They recorded for the major Jamaican producers at the time, including Coxsone Dodd of Studio One fame. The Heptones had a number of Jamaican hits for Studio One, including "Pretty Looks Isn't All", "Fattie Fattie" and "I Hold the Handle." They went on to record with Joe Gibbs, Harry J (Harry Johnson), and Rupie Edwards. In 1977, they recorded "Party Time" for Lee Perry, one of Perry's finest productions, which included a version of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."
Sibbles left the group in 1977 to start a successful solo career. He was replaced by Naggo Morris. After Sibbles left, the group's popularity waned. The original trio reunited in 1995 and released Pressure! produced by Tappa Zukie
Country Boy
The Heptones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything I say
A true, a true
Everything I say
Country boy
You're running up and down
Country boy
You no know bag-o-wire
You no know racecourse
You no know Pearl Harbor
Not even know light post
A true, a true
Everything I say
A true, a true
Everything I say
Country boy
And no one knows your name
Country boy
Kingstonian get your blame
And you no know Denham town
You no know Hunt's bay
You no know Parish church
Boy get out of me way
I say, a true, a true
Every word I say
I say, a true, a true
Everything I say
Country boy
You shootin' up the place
Country boy
You with your ratchet in your waist
And you no know uptown
You no know downtown
You no know 'round town
Not even know Camperdown
I say, a true, a true
Everything I say
I say, a true, a true
Everything I say
The Heptones's song Country Boy is a song about a young man who is from the country and who doesn't know his way around Kingston. The singer is criticizing the boy for his lack of knowledge of the city and its ways. The chorus repeats the phrase "a true, a true" to emphasize the truth in the statements being made about the boy's ignorance.
The first verse describes the boy running up and down, acting as if he knows Kingston like the back of his hand, when in reality he knows nothing of the city. The second verse talks about how nobody knows the boy's name, and how Kingstonians blame him for things because he is a country boy. The third verse describes the boy as being dangerous, with a ratchet (slang for a gun) in his waist, and again emphasizes his lack of knowledge of the city.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the urban-rural divide in Jamaica, and serves as a warning to young country boys who come to the city thinking they know it all.
Line by Line Meaning
A true, a true
I'm speaking nothing but the truth
Everything I say
Every single word that comes out of my mouth is fact
Country boy
A young man from the rural countryside
You're running up and down
You're constantly moving around, aimlessly
You go on like you know town
You act as though you're familiar with the city, but you're not
You no know bag-o-wire
You don't know the basics of city life
You no know racecourse
You don't know the popular hangouts in town
You no know Pearl Harbor
You're not aware of significant events that have occurred in the world
Not even know light post
You're oblivious to even the most common features of the city
And no one knows your name
Despite your attempts to act like a city boy, you're still unrecognized
Kingstonian get your blame
The locals put the blame on you for their problems
And you no know Denham town
You're unaware of the neighborhoods and their distinct characteristics
You no know Hunt's bay
You're unfamiliar with the prominent areas of the city
You no know Parish church
You're oblivious to the cultural and religious landmarks of the area
Boy get out of me way
You're in the way and impeding my progress
You shootin' up the place
You're causing chaos and violence
You with your ratchet in your waist
You're armed and dangerous
And you no know uptown
You don't know the affluent area of the city
You no know downtown
You're not acquainted with the central business district
You no know 'round town
You're not familiar with the city in general
Not even know Camperdown
You're completely unaware of the local schools and educational institutions
I say, a true, a true
I reiterate that I'm telling the truth
Everything I say
All of my statements are undeniably accurate
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEROY SIBBLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@natty.roots.423
Many don't know that groups like Heptones, Desmond Decker and The Aces, The Cables and Singers like Bob Andy, BB Seaton and many more were bigger than The Wailing WAILERS as they were known back then. Man oh man those were the days 😪 😢😅🎉 mixed emotions.
@tokyocraze
sweet sweet chune! Heptones are legends.
@altyhylton8311
After all these years ,they dont make them like this anymore glad i was around in those times
@olivarrio
One of the best songs ever. Sheer perfection.
@adayltonsoares6070
ROOTE REGGAE FOREVER AND EVER!!! Jah bless everyone!!!
@RudyPrento
In this case, Bag-a-Wire refers to a famous eccentric character from the 70s who used to be seen around Parade Gardens, Down Town. Pearl Harbour was the nickname of a woman who also was well known around the same area at that time. Leroy Sibbles - lyrics a true!
@daviddavie2331
Thanks for the info
@edsonmillsfrancis
Pearl harbor was a prostitute
@yanikeonpurpose
And the song is about Peter Tosh. Apparently there was rivalry between the two bands, hence this song. Peter Tosh was from the countryside.
@SuperAG80
this might just be the most perfect tune ever right now 😊