Born and raised on the island of St. Lucia, Weekes grew up the youngest of ten children in a musical family. "My musical influences were quite varied, 'cause the radio stations played all kinds of music. There were no formats, so we grew up listening to everything from reggae to calypso to classic rock and classical music."
Weekes soon felt confined by the borders of St. Lucia and left home to fulfill his musical ambitions in North America. There he formed his band Taj Weekes and Adowa and multi-media company Jatta Entertainment.
To date, the group has released two full-length albums to critical acclaim, “Hope & Doubt” and “Deidem,” which won “Best Reggae Album” at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards. The band is set to release their much-anticipated third CD, an acoustic album entitled "A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen," this summer.
Weekes' music defies category... an amalgam of roots style reggae, afro-folk, rock and jazz. Essentially, Taj Weekes is a poet who sings to the rhythm of all that has come before and all that stretches out before him... life, his life... from his own unique and complex perspective.
Always striving to bring awareness to the issues he is passionate about, Weekes founded his charity, They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), in 2007 to improve the lives of underprivileged children in the Caribbean through sport, enrichment, educational and wellness programs.
Named a Goodwill Ambassador by the International Consortium of Caribbean Professionals and recognized by a division of the United Nations, Weekes addresses issues such as global warming, casualties of war, domestic and youth violence, diabetes and health, poverty and the welfare of children.
For more information on Taj Weekes and TOCO, please visit:
www.tajandadowa.com and www.theyoftencryoutreach.org
Dark Clouds
Taj Weekes & Adowa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
unwelcome winter procrastinates
see, the seas have taken over the land
there’s a fleet of ships resting on the sand
dark clouds don’t always bring rain
but smoke is a sign of fire
dark clouds don’t always bring rain
caterpillars early, chicks come late
species die before their natural rate
and what sadder sign can possibly be
drought parched river bed, flame charred tree
dark clouds don’t always bring rain
but smoke is a sign of fire
dark clouds don’t always bring rain
but smoke is a sign of fire
and the heat we’re stirring up
will bring us all regret
and an aching breaking earth
will finally get some rest
spring comes early, autumn’s late
summer’s early, ole’ man wint’ won’t wait
dark clouds don’t always bring rain
but smoke is a sign of fire
dark clouds don’t always bring rain
but smoke is a sign of fire
The song "Dark Clouds" by Taj Weekes & Adowa speaks about the impact of climate change on the environment and human life. The first stanza of the song talks about the change in seasons and how the winter season has overstayed its welcome. It also talks about how the sea level is increasing and the boats are stranded on the shore as a result. These are all signs of climate change and how we must acknowledge them in order to make a change.
The chorus of the song highlights the fact that just because there are dark clouds present does not necessarily mean that it will rain. The dark clouds could also indicate a fire with the presence of smoke. This is a powerful metaphor for how we need to pay attention to the signs of climate change and take action before it's too late.
The second stanza talks about how climate change affects the natural lifecycle of animals and insects. They either come early or late, and some species may even die off completely because they cannot adapt to the changing weather patterns. The saddest part of climate change is the destruction of natural habitats, with drought conditions and raging wildfires leaving charred trees and parched river beds as the only evidence of previously thriving ecosystems.
The final stanza conveys a message of regret for the damage that humans have caused to the planet. The heat we have produced will ultimately lead to our downfall, and the earth will finally have a chance to rest when we are gone. The lyrics also suggest that we can still mitigate the damage by taking action and making changes to our way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Spring comes early, autumn’s late
The timing of seasons is shifting, with spring coming earlier and autumn coming later than usual.
Unwelcome winter procrastinates
Winter, which is usually a temporary and manageable season, is lingering longer than necessary and causing problems.
See, the seas have taken over the land
Rising sea levels due to climate change are causing more land to be swallowed by the ocean.
There’s a fleet of ships resting on the sand
Many boats and ships are stranded on land that used to be water due to receding water levels.
Dark clouds don’t always bring rain
Just because something looks ominous or threatening doesn't mean it will necessarily come to fruition.
But smoke is a sign of fire
There may be cause for concern if there are signs of more subtle danger, like smoke indicating a fire.
Caterpillars early, chicks come late
The natural life cycles of some species are being disrupted, with caterpillars appearing before their typical time and chicks appearing much later.
Species die before their natural rate
Many species are dying off at an alarming rate due to environmental disruptions and human interference.
And what sadder sign can possibly be
The loss of entire species and the damage to ecosystems they leave behind is incredibly sad and worrying.
Drought parched river bed, flame charred tree
The landscape is being traumatized by long periods of drought and wildfire, leaving rivers and forests in a state of crisis.
And the heat we’re stirring up
Humans are contributing to the heating of the planet and the resulting climate changes.
Will bring us all regret
We will look back on the actions we have taken and regret not doing more to prevent climate change and environmental destruction.
And an aching breaking earth
The planet we live on is strained and exhausted, with cracks and disturbances appearing in both the infrastructure and natural environment.
Will finally get some rest
The earth will finally be allowed to rest and recover once human civilization stops causing damage and takes meaningful action to restore the environment.
Summer’s early, ole’ man wint’ won’t wait
The timing of seasons is continuing to change, with summer coming earlier and winter delaying its arrival.
Dark clouds don’t always bring rain
Just because something looks ominous or threatening doesn't mean it will necessarily come to fruition.
But smoke is a sign of fire
There may be cause for concern if there are signs of more subtle danger, like smoke indicating a fire.
Contributed by Penelope D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.