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.
Chase The Devil
The Upsetters Lyrics
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I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase Satan out of Earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase the devil out of Earth
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
Satan is an evilous man
So when I check him my lassing hand
And if him slip, I gone with him hand
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase Satan out of Earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase the devil out of Earth
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race, oh yeah
Him haffi drop him fork and run
Him can't stand up to Jah Jah son
Him haffi lef' ya with him gun
Dig off with him bomb
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase Satan out of Earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase the devil out of Earth
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
Satan is a evilous man
But him can't chocks it on I-man
So when I check him my lassing hand
And if him slip, I gone with him hand
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase Satan out of Earth
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase the devil out of Earth
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
Move ya with your gun
Mi sey fi lef' ya with your bomb, ooh yeah
Move ya with your gun
Mi sey fi lef' ya with your gun
The Upsetters' song Chase The Devil is a classic reggae track with lyrics that suggest a fight against the devil. The first verse sets the tone of the track as the singer announces that he is going to chase Satan out of Earth. He then puts on an iron shirt, which may symbolize a shield or protection, and continues to chase the devil out of Earth. The chorus is repeated twice, emphasizing the message that Satan needs to be sent to outa space to find another race, away from Earth.
The second verse can be interpreted as a call for spiritual strength to fight Satan. The singer describes Satan as an evilous man but one that he can handle. He says that he will use his lassing hand, possibly referring to the power of the Holy Spirit, to defeat him. In the third verse, the singer declares that Jah Jah son will stand up to Satan and that he will have to drop his fork and run, implying that he will not be able to hold on to his evil ways. The song repeats the chorus after each verse, ending with a repetition of the phrase "Move ya with your gun", indicating that Satan needs to be left behind with his weapon.
Overall, The Upsetters' Chase The Devil is a song with messages of spiritual strength, and a call to fight against evil. The repetition of "I'm gonna put on an iron shirt and chase Satan out of Earth" emphasizes the need for protection and strength in such a battle.
Line by Line Meaning
Lucifer son of the mourning, I'm gonna chase you out of Earth
I will chase Satan out of Earth and send him off to look for another planet.
I'm gonna put on a iron shirt and chase Satan out of Earth
I will wear an iron shirt as protection to confront Satan and chase him out of Earth.
I'm gonna send him to outa space to find another race
I will send Satan to outer space to search for another race to bother.
Him haffi drop him fork and run
Satan will have to abandon his evil plans and flee in defeat.
Him can't stand up to Jah Jah son
Satan is no match for the son of Jah, and he will not be able to resist his power.
Him haffi lef' ya with him gun
Satan will have to leave with his weapons and admit defeat.
Dig off with him bomb
Satan will have to remove his bombs as a sign of surrender.
Move ya with your gun
Trying to threaten with a gun will not work against the son of Jah.
Mi sey fi lef' ya with your bomb, ooh yeah
I say you should leave with your bombs to symbolize your defeat.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: Lee Perry, Max Romeo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind