By the time the album was released, Tenor Saw had relocated to Miami, joining the Skengdon crew, where he recorded "Dancehall Feeling" and "Bad Boys". He recorded "No Work On a Sunday" for Donovan Germain, before moving to New York, where he recorded with Freddie McGregor ("Victory Train"). His last recording, "Chill Out Chill Out", was a duet with General Doggie.
In August 1988 he was killed by a speeding car in Houston, Texas. He died at 22 years of age. Tenor Saw is regarded as one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era of the mid-1980s.[1]
Pumpkin Belly
Tenor Saw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is a song of the old time proverbs, hey, hey
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa, whoah
Who asks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
She said saw I want to know
She said saw I want to know-oh- oh
How water walk go a pumpkin belly?
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
Grandma, oh yes I know, I won't tell you now
She said saw, seem like your selling cow (telling a lie)
Seem like your selling holy-cow
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa-oh-oh
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
That was a old time proverbs
That was a old time proverbs
That was a old time, Lord proverbs, oh
She say you must think a so
Queen of England sit down 'pon throne?
Think a so Sugar, Sugar Belly
Became the king of the saxophone?
Whatsoever you want, got to work very hard to gain
Whatsoever you want, she said
I got to work hard, hard to gain!
To gain-gain, to gain-gain
I really got to work very hard to gain, so
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa-oh-oh
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
She said saw, you must be going on like a ginal, whoa
I said no grandma, I know ba-diddly-yow
I won't tell you now
She said son, don't sell no gow
I want you to tell me now, what you say hey
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa-oh-oh
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
Hey, hey, hey, hey
But grandma, I am young, you better have sympathy
So, it would be better if you ask my mummy, hey, hey
Tenor Saw’s “Pumpkin Belly” is a Jamaican song that is structured around an old-time proverb, which is a device that seeks to impart traditional wisdom. The song was released in 1985, and it alludes to how something that seems impossible can be made possible just like how water walks in pumpkin belly. Tenor Saw narrates a conversation between him and his elder female relative or “ole time granny” who, at the beginning of the song, inquires about a previously unheard of proverb, “How does water walk go into pumpk belly?” The artist’s grandma serves as a repository of traditional knowledge in the song where she imparts wisdom to her grandson. She also rebukes him when he refuses to answer her question, and tells him a proverb that he should always work very hard to gain whatever he wants.
Moreover, Tenor Saw uses deep and soulful vocals to give the song a feeling of intimacy and make it sound more emotional. The song has many rhetorical questions where Tenor Saw is questioning his granny’s old-time proverbs. However, the artist is not trying to be disrespectful, but instead, he is seeking to understand and learn from his granny's wisdom. The proverb itself is about the mysteries of nature and how the seemingly impossible can happen, like how water can get inside a pumpkin, which is a metaphor for how people can achieve what seems impossible through perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a song of the old time proverbs yay
The song is based on old proverbs.
This is a song of the old time proverbs, hey, hey
The song is based on old proverbs.
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa, whoah
Asking how impossible things become possible.
Who asks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
Only grandma asks such questions.
From down inna country
She is from rural areas.
She said saw I want to know
Grandma wants to know.
She said saw I want to know-oh- oh
Grandma wants to know.
How water walk go a pumpkin belly?
Asking how impossible things become possible.
Lord God have mercy, hey
Expressing surprise.
Grandma, oh yes I know, I won't tell you now
The singer knows the answer but won't tell grandma.
She said saw, seem like your selling cow (telling a lie)
Grandma thinks the singer is lying.
Seem like your selling holy-cow
Grandma thinks the singer is lying.
That was a old time proverbs
Referencing the old proverb mentioned earlier.
That was a old time proverbs
Referencing the old proverb mentioned earlier.
That was a old time, Lord proverbs, oh
Referencing the old proverb mentioned earlier.
She say you must think a so
Grandma thinks the singer is naive.
Queen of England sit down 'pon throne?
Asking the singer if he believes in fairy tales.
Think a so Sugar, Sugar Belly
Asking the singer if he believes in impossible things.
Became the king of the saxophone?
Asking the singer if he believes in impossible things.
Whatsoever you want, got to work very hard to gain
To achieve your goals, you must work hard.
Whatsoever you want, she said
To achieve your goals, you must work hard.
I got to work hard, hard to gain!
The singer understands the importance of hard work.
To gain-gain, to gain-gain
The singer needs to work harder.
I really got to work very hard to gain, so
The singer knows he needs to work hard to achieve his goals.
She said saw, you must be going on like a ginal, whoa
Grandma thinks the singer is acting stupidly.
I said no grandma, I know ba-diddly-yow
The singer assures grandma that he knows what he's doing.
I won't tell you now
The singer won't reveal the answer to grandma.
She said son, don't sell no gow
Grandma warns the singer not to lie.
I want you to tell me now, what you say hey
Grandma wants the singer to answer her question.
But grandma, I am young, you better have sympathy
The singer wants grandma to show some compassion.
So, it would be better if you ask my mummy, hey, hey
The singer suggests grandma ask his mother instead of him.
Writer(s): JAMES LLOYD WOODROWE, BRIGHT CLIVE ANTHONY, DAVEY NOEL EARL, SMITH IAN
Contributed by Max C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hejdiklump
This is a song of the old time proverbs yay
This is a song of the old time proverbs, hey, hey
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa, whoah
Who asks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
She said saw I want to know
She said saw I want to know-oh- oh
How water walk go a pumpkin belly?
Lord God have mercy, hey
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
Grandma, oh yes I know, I won't tell you now
She said saw, seem like your selling cow (telling a lie)
Seem like your selling holy-cow
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa-oh-oh
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
That was a old time proverbs
That was a old time proverbs
That was a old time, Lord proverbs, oh
She say you must think a so
Queen of England sit down 'pon throne?
Think a so Sugar, Sugar Belly
Became the king of the saxophone?
Whatsoever you want, got to work very hard to gain
Whatsoever you want, she said
I got to work hard, hard to gain!
To gain-gain, to gain-gain
I really got to work very hard to gain, so
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa-oh-oh
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
From down inna country
She said saw, you must be going on like a ginal, whoa
I said no grandma, I know ba-diddly-yow
I won't tell you now
She said son, don't sell no gow
I want you to tell me now, what you say hey
How water walk go a pumpkin belly? Whoa-oh-oh
Who aks me dat, nuh me ole time granny
Hey, hey, hey, hey
But grandma, I am young, you better have sympathy
So, it would be better if you ask my mummy, hey, hey
@BMUSIK101
One of the sickest voice in dancehall history
@beyourself2444
Agreed, my 9 year old mine was blown when I first heard Tenor Saw’s Golden Hen
@jeanpowell1320
This is a great parable song very clean, rhythm is great .
@DrewsReviews07
You can see where his music influenced bands like Sublime
@komidk6969
So true
@davevincent3030
Childhood memories in The Bahamas 🇧🇸
@jerichojavens8516
I thank my parents everyday for bringing me up listening to proper reggae music 💚🎶🎶
@nicksomebody9532
Rasta for life
@kimrawls5955
Me too. My dad was that parent.
@briandextonwarren8032
People dont appreciate good Reggae Music. I am a 24 year old Jamaican and love these type of Music. Big ups Tenor Saw