The Jamaicans (Tommy Cowan, Norris Weir, Martin Williams) burst on the scene in 1967 by winning the second Jamaican Festival song contest with a bit of nonsensical rocksteady called "Ba Ba Boom," a piece that had been written by Cowan and Weir. The pair continued to write, and the group had a middling successful career between 1967 and 1972 recording their frequently novelty-tinged songs (they sang "ba ba" in myriad different ways, sometimes even inventively) for producer Duke Reid and his legendary Treasure Isle label, scoring hits with "Ba Ba Boom" and the poignant "Things You Say You Love." One of their best tracks was a solid cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Dedicate My Song to You," while "Black Girl" was a hit for Boney M in 1978. The Jamaicans fall right at the cusp between ska and rocksteady, and slowed-down horn charts figure heavily in most of their tracks. When the group disbanded, Cowan went on to a successful career as a producer, as well as becoming a popular Sunsplash MC.
Norris Weir (23 October 1946 - 16 November 2018) became an ordained minister of religion in 2010 and recorded several gospel albums. He died in 2018.
Ba Ba Boom
The Jamaicans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time to rocksteady
It's ba ba boom time, yes it is
Don't lose the beat, now
Just dip your head, now
It's festival fire, listen here
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
People are dancing
Teenagers romancing
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
Freddie get ready
Come do the rocksteady
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
You hear the people saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
People are dancing
Teenagers romancing
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
Freddie get ready
Come do the rocksteady
It's festival fire, listen here
You hear the children saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
The Jamaican's song "05 Ba Ba Boom" is an energetic rocksteady track that is meant to get people up and dancing. The lyrics exude a sense of excitement and joy, encouraging everyone to join in and get lost in the rhythm. The song opens with the invitation for everyone to get ready for the festivities, with the iconic line "Everybody get ready, it's time to rocksteady, it's ba ba boom time, yes it is". The singer urges the listeners not to lose the beat and to dip their heads in time with the music, as the festival fire takes hold.
As the song progresses, the joyous atmosphere is palpable, with the lyrics describing the people dancing and teenagers romancing one another. The singer specifically calls out Freddie, urging him to get ready and come and do the rocksteady to the infectious beat. The chorus repeats the refrain "Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival" in a call and response format, with the children joining in towards the end.
Overall, the lyrics of "05 Ba Ba Boom" are simple yet effective in their message. The repetition of the chorus and the energetic nature of the song are designed to get people up and dancing, to lose themselves in the music and the festival fire. The lyrics capture the essence of the time period in which the song was made, a time of joy and celebration, where people could come together in a shared love of music and dance.
* "05 Ba Ba Boom" was released by The Jamaicans in 1967 on the Treasure Isle label.
* The song was written by Hopeton Lewis and produced by Duke Reid.
* The song became popular in the UK during the 1970s ska revival and was covered by several other artists.
* The song is a classic example of the rocksteady genre, which emerged in Jamaica during the mid-1960s.
* The term "rocksteady" refers to a slower, more relaxed tempo than ska or reggae, characterized by a heavy emphasis on the bass and drum rhythms.
* The song's title is a reference to the "boom boom" sound of the bass and drums that are so integral to the rocksteady beat.
* The song's infectious beat and catchy chorus have made it a staple of party playlists and dance floors around the world.
* The Jamaicans were a vocal group consisting of Tommy Cowan, Norris Weir, and Martin Williams.
* The group's most famous song is "Ba Ba Boom", but they also had several other hits in Jamaica in the late 1960s.
* The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Freddie McGregor, Judge Dread, and The Heptones.
Chords:
Verse
G C G C G D G D
Chorus
G D G D G D G D G D G D G D G D.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody get ready
It's time for everyone to prepare for the upcoming event
It's time to rocksteady
It's time to dance to a particular genre of music that is calm and upbeat
It's ba ba boom time, yes it is
It's time for excitement since an event is about to happen
Don't lose the beat, now
Keep up with the rhythm of the music
Just dip your head, now
Move your head in time with the music
It's festival fire, listen here
It's time for a lively celebration that everyone should partake in
You hear the people saying
Everyone in attendance is voicing their excitement for the event
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
Excitement and celebration are in the air, and the festival is about to begin
People are dancing
People are moving to the music and enjoying themselves
Teenagers romancing
Young couples are enjoying the festival together and possibly engaging in romantic gestures
Freddie get ready
A request for Freddie to prepare for the celebration
Come do the rocksteady
Join in on the dance that is being enjoyed by everyone else
It's festival fire, listen here
The festival is full of energy and everyone should participate in the festivities
You hear the children saying
Even the youngest members of the community are excited and engaged in the celebration
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom, boom boom festival
The festival is in full swing and people are feeling the excitement and energy
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: NORRIS WEIR, TOMMY COWAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patmg1721
Everybody get ready
It's time to rocksteady
It's ba ba boom, yes it is
Don't lose the beat, now
Just dip your head, now
It's festival fire, listen here
You hear the people saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
People are dancing
Teenagers romancing
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
Freddie get ready
Come do the rocksteady
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
You hear the people saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
People are dancing
Teenagers romancing
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
Freddie get ready
Come do the rocksteady
It's festival fire, listen here
You hear the children saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
@ademuhammad566
Ikhtisar
Lirik
Rungokake
Rekaman liya saka tembang iki
Tiyang-tiyang uga madosi
Hasil Utama
Everybody get ready
It's time to rocksteady
It's ba ba boom, yes it is
Don't lose the beat, now
Just dip your head, now
It's festival fire, listen here
You hear the people saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
People are dancing
Teenagers romancing
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
Freddie get ready
Come do the rocksteady
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
You hear the people saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom…
@patmg1721
Everybody get ready
It's time to rocksteady
It's ba ba boom, yes it is
Don't lose the beat, now
Just dip your head, now
It's festival fire, listen here
You hear the people saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
People are dancing
Teenagers romancing
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
Freddie get ready
Come do the rocksteady
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
You hear the people saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
People are dancing
Teenagers romancing
It's ba ba boom time, listen here
Freddie get ready
Come do the rocksteady
It's festival fire, listen here
You hear the children saying
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
Boom boom festival
Boom boom, ba ba boom boom
@philipgordon-lennox3053
Ooops, 3rd line is missing one word : "it's ba ba booom TIME", of course. Best ska tune ever (together with many others haha ^^)
@pinkrose1438
@Philip Gordon-Lennox once up on a time when life was good and we were all happy and free.💃💃💃💃Im so grateful for the good 🕙 I can now smile with happy memories😊R.I.P Mr WILLIAMS🙏❤️🌹
@angelaalbury986
@Philip Gordon-Lennox
Its rock steady not ska
@patmg1721
@Philip Gordon-Lennox Oh thanks! but it won't let me edit
@palootto4021
I have this song as my ringtone. So, I get to listen to it every time my phone rings. I'm never tired of hearing it. People love to hear it as well.
@Dirty_Lamberti
Babies life this song. I’ve rock a bye’d my baby sister, cousin, nephew, and of course daughter to this tune
@estherwilliams5265
One of the members sadly passed away this week, my grandpa 😔
@meekdeweet3964
Top Notch. I love songs born the same year as me.
@robinrhodie2198
BIG UP EVERY TIME ROOTS ROCK REGGIE MUSIC 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🦁🦁🦁 I LOVE THAT SONG SHOUT OUT JAMAICANS LIVING LEGEND OF REGGIE MUSIC