantly
With a figure like that you should be on top of my dresser like a figure
Mm, lovely

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover (mmm)
Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover (girl)

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under, rub a dub style, yeah, he, he
Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover

Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover (cover me now girl)
Island lover (hey)
To kiss and caress her under cover





Island lover
To kiss and caress her under cover

Overall Meaning

The song "Island Lover" is about a man who takes his partner for granted, only to realize what he's lost when she leaves him for an island lover. Shaggy sings about how a man may not realize what he has until it's gone, and how his woman had been there all along but he never appreciated her enough. She was always faithful and supported him through hard times, but he still treated her poorly. When she finally leaves, he regrets his actions but it's too late. The woman ends up finding love with an island man who treats her the way she deserves. Shaggy tells the story from the perspective of the new island lover, who is happy to offer her the love and attention she desires.


The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is tired of feeling unappreciated, and sets out to find someone who will love and care for her. Although she finds love with someone else, it seems that the man still wishes he had treated her better before it was too late. The song serves as a reminder to cherish the ones we love, because we never know how much they mean to us until they're gone.


Line by Line Meaning

A man don't know what him have until him lose it
Men don't realize what they have until they have lost it


And when she gone it's like he don't know what lick him
When she is gone, he doesn't know what hit him


She get a Island lover, fi kiss her up under cover
She has found an island lover to kiss and caress her in secret


What Shaggy tell them
Shaggy is telling everyone about an island lover


Island lover
The song's subject is an island lover


To kiss and caress her under cover
The island lover is discreetly kissing and caressing her


Man have him woman from oh so long
The man has had his woman for a very long time


She give him whole heap of loving and satisfaction
She has given him lots of love and satisfaction


She never ever set eye pon a next man
She has never looked at another man


Support you when you down and even held your hand
She has supported him when he was down and even held his hand


Well she is the mother of your child and the lady in your life
She is the mother of his child and the most important woman in his life


With the ring upon her finger represents that she is your wife
The ring on her finger represents that she is his wife


Why you want to mistreat her and torment her life
Why would he want to mistreat and torment her life


Like you really don't believe she leave you for another guy
It's as if he doesn't believe that she would leave him for another man


She wants a
She is looking for


She cannot take it no more she's got one foot trough the door
She can't take it anymore and is ready to leave


Need some time by herself she feeling so insecure
She needs time to herself and is feeling very insecure


She decide she's gonna venture on an island tour
She has decided to take a vacation to an island


Jamaica! Island of the sunny outdoors
She has gone to Jamaica, an island with sunny outdoors


So she could walk along the beach and relax along the shore
She wants to relax on the beach and shore


With her sun baked skin, but her heart was sore
She has gotten sunburnt, but her heart is still hurt


Stumbled on an island lover wita coconut cure
She meets an island lover with a coconut cure


Put a smile on her face and let her feelings pour
He puts a smile on her face and lets her express her feelings


Now what's his name? Dexter St. Jack
The island lover's name is Dexter St. Jack


A Joe Grin with a funky dread locks
He has a funky dreadlocks hairstyle and is always grinning


"Hello!" with that real low tone
"Hello!" in a deep, low tone of voice


And a raw Jamaican accent make her poor heart foam
His raw Jamaican accent makes her heart flutter


She forgot about the problems that she had at home
She forgets about the problems she had at home


The night was young it was eight o' four
It's early in the night, only 8:04 pm


Reggae music it a lick and she was bored no more
She is no longer bored when the reggae music starts playing


All what de pan her mind she hope to God that she score
She is hoping to have a good time tonight


She get love sick and island lover was the cure
She falls in love with the island lover and he cures her loneliness


Now what a beautiful girl like you doing in a place all alone like this
The island lover asks the beautiful girl what she is doing alone in this place


If I was your man I'd be making love to you constantly
If he were her man, he would be constantly making love to her


With a figure like that you should be on top of my dresser like a figure
He notes her beautiful figure and suggests she should be displayed like a figurine on top of his dresser


Mm, lovely
He finds her lovely


Now what's his name? Dexter St. Jack
The island lover's name is Dexter St. Jack


A Joe Grin with a funky dread locks
He has a funky dreadlocks hairstyle and is always grinning


"Hello!" with that real low tone
"Hello!" in a deep, low tone of voice


And a raw Jamaican accent make her poor heart foam
His raw Jamaican accent makes her heart flutter


Island lover
The song's subject is an island lover


To kiss and caress her under, rub a dub style, yeah, he, he
The island lover is discreetly kissing and caressing her with a rhythmic reggae beat


Cover me now girl
He tells the girl to cover herself




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ORVILLE BURRELL, ROBERT ZAPATA, ROBERT MCDONALD LIVINGSTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Circle of Masks Productions

This whole album was great! I'm glad he won a grammy for it.

Riogi

Shaggy is a true talent. My Mom heard this song the first time and smiled in joy.

lori wise

Playing This at my funeral

ScottyBearLoves SweetieJoy

Thanks SO MUCH!!!! Have been looking for this song forEVER!!!!!!!!!

Leshell Thomas

Yes !!!!

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