Sly & Robbie may well be the most prolific recording artists ever. One stag… Read Full Bio ↴Sly & Robbie may well be the most prolific recording artists ever. One staggering estimate is that they have played on or produced some 200,000 songs. Sly & Robbie are reggae's longest lasting production team. The rhythm section of drummer Lowell Dunbar (nicknamed Sly after Sly Stone, one of his favorite musicians) and bass guitarist Robert Shakespeare started working together in the mid 1970s, after having established themselves separately on the Jamaican music scene.

Before joining forces, Sly was drumming for the Skin Flesh and Bones band and Robbie was the bass player for the Aggrovators. They also used to play in clubs (Sly at Tit for Tat and Robbie at Evil People), and used to check each other out. They found out that they had the same ideas about music in general (both are huge fans of Motown, Philly Sound and Country & Western, in addition to Jamaican legendary labels Studio One and Treasure Isle), and Reggae production in particular. They first worked together for the newly created Channel One label and studio, operated by the Hoo Kim brothers.

They changed the face of Reggae several times: in 1976, they introduced a harder beat called "Rockers", which quickly replaced the then prevalent "One drop" style, then introduced the "rub a dub" sound in the early 1980s. Sly and Robbie were important in developing the trend towards computer assisted music and programmming in the mid 1980s.

Also in the early 1990s they introduced a novel sound with the hits "Bam Bam" and "Murder She Wrote" by Chaka Demus & Pliers. Chaka Demus' rough DJ vocals were matched with Pliers' sweet, melodic, soul-influenced singing; this unusal vocal pairing was championed by Sly and Robbie. This formula has since been used with great success by the likes of Shaggy (who teamed up with singers Rayvon or Rik Rok), Shabba Ranks, Maxi Priest and others. This predates and may have influenced the recent trend in some rap music where a song's "hook" or chorus is sung by a guest, while the verses are rapped.

Sly & Robbie continued to innovate during the 1990s and early 2000s, fusing Dancehall and Latin music sounds (La Trenggae) or Dancehall and hip hop/R&B (their 2004 Big Up riddim). In 2001, their "Strip to the Bone" album paired them with electro producer Howie B, and together they explored new dub territories.

Far from restricting themselves to the Jamaican scene, (in which they have played for virtually every prominent Jamaican musical artist from Beenie Man to Sean Paul to Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and others), they have been one of pop music's most sought after rhythm sections, playing for and producing superstars such as Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Joan Armatrading, Gilberto Gil, Joe Cocker, Serge Gainsbourg, Simply Red, Michael Franti, Sting, Khaled, Tricky, Doug E. Fresh, Carlos Santana, Sinéad O'Connor, and many more.

They have produced No Doubt's hits 'Hey Baby' and 'Underneath it All'. They also produced some tracks off Suggs first album 'The Lone Ranger' including the hit version of Cecilia featuring Louchie Lou and Michie One which sold over 500,000 copies in the UK alone.

After 30 years together, they still tour and record relentlessly. Their last US tour was with Tony Rebel and Half Pint, during the Spring of 2005. During the Summer of 2005, they toured Europe and the UK with Bunny Rugs, lead singer for Third World. During the Fall of 2005 they were on the road with Sinéad O'Connor and in August 2006, they appeared with Don Carlos at the Reggae on the River Festival, while they backed Cherine and Queen Ifrica in 2007 and early 2008.

They have produced several new Jamaican artists for their TAXI label, including Kibaki, Mynimoo and Zennlocc, as well as confirmed superstars such as Elephant Man. They have also recorded with their original group, the Revolutionaries, to produce Horace Andy's new album "Livin' it up" (2007). They recently signed the lovers rock sensation Bitty McLean to their TAXI label and are planning to release "MOVIN' ON", Bitty's new album, during 2008.

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Shine Eye Gal
Sly & Robbie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

I arise early looking some tea, rise early
Looking for the daughter but she noh on ya
I take a walk down the street
De gal deh pan corner weh push mouth lorna
And her bed no spread

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

The next day she want I to take a route
Take her to the beach party
Feeling everything would be irie
Wrinkles on her face
Like the things Ive done she don't appreciate

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

She wants wants have noh when she really really getty
Rastafari Know she cant take it
She said natty turn off your light
Give me dreadlock whe you give me first night
So I say

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sly & Robbie's song "Shine Eye Gal" describe the troubles that come with being involved with a woman who is always looking for trouble. The opening lines of the song sets the mood as the singer wakes up early looking for his partner but she's nowhere to be found. He eventually finds her on the street corner with her friends, and her actions show that she is no stranger to causing drama.

The next day, she wants the singer to take her to a beach party, thinking everything will be "irie" despite her facial wrinkles showing signs of aging. The singer realizes that despite his efforts, the woman doesn't seem to appreciate him, and instead just wants to cause trouble. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the woman is a "shine eye gal" - someone always on the lookout for the next best thing, and causes trouble wherever she goes.

The lyrics of "Shine Eye Gal" are a commentary on the destructive nature of being involved with someone who is always on the lookout for something better. The song can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about how easily one can get caught up in a toxic relationship, ultimately causing problems and heartbreak.

Line by Line Meaning

Shine eye gal is a trouble to a man
Repeating that the shine eye gal is causing problems for the man.

I arise early looking some tea, rise early
The man wakes up early in search of peace and calm, which he hopes to find with a cup of tea.

Looking for the daughter but she noh on ya
He’s searching for someone he can’t find, a woman known as the daughter.

I take a walk down the street, De gal deh pan corner weh push mouth lorna
He goes for a walk on the street and comes across a woman with loose lips on the corner.

And her bed no spread
The woman is too busy being a troublemaker to tend to her hygiene.

The next day she want I to take a route, Take her to the beach party, Feeling everything would be irie
The following day, the woman wants to go to a party and convinces the man to take her. He thinks everything will be alright and peaceful.

Wrinkles on her face
The woman is not young anymore.

Like the things Ive done she don't appreciate
The man feels like the woman never acknowledges the good things he does for her.

She wants wants have noh when she really really getty
The woman wants more and more, even though she already has enough.

Rastafari Know she cant take it
The woman claims to follow the Rastafarian movement, but can’t handle it in reality.

She said natty turn off your light, Give me dreadlock whe you give me first night, So I say
The woman asks the man to turn off the light so they can continue their relationship, but the man refuses to.

Lyrics © SUELION MUSIC
Written by: GORDON, ROSE, SIMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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