Cole began his recording career with producer Duke Reid, scoring a hit with his 1962 debut, “Rough & Tough,” a full-tilt ska number with a wild harmonica solo. His Louis Jordan revival song, “Run Joe,” was a hit in 1965, and featured members of the Techniques on harmony vocals.
Stranger frequently used duet partners, most notably Millicent “Patsy” Todd and Ken Boothe, and later in his career, Gladstone Anderson (their version of “Just Like a River” is one of Cole’s finest songs), stemming from an apparent shyness in the studio, but Cole developed into a soulful vocalist, and his songs radiate a kid of joyful personality that is rare in most reggae.
Rough and Tough
Stranger Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I
Should be mindful of
You ran for refuge
And were rescued
That's a fact
Then why lie
And try to bite
Yes, the good you do lives after you
You could puff
Huff and puff
Til you bus'
It shall be rough
Rough and tough
On your side
So stop lie
Don't try to bite
The hands that feed you
For the good you do lives after you
You could puff
Huff and puff
Til you bus'
It shall be rough
Rough and tough
On your side
So stop lie
Don't try to bite
The hands that feed you
For the good you do lives after you
The lyrics to Stranger Cole's song "Rough and Tough" convey a message about gratitude and the consequences of biting the hand that feeds you. The opening lines, "Who are you, that I should be mindful of? You ran for refuge and were rescued, that's a fact. Then why lie and try to bite the hand that feeds you?" speak to the sense of entitlement and ingratitude that some people exhibit. Cole points out that when someone is in need and receives help, they should be grateful and not turn against those who helped them.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the consequences of being unappreciative and biting the hand that feeds you. Cole repeats the phrase "You could puff, huff and puff 'til you bus', it shall be rough, rough and tough on your side" to convey that those who act ungrateful or try to harm those who helped them will face difficulty in their lives. The final line "For the good you do lives after you" emphasizes the importance of doing good and leaving a positive legacy.
Overall, "Rough and Tough" is a cautionary tale about the importance of showing gratitude and not taking the help of others for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Who are you
The singer is questioning the listener's identity
That I
The singer continues to question the listener's importance to him
Should be mindful of
The singer wonders why he should care about the listener
You ran for refuge
The listener sought out help and safety
And were rescued
The listener was saved from danger
That's a fact
The singer believes this to be true
Then why lie
The singer questions why the listener would deceive him
And try to bite
The singer is using this metaphor to describe the listener's attempts to harm him
The hand that feed you
The singer is referring to himself as the one who helped the listener
Yes, the good you do lives after you
The singer believes that good deeds have lasting impact
You could puff
The singer is saying the listener can boast or brag
Huff and puff
The singer is using this metaphor to describe the listener's angry behavior
Til you bus'
The singer is saying that the listener will eventually leave
It shall be rough
The singer believes that the listener will suffer consequences for their actions
Rough and tough
The singer is emphasizing the severity of the consequences
On your side
The singer is warning the listener that the consequences will affect them personally
So stop lie
The singer is urging the listener to stop deceiving him
Don't try to bite
The singer is once again warning the listener not to harm him
The hands that feed you
The singer is reminding the listener that he helped them
For the good you do lives after you
The singer is repeating his belief that good deeds have lasting impact
Contributed by Colin H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JojoMonoMoto
Who are you at night, should be mindfull of
you run for refugee
and were rescued, thats a fact
then why lie, and try to bite the hand that feeds you
yes the good you do, lives after you
You could buff, huff and buff till you bust
It shall be rough, rough and tough on your side
so stop lie, don´t try to bite the hand that feeds you
for the good you dooo lives after you
you could buff, huff and buff till you bust
it shall be rough, rough and tough on your side
so stop lie, don´t try to bite the hand that feed you
for the good you dooo lives after you
@donettfuller2470
Stranger cole and gladis wonderful all time great just like a river another great
@gizmob0b
It's 2024, and I just discovered this timeless classic, now it's on repeat!! Sounds amazing at 1.25x Playback Also!! 🎵🎶💃❤🔥🔥❤🔥
@007Thebwoy
2023 & I can't stop playing this wicked tune.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😎
@007Thebwoy
What ah wicked tune.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@dorlataylor6111
These songs w on t come farword again the best 👏🙌💯💯💯💯💯💖
@user-ok1bn3wt4x
Good music
@oscarmiller6303
Memories !
@serafina90210
Nothing hits me like this
@petervonauer8683
Skinhead Reggae 🇯🇲💪🏼🇬🇧
@007Thebwoy
No just reggae