Born Kiplin Simpson, Linen grew up in the district of Red Bank, where he attended the Red Bank Primary and Red Bank High schools. Being the first child for his mother, his grandparents raised him, while his mother went out to hustle to put food on the table for him and his five siblings. In his early years, Linen’s father migrated to England. Eventually, Terry moved from the quiet district of Red Bank, to the sleepy bustle of Mandeville, to live with his mother who had remarried.
After graduating from school, Linen hooked up with the legendary Black Kat sound system where he cut dubs. It was during those inspirational Black Panther days, that Linen became good friends with local artistes who were on the rise, including General Degree, Tony Rebel and Garnet Silk, who had a tremendous influence on the impressionable singer. Linen also met two of the most influential people of his career, Tyrone Taylor & Courtney Melody. Eventually, Linen's close bond with General Degree began to pay dividends, as Degree invited Linen to the studio with him on several occasions, introducing him to influential movers and shakers in the music business. In the meantime, Linen also met a wealthy local bus owner from Southfield, St. Elizabeth called 'Million' who persuaded him to join his sound of the same name, where he went on to cut the tune Sweet Cassandra on Million's own label. It was not until 1996, when he recorded Rainbow Never Touch the Ground on the Kutchie rhythm for producer/songwriter Anthony Red Roze that people began to take notice of the young singer. After moderate success with this song, Anthony Red Roze began to take on the mantle as Terry Linen's manager.
With Red Roze managing Terry Linen, Linen began to put out numerous reggae gems such as the ultra-popular Couldn't Be the Girl for Me and Jah Jah You Save Me. In 1999, he recorded his monster hit, a cover of Whitney Houston's Your Love Is My Love. On this project, Linen received assistance from the musicians Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Gitsy, Jazzwad and Dean Fraser. Your Love Is My Love hit the top of the reggae charts in Miami, and in New York for 12 straight weeks. The song also hit reggae charts in the Caribbean.
With all that chart success, Terry Linen had still not become a household name. "The problem is", said Linen, "is that I did not get the proper promotion, even with my hit songs, there was no video done, people did not know me because is not everyone attends stage shows, even though people loved the songs." Later on, on his musical journey, Terry did a collaboration with the German star Gentleman on the single Jah Jah Never Fail, which appeared on Gentleman's 1999 album, Trodding On. Linen then recorded another popular single with Capleton entitled, Love is Coming at You. More and more, Linen would be heard on the radio in Jamaica.
In 2001, Linen’s first full album, self-titled Terry Linen, distributed by VP Records, received rave reviews from music critics and fans. On the strength of this album, Linen toured North America and Japan. He performed on many major stage shows such as True Juice Rebel Salute, Western Consciousness, Stars in Action and the Love Symbol Show. He distinguished himself at the True Juice Rebel Salute show in 2001 earning two encores, with the songs such as Call On A Friend and the perennial crowd favorite, Couldn't Be The Girl For Me. Terry continued to work hard, and in the year 2004, he scored again with his song Counting Hours, which was produced by Beres Hammond's on his Harmony House Records label. This song has been featured on many reggae compilation albums worldwide.
Terry Linen continued working hard, residing in Junction, St. Elizabeth and his beloved Mandeville, in the parish Manchester, Jamaica. Signed to Uplifting Music International in the latter part of 2007, Terry Linen witnessed the rising of his stocks. His new single Mood For Love, was number one on the Richie B Reggae chart for three weeks, and is still getting heavy rotation on FM radio in Jamaica. Internationally, the song No Time To Linger on the Joe Fraser label was number one for three weeks on the South Florida Reggae charts, and also number one on the New York Reggae charts. His new hit single A Better Man, is also the name of his upcoming album. A Better Man is getting heavy rotation all over, and is climbing the Richie B charts. Indeed, Terry Linen has become "a better man", and he continues to grow musically and please his fans. "I can see where my career is moving forward once again, and connecting the right way. I feel like my career is rejuvenated," he said. People, who have been to Jamaica, know first hand how Terry Linen is dominating the airwaves more and more. Destiny is now smiling on the artist Terry Linen, as his songs are loved and embraced by his people in Jamaica, and more and more, the people of the world.
A Better Man
Terry Linen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl to be apart of you,
You mean the world & more to me my life,
My love you make me a better man.
No more fooling around,
Since we turned a page and slowed it down,
Am a better man.
I see a difference in you,
that's how you stole my heart,
and nothing anyone could do to tear our love apart.
You've changed my life completely
Filled my heart with gladness so bright the world can see.
Girl to be apart of you,
You mean the world & more to me my life,
My love you make me a better man.
No more fooling around,
Since we turned a page and slowed it down,
I've changed2
Am a better man.
It took some time for me to see,
How fast I have been going,
A girl in every town, was a pleasure for me knowing.
Am seeing life from a different eye, not the guy I used to be.
So grateful for you kindness,
I say it repeatedly.
Girl to be apart of you,
You mean the world & more to me my life,
My love you make me a better man.
No more fooling around,
I've turned a page and slowed it down,
I've changed2
Am a better man.
In Terry Linen's song "A Better Man," he describes how being in love has changed him for the better. The song expresses the idea that love can transform a person and make them a better version of themselves. This is demonstrated through the lines "You make me a better man" and "I've changed, I am a better man."
Linen alludes to his wild past where he was "fooling around" frequently, but once he found the love of his life, he realized the value of slowing down and committing to someone. He recognizes that he used to have a different perspective on life but now he is grateful for his partner's kindness and is willing to say it repeatedly.
The lyrics also show that Linen values the love he shares with his partner and will do everything to keep it strong. He acknowledges that his partner has changed his life, and now he sees the world differently.
Overall, the song portrays the idea that true love can inspire individuals to become better versions of themselves by teaching them important life lessons such as commitment, and kindness, and ultimately leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby am a changed man, Changed...
I have changed my ways and I am now a completely different person.
Girl to be apart of you,
Being with you is all that matters to me.
You mean the world & more to me my life,
You are everything to me and even more important than my own life.
My love you make me a better man.
Your love has transformed me into a better person.
No more fooling around,
I am not a player anymore.
Since we turned a page and slowed it down,
Since we started taking things slow and steady, I have become a better man.
I've changed2
I've completely changed for the better.
I see a difference in you,
You have changed too and I can see it.
that's how you stole my heart,
Your changed self took my heart away and made me fall in love with you.
and nothing anyone could do to tear our love apart.
No one can separate us now.
You've changed my life completely
Your impact on my life has been enormous.
Filled my heart with gladness so bright the world can see.
You have brought overwhelming joy into my life that is visible to everyone.
It took some time for me to see,
Realizing my mistakes and changing my ways was a gradual process.
How fast I have been going,
I was living life recklessly and without direction.
A girl in every town, was a pleasure for me knowing.
I used to think having multiple partners was enjoyable.
Am seeing life from a different eye, not the guy I used to be.
I am now a different person and look at life from a new perspective.
So grateful for you kindness,
I am very thankful for your love and care.
I say it repeatedly.
I express my gratitude to you constantly.
I've turned a page and slowed it down,
I have changed for the better and started living a more peaceful and meaningful life.
Am a better man.
I am a completely different and better person now thanks to you.
Contributed by Aria R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.