Sugar Minott spent his youth hanging around the legendary "Studio 1" listening to the artists that recorded there, such as Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, The Heptones, Dennis Brown and others.
Sugar began his career with the formation of the African Brothers, along with Tony Tuff and Derek Howard (and later Triston Palmer) in the early 1970s. The African Brothers were a harmonious roots act, of which Sugar became the most popular member. By 1979, Sugar had been invited by Studio 1 to record a solo album.
When recording at Studio 1, he chose not to use a backing band as in conventional recording, but elected to sing over instrumental versions of old Studio 1 classics. This is considered to be the birth of "dancehall," which lead to countless artists making new hits out of old classics, a tradition that continues in Jamaica today.
Sugar was also well-regarded for hard work on his Youthman Promotion sound system and Black Roots & Youthman Promotion labels into the 1980s, which brought forth such artists as Tenor Saw, Nitty Gritty, Yami Bolo, Junior Reid, Tony Rebel, Garnett Silk, and many more to the industry. Up until his death, he was still working with young artists both in Jamaica and the US, including his daughter Pashon Minott.
Roof Over My Head
Sugar Minott Lyrics
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Time a go dread, every gully a'go run red
I need a roof, over my head
I need a roof, over my head
And bread on my table
And bread on my table
It is love in my heart,
Remember weh Marcus say
Time a go dread,
Every gully a'go run red
I need a roof, over my head
I need a roof, over my head
And bread on my table
And bread on my table
It is love in my heart,
It is love for everyone
Remember weh Marcus say:
Time a go dread,
Every gully a'go run red
The lyrics in Sugar Minott's "Roof Over My Head" express the need for basic necessities, such as shelter and food, alongside the importance of love and unity for all. The chorus, "I need a roof, over my head, and bread on my table, it is love in my heart, it is love for everyone" highlights the urgent need for basic human needs and the importance of compassion for others. The verse, "Remember weh the righteous man say, Time a go dread, every gully a'go run red" draws attention to the warnings of the righteous, predicting difficult times ahead.
The lyrics also mention the words of Marcus Garvey, a prominent Jamaican activist and black nationalist leader, who advocated for the empowerment of black people and the importance of self-reliance. The mention of Garvey's words "Time a go dread, every gully a'go run red" adds weight to the idea that difficult times are approaching and it's necessary to prepare for them by securing basic needs.
Overall, "Roof Over My Head" is a plea for humanity, love, and basic needs in the face of impending uncertainty. It serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion for others, and the necessity of securing basic needs to prepare for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember weh the righteous man say
Recall the words of the morally upright person
Time a go dread, every gully a'go run red
Difficult times are coming, violence and bloodshed will be widespread
I need a roof, over my head
I require a place to shelter from the elements
And bread on my table
I require sustenance to live and be healthy
It is love in my heart,
My heart is filled with affection
It is love for everyone
My fondness extends to every human being
Remember weh Marcus say
Recall the statements of Marcus
Time a go dread, every gully a'go run red
Difficult times are coming, violence and bloodshed will be widespread
I need a roof, over my head
I require a place to shelter from the elements
And bread on my table
I require sustenance to live and be healthy
It is love in my heart,
My heart is filled with affection
It is love for everyone
My fondness extends to every human being
Remember weh Marcus say:
Recall the statements of Marcus
Time a go dread, every gully a'go run red
Difficult times are coming, violence and bloodshed will be widespread
Writer(s): l. minott
Contributed by Hannah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.