There are at least four bands with the name The Upsetters:
1) The Upsett… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four bands with the name The Upsetters:
1) The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry.
2) The Upsetters was the name of Little Richard's backing band playing R&B and rock 'n' roll during the 1950s.
3) The Upsetters was a South African garage rock band active in the 1960s.
4) The Upsetters was a soul band.

1. "The Upsetters" was the name of the studio backing band of Jamaica Reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, a.k.a. "The Upsetter". The members most associated with that name included guitarist Alva Lewis, organist Glen Adams and brothers Aston Barrett and Carlton Barrett on bass and drums respectively, a.k.a. The Hippy Boys. As Lee Perry's studio band, the Upsetters had three distinct line-ups, though, throughout the years 1968-1986.

1968-1969: Gladdy's All Stars with Gladston Anderson and Winston Wright (keyboards), Jackie Jackson (bass), Hugh Malcom and Lloyd Adams (drums). They recorded the UK hits Man from M.I.5, Return of Django and Live Injection. According to Perry, "in a spectacular case of bad timing, the original Upsetters couldn't make the trip" for a tour of Britain. He went with the Hippy Boys instead.

1969-1971: The Hippy Boys included Glen Adams (keyboards), Alva Lewis (guitar), Aston Barrett (bass) and Carlton Barrett (drums). They were collaborating with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer a.k.a The Wailers during that time. Even though Marley and Perry didn't get along very well, musically wise, they laid the foundation of reggae music for years to come with classics like Small Axe, Duppy Conqueror or 400 Years. In the rise to superstardom the bands began to go their separate ways early in 1972. The Barrett brothers, the most creative reggae rhythm section before Sly & Robbie, joined Marley to become known as the new Wailers which Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left later on for successful solo careers. As a consequence Perry's Upsetters virtually didn't exist until he built his own Black Ark Studio.

1974-1979: Black Ark Players of which Boris Gardiner (bass), Mikey Richards, Sly Dunbar and Benbow Creary (drums), Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar), Winston Wright and Keith Stirling (keyboards) can be considered the core of the band. They developed the new psychedelic sound unique to the Black Ark which was impressively captured on albums like Heart Of The Congos or War Ina Babylon.

Perry himself purported that he deliberately burned down the Black Ark one morning in 1983, to eventually turn his back on Jamaican Reggae for good. The story of the Upsetters ends around 1986 and can be told in various different ways.

2. "The Upsetters" was the name of Little Richard's backing band playing R&B and Rock'n'Roll during the 1950s. One of their instrumental tracks is The Strip.

3. The Upsetters was a South African garage rock band active in the 1960s.

4. The Upsetters was a soul band.

Brand New Second Hand
The Upsetters Lyrics

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You're only acting like
You are somebody
But I don't love to say
You're not nobody
Don't exhaust our painted face, girl
'cause underneath that face
You're just have disgrace

And you're just a brand new second hand
You'll make no one fool
You're just a brand new second hand

I only confess you
You're brand new second had
Dirty golden rule
You're just a brand new second hand

What you've got, girl
That I don't know
Why you really really got to
Exalt yourself so
Mama used to tell me
A long time ago, girl
It's not everything you own
That glitters is gold

So you're just a brand new second hand
No man no want no
Brand new second hand
You better go back round so girl
Brand new second hand
Don't you show us
Brand new second hand

If you think it's the dress you wear
That makes you a lady
Get that out of your mind
You must be crazy

You're just a brand new second had, yes girl
No man no want
Brand new second hand, yes girl

No bother come show off so
You're just a brand new second hand

Overall Meaning

In "Brand New Second Hand," The Upsetters are calling out someone who's putting on airs and trying too hard to come off as someone they're not. The singer accuses this person of being a "brand new second hand," essentially someone who's trying to appear brand new and shiny but is actually used and old. They're only fooling themselves and not fooling anyone else. They're urged not to put on a façade and to be true to themselves because no one will want them if they keep acting this way.

The song seems to be a commentary on the superficiality and materialism of society. The singer warns the person they're addressing not to think that it's their possessions or their fancy dress that make them a lady because that's not what really matters. The gold in the title is meant to be ironic, as if to say that this person is flashy and trying too hard to be something they're not, but they're actually fake and not worth much. Consequently, the song is a socio-political critique of capitalist societies which prioritize materialism and consumerism over substance and authenticity.

Line by Line Meaning

You're only acting like
You are pretending to be

You are somebody
Someone important

But I don't love to say
But I don't like to admit

You're not nobody
You are not unimportant

Don't exhaust our painted face, girl
Don't overuse your makeup, girl

'cause underneath that face
Because beneath your makeup

You're just have disgrace
You are shameful

And you're just a brand new second hand
And you are just newly being used

You'll make no one fool
You will not deceive anyone

I only confess you
I only admit to you

You're brand new second had
You are newly used