In 1994, John Folkes and Buster were involved in a legal dispute over the authorship of the song, after a cover version by Shaggy became an international hit. It was eventually ruled that Folkes held the copyright.
Oh Carolina
The Folkes Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Carolina gal prowl off
Gal yuh fi jump an prance (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Carolina come bubble 'pon me
Oh watch how she groove
Carolina come wine 'pon me
Oh watch how di gal groove
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina gal prowl off
Gal yuh fi jump an prance (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina is a girl
She dey pon top a di world
An now she rock her body
Anna move just like a squirrel
I say young baby girl
I said I love how yuh move
Yuh just a rock to di riddim anna riddim anna move
An now yuh know di girl
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina gal prowl off
Gal yuh fi jump an prance (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina gal prowl off
Gal yuh fi jump an prance (Prowl off, one two three)
Carolina come bubble 'pon me
Oh watch how she groove
Carolina come wine 'pon me
Oh watch how di gal groove
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina gal prowl off
Gal yuh fi jump an prance (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Well how me love how she shock
Watch how she rock
Model it a swing like mi grandfather clock
Gal, move yuh body make man dem drop
Bumper jus' a move it jus' a cause roadblock
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Yes, Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Carolina, Carolina, Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
All di Brooklyn gal dem dem know fi jump an rock
(I say) Di Flatbush Gal dem
Know how fi get up and rock (Get up an rock)
The lyrics to The Folkes Brothers and Count Ossie Afro-Combo's song "Carolina" are about a girl named Carolina who is praised for her dance moves. The song expresses the admiration of Carolina's ability to dance to the rhythm and move her body. The lyrics encourage Carolina to "prowl off, jump and prance," and "come bubble 'pon me" and "come wine 'pon me." The song tells us that Carolina is "pon top a di world" and that "she rock her body and move just like a squirrel."
The lyrics of "Carolina" are typical of the ska music genre, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1950s and became popular among working-class youth. Ska music is characterized by its strong rhythms, upbeat melodies, and dancing. The lyrics of the song reflect the joy that people feel when they dance to ska music. The song also pays homage to the city of Brooklyn where ska music was popular among Jamaican immigrants.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
Encouraging Carolina to prowl around and dance with excitement
Oh Carolina gal prowl off
Carolina should prowl and show off her amazing dancing skills
Gal yuh fi jump an prance (Prowl off, jump an prance)
The singer encourages Carolina to jump and dance around while prowling with excitement
Carolina come bubble 'pon me
Carolina should come close and dance vibrantly with the singer while he watches her every move
Oh watch how she groove
The singer loves watching Carolina moves and is amazed by how she dances
Carolina come wine 'pon me
The singer wants Carolina to get closer to him while dancing and pressing her body against his
Oh Carolina is a girl
The singer is talking about the girl he loves to watch and dance with
She dey pon top a di world
Carolina is on top of the world because of her dancing abilities
Anna move just like a squirrel
The way Carolina moves is compared to as smooth as a squirrel
I say young baby girl
The singer is showing affection to Carolina by calling her baby girl
I said I love how yuh move
The singer is in love with Carolina's dancing skills
Yuh just a rock to di riddim anna riddim anna move
Carolina is dancing perfectly to the rhythm and making the singer fall for her
An now yuh know di girl
The singer is letting the world know how amazing Carolina is at dancing
Well how me love how she shock
The singer loves the way Carolina surprises him with her moves
Watch how she rock
The singer is impressed by the way Carolina moves in a rhythmic manner
Model it a swing like mi grandfather clock
Carolina is compared to a grandfather clock that swings and moves in a particular manner, implying her moves are perfect and give pleasure to the singer
Gal, move yuh body make man dem drop
The singer thinks that Carolina's moves could even make men drop because of how excellent they are
Bumper jus' a move it jus' a cause roadblock
Carolina's moves are so impressive that they cause people to stop everything they're doing to watch her dance
Yes, Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
The singer is asserting that Carolina should continue to prowl, jump and dance with excitement
Carolina, Carolina, Oh Carolina (Prowl off, jump an prance)
The singer is urging Carolina to keep dancing while using her name to show affection and appreciation for her moves
All di Brooklyn gal dem dem know fi jump an rock
This line implies that all women from Brooklyn know how to dance with happiness and excitement
(I say) Di Flatbush Gal dem
The singer is referring to women from Flatbush when he says 'Di Flatbush Gal dem'
Know how fi get up and rock (Get up an rock)
Women from Flatbush know how to dance and enjoy life with happiness and excitement, with no inhibitions
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Henry Mancini, John Folkes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Williams
The drum arrangements and timing is awesome. This is a classic that has a cult following which multiplies every decade since 1960.
Music, Jamaica's magnificent gift to the world!
johnny b
Some say it was the first truly ska recording, as the drum rhythm comes from Nyabinghi drumming and doesn't imitate R&B.
The Foul Quince
@johnny b Prince Buster! Jamaica's magnificent gift to the world. Johnny B you're quite right, but the really interesting thing, I think, is that this is an East African musical influence, not West African as you see in R&B
johnny b
@The Foul Quince Quite possibly, as Nyabinghi was originally the name of a semi-mythical East African woman who may have lived in the mid to late 18th century. Her spirit was said to have possessed later African leaders and inspired them to rebel against colonial rule. Rastafarians in Jamaica took some of their inspiration from this.
Alvin Weaver
Music and Ganja what Jamaica is known for
The Foul Quince
@Alvin Weaver A simplistic and rather stupid analysis. Tell us what you know about Jamaican music, then.
Dwight Blubaugh
I'm amazed to learn this song is so old, after having only heard Shaggy's 1993 version! Written 1958, recorded 1960, these guys knew how to rock.
McGuirkster
Just met one of the folkes brothers today in my city in Canada at my record shop. Cool guy amazing stories
Jamie Ryan Downey
Just curious, what city?
dave Drolett
Great to hear this old Island song again after about 55 years