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.
Dark Moon
The Upsetters Lyrics
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Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for
And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold!
Blue moon!
Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own
The Upsetters' song Dark Moon, is a cover of the classic song by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, that was originally recorded in 1934. The lyrics of the song create a melancholic and nostalgic sentiment, portraying a man standing alone under the blue moon, without any hope or desire in his heart. However, the blue moon seems to understand his needs, and gives him the opportunity to find love and meaning in his life.
The singer expresses his longing for someone to care for, as he prays under the moon, and then the unexpected happens. The moon becomes his guide and shows him the person he was searching for. With her arrival, the moon magically turns from blue to gold, symbolizing the positive changes in his life. In the end, the singer finds love and companionship, and is no longer alone.
The song's lyrics are poetic and beautifully render the idea of finding love in unexpected ways. The melody is gentle and easy-flowing, adding to the mood of the song. The Upsetters' creation has an impressive rock steady rhythm that soothes the listeners and evoke a laid back mood, fitting for the song's lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue moon you saw me standing alone
The singer was alone and feeling a sense of emptiness, as represented by the blue moon.
Without a dream in my heart
The singer had lost all sense of purpose or ambition and was feeling aimless.
Without a love of my own
The singer was lacking in romantic love and companionship, feeling lonely and unfulfilled.
Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for
The blue moon seemed to understand the artist's emotional state, as if it were a sentient being.
You heard me saying a prayer for
The artist was reaching out to the moon as a spiritual entity, hoping for guidance or assistance.
Someone I really could care for
The singer was looking for true love, someone that they could devote themselves to and truly care for.
And then there suddenly appeared before me
Unexpectedly, something appeared in front of the singer that would bring them hope and joy.
The only one my arms will ever hold
This new presence was the one and only love that the artist would ever truly hold, completing their life.
I heard somebody whisper "Please adore me"
The new love interest was making themselves known to the artist, actively seeking their affection and devotion.
And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold!
Jubilantly, the artist notices that the blue moon had transformed into a golden one, symbolizing a fulfilling end to their lonely and aimless existence.
Blue moon!
The singer triumphantly addresses the moon, thanking it for bringing them a newfound love and sense of purpose in life.
Now I'm no longer alone
As a result of meeting their love interest, the artist no longer feels lonely and unfulfilled.
Without a dream in my heart
The singer now knows what they want out of life and have regained a sense of purpose and drive.
Without a love of my own
Most importantly, the singer now has a true love of their own, making their life complete.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KOKOMO ARNOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind